American Foreign Policy in Ford and Carter Years

1. Objectives • Compare the policies of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter toward the Soviet Union. • Discuss changing U.S. foreign policy in the developing world. • Identify the successes and failures of Carter’s foreign policy in the Middle East.

2. Terms and People • Helsinki Accords−a document that put the nations of Europe on record in favor of human rights, endorsed by the U.S. and Soviet Union in a 1975 meeting • human rights− the basic rights that every human being is entitled to have • SALT II− an agreement between the United States and Soviet Union to limit nuclear arms production • boat people − people who fled communist-controlled Vietnam on boats, looking for refuge in Southeast Asia, the United States, and Canada

3. Terms and People(continued) • sanctions− penalties • developing world − the poor nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America • Camp David Accords − agreements that provided the framework for a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel • Ayatollah Khomeini − a fundamentalist Islamic cleric who took power in Iran when the Shah fled in 1979

4. What were the goals of American foreign policy during the Ford and Carter years, and how successful were Ford’s and Carter’s policies? The Vietnam War caused many Americans to question the direction of the nation’s foreign policy. Debates about détente, human rights, and which regimes deserved American support became part of the national conversation.

5. Gerald Ford continued Nixon’s policies of détente with the Soviet Union after he took office in 1974. The United States continued disarmament talkswith the Soviets that led to SALT II. Ford also endorsed the Helsinki Accords, a document that put major nations on record in support of human rights.

6. The U.S. sought to put the Vietnam War in the past. South Vietnam fell to the communists. Many of the boat people eventually found refuge in the United States and Canada.

7. Early in his presidency, Jimmy Carter continued Nixon’s and Ford’s policies toward the Soviet Union. In June 1979, Carter signed the SALT II arms control treaty despite opposition from many Americans who believed it jeopardized U.S. security. The U.S. Senate held heated debates about whether to vote for the treaty, which angered the Soviet Union. Despite the signed treaty, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support its communist government. Carter withdrew SALT II from Congress and imposed sanctions on the Soviets.

8. Jimmy Carter changed the course of American foreign policy by declaring it would be guided by a concern for human rights. Carter’s beliefs about human rights changed the way that the U.S. dealt with countries in thedeveloping world. The U.S. stopped sending money to countries that ignored their citizens’ rights, such as Nicaragua. Carter also decided toreturn the Panama Canal Zone to Panama by 1999. Although some Americans feared that this would weaken national security, the Canal Zone treaties were ratified in 1978 and Panama now has full control of the canal.

9. Carter helped to negotiate a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel known as the Camp David Accords. Egypt became the first Arab nation to officially recognize the nation of Israel.

10. In Iran, fundamentalist Islamic clerics led by Ayatollah Khomeini seized power. Radical students took over the U.S. Embassy and held 66 Americans hostage. President Carter failed to win all of the hostages’ release– evidence to some that his foreign policy was not tough enough.

11. The U.S. Hostage Crisis in Iran 444 Days in Captivity

12. Background of the Shah • First came to power during WWII • Deposed in the late forties • Reinstalled by a CIA-led coup in 1953 approved by the Eisenhower administration

13. Divested the clergy of their vast landholdings Declared new rights for women Right to vote Right to attend university Dramatically increased urbanization and industrialization Exiles the Ayatollah Khomeini after he criticizes the Shah The “White Revolution”

14. Most Iranians did not want to abandon their rich heritage for Western Ways Found inspiration in the sermons of Muslim leaders who denounced the material West The Shah maintained control with harsh repression and brutality SAVAK Westernize or Bust!

15. Allah Hu Akbar, Marg Bar Shah! • Demonstrations increased demanding the shah be deposed • Demonstrators demanded the return of the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini • The country was out of control

16. Offers the premiership to Dr. Shahpur Bahktiar Leaves the country January 16, 1979 The Ayatollah was invited back Tens of thousands of demonstrators demanded the return of an Islamic state. Dr. Bahktiar leaves Exit the Shah!

