Richard Nixon and Detente

• Elected as 37th President in 1968
• Promised to end 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 US sought detente:

• Nuclear and Strategic Parity - The Russians had caught the US in most military areas (caused them to want to think of their other options)

Early Successes:

• 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

Ostpolitik

• German for "east politics"
• Western German leader, Willy Brandt wished to united 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, other see it as another detente move

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.