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Nixon: The Realpolitiker. The Diplomacy of Nixon & Kissinger. Issue No. 1: Vietnam, The Unmitigated Disaster. The Secret Plan: The Madman Theory. Proves impractical…. Demonstrations. My Lai Massacre. Cambodian Incursion. Kent State. Army Revolt. POW’s. • Nixon the Fascist.
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Nixon: The Realpolitiker The Diplomacy of Nixon & Kissinger
Issue No. 1: Vietnam, The Unmitigated Disaster
The Secret Plan: The Madman Theory Proves impractical….
Army Revolt POW’s • Nixon the Fascist
Solution: The Nixon Doctrine (Vietnamization) • We shall provide a shield if a nuclear power threatens the freedom of a nation allied with us or of a nation whose survival we consider vital to our security • We shall furnish military and economic assistance when requested in accordance with our treaty commitments. But we shall look to the nation directly threatened to assume the primary responsibility of providing the manpower for its defense.
Issue No. 2: USSR Deterrence to Detente
U.S. Issues: • Cuban Missile Crisis brings us to the brink of destruction • Vietnam draining our political, economic, and military capacity • Cost of Arms Race • MAD has achieved rough parity; good time to pause…. • Goal: Arms Control Deal
Nikita Khrushchev: Reformer De-Stalinization Liberalization
Prague Spring, 1968
Brezhnev Doctrine "When forces that are hostile to socialism and try to turn the development of some socialist country towards capitalism, it becomes not only a problem of the country concerned, but a common problem and concern of all socialist countries.” I.E.: We will intervene!
Lagging Economy Massive Shortages of Consumer Goods
Soviet economic development 10-15 years behind U.S.
China • 1969 Border Dispute • Total War Narrowly Averted • China and USSR both fear U.S. will deal with the enemy
Kissinger’s Secret Diplomacy • Chinese isolated; Want recognition • Soviets fear U.S.-China alliance • U.S. Goal: Arms Agreement with USSR
Nixon in China http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5V9sP_nDCM
Arms Control • Strategic Arms Limitation (SALT) Agreement, 1972 • Offensive Weapons Control • Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, 1972 • Defensive Weapons Control