Development and Course of the Cold War: 1964-1980

1. Development and Course of the Cold War: 1964-1980 Joseph Abrego, Lydia Gebrehiwot, Kelly Schnur, Tanner Pierce, and Karly Seitz Ib History II 25 and 26 April 2012

2. Vietnam War (1964-1975) “If we are driven from the field in Viet-Nam, then no notion can ever again have the same confidence in… American protection” -Johnson

3. Background Kennedy succeeds Eisenhower 1961, continues funding South Vietnam US unhappy with Diem’s harsh regime. US further upset when Diem imposes Marshall Law while trying to control Buddhist riots. 1963, Regime crumbles and Diem assassinated by South Vietnamese officials. Johnson succeeds Kennedy in November 1963 North Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh Viet Cong: communist troops in South Vietnam after Geneva Accords. Communist forces were supposed to withdrawal to north of 17th parallel but number of operatives were from the south and remained. Initially, it conducted political assassinations, and subversive tactics, but later became full blown military force.

4. Vietnam War Under Johnson Both Johnson and Khrushchev did not want the war. Khrushchev sought to improve relations with US after Cuban Missile Crisis, couldn’t do this with Vietnam War. Johnson spearheaded escalation in US assistance after summer of 1964. July, 1964 North Vietnamese attack on USS Maddox gives Johnson rationale to escalate Us participation in war= Gulf of Tonkin Resolution of August 1964. Both houses agreed to support Johnson to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the USA and to prevent further aggression” Brezhnev replaces Khrushchev in October 1964; US hoping regime change in USSR will help them defeat North Vietnam. USSR states that they would support communist N.V. against US attack to keep N.V in Soviet sphere.

5. Vietnam War Under Johnson SU felt obligated to support N.V. for reasons of ideological solidarity 1964 poll showed that 85% of Americans supported war. US shifts to full military intervention: 1965: Operation Rolling Thunder: massive aerial bombing attacking Ho Chi Minh Trail, Viet Cong areas in south and industrial and military areas. Meant to last 8 weeks, lasted 3 years. Created 3 million civilian refugees in South Vietnam Cancelled in November 1968 due to non-fulfillment of objectives to raise S.V. morale and convince Ho to halt conquest of S.V. 1965 Johnson also received 1.7 billion dollars for war, authorized use of napalm and sent first combat troops to Vietnam.

6. Tet Offensive Turning point of US opinion North Vietnamese launch attack of South Vietnam in holiday of Tet, previously was a day of ceasefire. Attacked 5 cities and capitals, televised to US public, took US forces a week to subdue Viet Cong. Victory for US, but General Westmoreland announced need for 200,000 more troops, which eroded public support for war. Antiwar movements began in 1964 that gained momentum. Divided citizens into Hawks (believe in aggressive foreign policy) and Doves (reject use of force to achieve foreign policy goals). North Vietnamese under General Giap. N.V. willing to fight till victory. September 2, 1969, Ho dies= Le Duan in power. Ho wanted N.V. to keep fighting until US leaves Vietnam. Le Duan implements this policy with Giap and Le DucTho, diplomat.

7. Nixon and Withdraw from Vietnam Johnson does not run for reelection. 1968 elections= Nixon in power. 500,000 troops in Vietnam and average of 1200 US deaths per month and anti war protests. relied on national security advisor Henry Kissinger for help. Kissinger’s ideas focused on rapprochement with China and solving Vietnam problem. 3 options: Escalation, status quo, or withdrawal. US policy developed along lines of 2 main ideas: Vietnamization and traditional diplomacy. Vietnamization= S.V. take leadership role in war and US withdrawal gradually, while training S.V. soldiers and prepping them to take political and military control. US public unwilling to allow time for this task to be done. Policy implemented and took US till November 1973 to withdrawal.

8. Nixon and Withdraw from Vietnam Spring of 1969: Nixon orders bombing of Cambodia to interdict routes through Cambodia and Laos which N.V. used to send troops and weapons into S.V. 1969-1973 peace talks with N.V. Us proposed withdrawal of US and N.V. troops but N.V. rejected. Agreed on Paris Peace Accord January 1973= US end military involvement in Vietnam and N and S would agree to ceasefire. S.V. would be given opportunity to decide political future. US promised to retaliate against North if they attacked South, however, US domestic issues took over and S.V. left to fend for self. N.V. drive S.V. leader Thieu out to exile and N.V. launches offensive against South that leads to fall of Saigon in June 1975. US evacuates last Americans from embassy on May 30, 1975.

