Richard Nixon and 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
*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 (A relaxation of Tension)
*Reasons why U.S sought detente:
*Nuclear and Strategic Parity - The Russians had caught the U.S. 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.
*Nuclear and Strategic Parity - The Russians had caught the U.S. 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.
The Watergate Scandal
•As Nixon was about to run for the 1972 election the Republicans were accused of a crime
•5 men were caught trying to break into the Watergate hotel (headquarters for the Democrats) to place bugs
•The investigation led to much more corruptness and also implicated Nixon in the cover up
•Nixon resigned before he could be impeached
•5 men were caught trying to break into the Watergate hotel (headquarters for the Democrats) to place bugs
•The investigation led to much more corruptness and also implicated Nixon in the cover up
•Nixon resigned before he could be impeached
Ostopolitik
*German for 'east politics'
*Western German leader, WIlly Brandt wished to unite the Germanys
*Wanted improved relations between the two
*1972 a Basic Treaty was signed with East Germany
*Accused of selling out to the communist East Germany, others see it as another detente move
*Western German leader, WIlly Brandt wished to unite the Germanys
*Wanted improved relations between the two
*1972 a Basic Treaty was signed with East Germany
*Accused of selling out to the communist East Germany, others see it as another detente move
Summary
Detente was a big factor in helping ease the tension between the US and the soviet union. It was primarily started by president Nixon, however he was "resigned" after he was caught in the Watergate scandal.