Nixon – Foreign & Domestic

PoliciesMr. WilliamsonSomerville HS

Nixon & The Cold WarO Before Nixon: American leaders shared common Cold War

IdeologyO Basic conflict between democratic/capitalist vs.

totalitarian/communist countriesO “Us vs. Them” divisions, “enemy of my enemy is my friend”

O After Nixon: with Henry Kissinger, leading national security adviser, altered this traditional approachO Embraced idea of “realpolitik”, German word meaning real

politicsO Stated that political goals should be defined by concrete

national interests instead of ideologiesO Argued if you put aside Communist bias, opportunities were

presentO Questioned the united/growing worldwide communist movement

from previous administrationsO Insisted on a flexible/practical foreign policy vs. theory/ideas

Nixon & The Cold WarO Nixon – focuses on global politics/alliances & its impact

on the USO Relations with China

O Nixon realizes China could not be ignored (world’s most populous country), diplomatic relations could benefit USO Trade agreements would help California/Pacific Coast

economiesO US relations would drive a wedge between China/Soviet

Union (now rivals due to territory/global influence)O Could pressure N. Vietnam to a negotiated peace

O Nixon announces state visit to China (arrives Feb. 1972) – “Ping Pong Diplomacy”O Tours Great Wall, Imperial Palace, lengthy talks with

Premier Zhou Enlai and Communist Chairman Mao Zedong

O 1973 – Tourists can travel, US companies set up new businessesO 1979 – Full diplomatic relations with China are established

Nixon & The Cold WarO Nixon’s trip prompted an immediate response from

SovietsO Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev feared US/China

relations could isolate Russia, invites Nixon to MoscowO Nixon/Brezhnev announce joint US-Soviet space missionO Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement (SALT I)

O Froze the deployment/placed limits on ballistic missilesO Did not end arms race, but giant step toward the goal

O Importance of SALT IO Evidence of an easing of tensions between US/SovietsO Policy of DÉTENTE (reducing tensions) replaces

suspicion/distrustO Nixon relaxed foreign policy helps end Vietnam

WarO One step closer to the end of the Cold War

Nixon & The Cold WarO With your assigned partner, read the following quote from President

Nixon and complete the questions using the primary source:

O “Recognizing the responsibility of the advanced industrial nations to set an example in combating mankind’s common enemies, the United States and Soviet Union have agreed to cooperate in efforts to reduce pollution and enhance environmental quality. We have agreed to work together in the field of medical science and public health, particularly in the conquest of cancer and heart disease.”

O 1. The Soviet Union and United States are partnering in finding solutions to what problems? What is the reasoning behind selecting these issues?

O 2. Why is this a smart approach by Nixon in easing Cold War Tensions? Be specific and discuss why.

Nixon & The Watergate ScandalOUsing the cartoon history and short

video on the Watergate Scandal, what was the future impact of this event? In other words, how are the American people directly affected by this incident?

OName a minimum of 3 effects and be ready to share with class.