9. Communist Support for N.V. N.V. used Sino-Soviet split to their own ends, gaining aid from both sides. Khrushchev made some notions to accept a US plan to refer the conflict to the UN Security Council, but Brezhnev ruined this when he came to power in October 1964. Soviets stated that they would support communist N.V. against US attack to keep N.V. in sphere. Also supplied weapons. Chinese pledged to aid N.V. in fear of US attack on N.V. Domestic upheaval of the Cultural Revolution caused Chinese policy to be ambivalent. Chinese stationed troops near border and provided anti-aircraft defense systems to counter Operation Rolling Thunder. As relations between Hanoi and Moscow, Soviets provide more aid, Hanoi and Beijing relations deteriorate. By June 1970, Chinese troops withdrawal, material support continues.

10. End of War for US 1st war that US lost. Led to reevaluation of US foreign policies. Nixon Doctrine: stated that US would still support non-communist movements with economic and military aid, but would not commit US forces to fight on foreign soil. SU satisfied by US loss, but would repeat US mistakes in Vietnam in Afghanistan.

11. Decline of Aggression in 1970s Richard Nixon, on visit to China: “The week that changed the world."

12. Reasons for Détente and Result Reasons: • At home problems caused superpowers to pursue détente: • struggling Soviet economy • Vietnam War • Economic Costs • Public dissatisfaction with war • Result: -New era of “peaceful coexistence”- détente emerged as the two superpowers attempted to live in peaceful coexistence

13. Détente between US and USSR- Lessening of Cold War Tensions SALT I- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Agreement, negotiations lasted 1969 to 1972; limited amount of anti ballistic missiles, intercontinental missiles. Set the rules for the conduct of nuclear warfare. The USA and the USSR pledged “to do their utmost to avoid military confrontation” and “to exercise restraint” in international relations. ABM Treaty- (anti ballistic missile defenses). Each side was allowed to have only 100 ABMs on each of two sites, one for their capital city and one to protect their nuclear missiles Ostpolitik- beginning in 1969, German “new eastern policy”; refers to the normalization of relationships between Federal Republic of Germany and Eastern Europe, particularly the German Democratic Republic. Helsinki Accords- during July and August, 1975; signed the declaration in an attempt to improve relations between the Communist bloc and the West. Signed by most European states and the USA and Canada SALT II- negotiations between Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev from 1977 to 1979; reduced amount of nuclear warheads of both sides to 2250 and banned new weapons programs from coming into existence.

14. France 1967- All French forces removed from NATO (U.S. dominated); all NATO forces also left France 1967 – Formation of European Communities/Common Market Recognized People’s Republic of China Tried to improve relations with Soviet Union and East Europe

15. China United States President Richard Nixon decided to use the Sino-Soviet split (1969) to shift the balance of power towards the West in the Cold War Kissinger attempted to open up relations with Communist China. Nixon 1972 meeting with Mao Zedong; countries issued joint statement pledging to do their best to normalize relations Nixon-Kissinger diplomacy-triangular diplomacy; foreign policy concerning Soviet Union, China, and US. Anti communism was raging back in the US US-China treaty of 1979 establishes full-diplomatic relations- Treaty of Friendship Impact of Deng Xiaoping

16. Human Rights Doctrine of Jimmy Carter (1976-80) Camp David Accords, 1978- Signed by Anwar Sadat and Menechem Begin, a framework attempt to establish peace in the Middle East Panama Canal Treaty, 1977- U.S. retained the permanent right to defend the canal from any threat that might interfere with its continued neutral service to ships of all nations; additionally, beginning in 2000, Panama would take over control and it would remain neutral US Congress and public demand more oversight and limits on Presidential power to wage war, both overt and covert, abroad

17. How is Détente Limited and Challenged in the 1970s? “A common sense of nuclear danger had transcended differences in culture, nationality, ideology, morality and character.” Henry Kissinger

18. United States Weapons development and deployment continues, i.e. Pershing II and cruise missiles Carter’s critics: especially “loss” of Iran and Nicaragua