17. Enemies of the Islamic Revolution are tried and executed All political parties and organizations are banned Independent and non-Islamic newspapers are closed. Banks and Industries are Nationalized. Islamic State Returns

18. Iranian Revolution Escalates • US interests in the Persian Gulf are threatened. • No access to Iranian Oil • Cancellation of $7 billion of uncompleted arms contracts • Anti American sentiment runs high.

19. Return the Shah for trial Return the Shah’s wealth to the people of Iran Admission of guilt by the US An apology and promise to stay out of Iran’s affairs. Iran’s Hostage Demands

20. “Marg Bar Amrika!” • Sunday, November 4, 1979 the US Embassy in Teheran is stormed • Sixty-six hostages taken

21. President Carter’s Response • Refused to send the Shah back • Froze all Iranian Government financial assets • Forbade American companies from buying Iranian oil • 13 hostages freed

22. Demonstrations at the Iranian Embassy in the US Record sales of Iranian flags, which were then burned Iranian Americans were harassed U.S. Reaction to Hostage Crisis

23. Renewed Sense of Patriotism • Hostages became a national obsession • Yellow Ribbon

24. On April 7, President Carter announces the severing of diplomatic relations with Iran Complete economic embargo Inventory of financial claims against Iran to be paid from Iranian assets in the U.S. All Iranian diplomats are told to leave the country in 24 hours. America’s Frustration Grows

25. Operation Eagle Claw • April 24, 1980 • 8 helicoptors from the Nimitz were to rendezvous with 6 transports at Desert One • Then fly to Desert Two to drive to Teheran where the CIA had arranged for several Iranians to help storm the embassy

26. Mission Aborted! • The first mission for the newly formed Delta Force • Pilots did not have experience, flying at night, flying low, and in sand storms. • The sandstorm disabled three helicoptors, one collided with a transport and both burst into flames killing eight Americans

27. Little hope for a second attempt because the hostages were dispersed to various locations Carter’s popularity sinks The Shah dies in July President Carter Accepts Full Blame

28. 1980 Presidential Campaign • The Reagan-Bush team realized that the hostage issue would determine the election • Americans needed to hear stirring phrases of national purpose, and believe in the future. • Wins by a landslide, Nov. 4 • Started selling arms to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua, using the money to pay Iran ransom

29. The Hostages are Freed • Carter released $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets the morning of the inauguration • The hostages board planes

30. Where Are They Now? • The Shah’s son is attended school at USC • Trained as a pilot in the US Airforce • Acknowledges some of the evil that his father was accused of • Is gathering support to return to Iran

32. Liberalism equals Democrats Valued social programs Bigger Government/Government should take care of the people Conservatism equals Republican Lower taxes/keep money in the hands of people Smaller Government Two Views: Liberalism and Conservatism

34. Liberalism lost appeal due to Vietnam War and Counter-Culture Conservatives believed Government spent too much money on programs like welfare which promoted the number of children born out of wedlock and supported people who chose not to work The Conservative Movement Gained Strength

38. Supply Side Economics Reduce taxes People have more to spend Factories must make more, putting more people back to work Government can collect more taxes Reaganomics Guides the Economy

40. Most military peace time spending ever Simply outspent the Soviets Strategic Defense Initiative/Star Wars Supported Anti-communist movement around globe New Leader in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev/Stain Head Reagan Challenges Communism

45. MG promised two things: Glasnost equals New Openness in Soviet Society Perestroika equals Restructuring of Soviet Society Moving away from a socialist controlled economy Created an opening for a shift in relations between the US and the Soviet Union Continued…

46. Berlin Wall comes down-1989 East & West Germany reunite No more Communism in Eastern Europe/no more Warsaw Pact Soviet Union falls apart & Cold War is over December 25, 1991 Breaks into 15 independent Republics Boris Yeltsin leader of the largest new republic, Russian Federation Who’s our enemy? Cold War Ends

48. George H.W. Bush • Succeeds Ronald Reagan as the next President

49. New Issues Emerge • The Persian Gulf War • Saddam Hussein is the ruthless dictator of Iraq • Led from 1979 to 2003 • Invades Kuwait in 1990 • Economic Reasons • President Bush made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate Iraq’s aggression and built an international coalition & demanded Iraqi troops withdraw