Richard nixon and detente
Richard Nixon
Detente
- Elected 37th president in 1968
- Promised to end the Vietnam war
- pulled troops but increased bombing campaign, implemented Vietnamization
- began a policy of Detente to lessen cold war tensions
- resigned after being implemented in Watergate scandal 1972
Detente
- Reasons why US sought detente:
- nuclear and strategic parity - the russians had caught the US in most military areas (caused them to want to think of other options)
- Early Success:
- nuclear non-proliferation treaty (limit the spread of nuclear weapons) signed by Johnson in 1968 (France and china do not sign it)
- many, like Henry Kissinger, felt detente was just a new form of containment.
Quote: Americans admire a people who can scratch a desert and produce a garden. The Israelis have shown qualities that Americans identify with: guts, patriotism, idealism, a passion for freedom. I have seen it. I know. I believe that.
-Richard M. Nixon
-Richard M. Nixon
Summary: Richard Nixon ran on a peace platform, promising to end the war in Vietnam. Even though he did pull out some troops he increased the bombing campaign. His administration started the détente policy.