19. USSR Weapons development and deployment continues, i.e.SS-20s Supports anti-imperialist struggles abroad, especially in Africa Invasion of Afghanistan

20. Role of Economics and Oil OPEC: what is it and what do they do, significance to Cold War U.S. has “yawning deficits” (Bailey!) and Carter attacks “costly dependence on foreign oil” Oil rich USSR uses revenues to support both defense and domestic spending Both US and USSR continue to support ‘rust belt’ industry; neither willing to ‘re-tool’ economies or policies as Japan and others are doing (i.e. fuel efficient cars and technology companies over heavy industry)

21. What Changes in 1980? What Are Their Approaches and Impact on the Cold War? “Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means” -Ronald Reagan

22. Election of Reagan • Supply-side economics (Reaganomics): economic growth can be most effectively created by lowering barriers for people to produce goods and services, such as lowering income tax and by allowing greater flexibility by decreasing regulation • Evil Empire Speech: Towards Soviet Union; favored matching/exceeding the Soviet Union's military capabilities, in calling for a rollback strategy (strategy of forcing change in the major policies of a state, by replacing its ruling regime - contrasts with containment and détente)  • Foreign Policy: “Peace through Strength” - supporting military action in order for international peace (conservative) • used this phrase against Carter

23. Margaret Thatcher, the “Iron Lady” Iron Lady: applied to Margaret Thatcher for inflexible opposition to the Soviet Union and communism - conservative policies “Thatcherism” - Free enterprise: Capitalism

24. Soviet Union and Its Leaders Are “Old and Dying.” • Leaders ages: Brezhnev: 75Andropov: 69Chernenko: 73 • Meaning symbolically: The Soviet Union was old and dying; economy declining; the declining economy was producing strikes by labor . • Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania independence, Russia threatening to break away, fall of Communism in satellite countries

25. Poland Solidarity: integration, binding people together(Poland Trade Union) Independent Self-governing Trade Union "Solidarity" It was the first non-communist party-controlled trade union in a Warsaw Pact country. Solidarity reached 9.5 million members before its September 1981 congress; comprised 1/3 of the total working age population of Poland Used non-violent methods to advance worker’s rights and social change

26. Timeline • Diem’s regime falls in South Vietnam and he is assassinated: (1963) • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed: (August 1964) • Khrushchev succeeded by Brezhnev: (October 1964) • Operation Rolling Thunder: (1965) • Tet Offensive: (1968) • Nixon elected: November (1968) • Ho Chi Minh dies; Le Duan succeeds (September 2, 1969). • Nixon announces détente policy (1969) –situation more predictable by establishing rules, avoid direct conflict, accept spheres of influence, (“sought to freeze Cold War in place” Gaddis). Key ‘architects’ are Nixon, Kissinger and Leonid Brezhnev. • Nixon visits China (1972) • SALT I (1972): freeze numbers of ballistic missile launchers (if add new ones, old ones must be removed), limits arms race but accepts logic of MAD, allows for surveillance to verify. • Paris Peace Conference (1973)

27. Timeline • Chile coup (1973) and US covert operations continue abroad/at home • Angolan Decolonization Struggle (1962-75) and Civil War (1975-1991) • October War (Yom Kippur War) of 1973 between Egypt, its allies and Israel • Watergate/Ford becomes president (1974) • Saigon falls to North Vietnam (June 1975) • Last Americans out of Vietnamese embassy (May 30, 1975) • Helsinki Accords (1975) • Election of Carter (1976) • Carter’s Human Rights Doctrine • continues detente, decreases intervention abroad, limits aid to Latin American dictatorships. Panama Canal Treaty (1977-8) • Nicaragua Revolution (1978): Sandinistas overthrow Somoza dictatorship, which had US support prior to Carter. • Camp David Accords (1978) • SALT II treaty final US-USSR agreement (1979) • Iran Hostage crisis (1979-80) • Economic and energy issues confront U.S. and U.S.S.R. leaders in 1970s that influence Cold War • Election of Reagan (1980)

28. Historiography Orthodox: Soviet Union and its European expansion to blame for Cold War. (Bailey) Revisionist: The United States is responsible. Americans are empire-building people and overlooked moral objectives to Soviet rule. Believed that SU was weak after WW2 and was no threat to US. Post-Revisionist: “Neither side can bear sole responsibility for onset of the Cold War” -Gaddis