Foreign Policy

• Nixon’s foreign policy had at least 3 Major

Successes:

• 1. US got out of the Vietnam War
• 2. Visit to China leading to later

recognizing the People’s Republic of
China

• 3.Arms Control with the Soviet Union

Nixon and Kissinger

• Nixon and Kissinger

began to take
advantage of the rivalry
between the two
Communist giants,
China and the Soviet
Union.

• Their diplomacy was

praised for bringing
about détente, a
deliberate reduction of
Cold War tensions.

Visit to China

•After a series of secret negotiations with Chinese
leaders, in February 1972, Nixon traveled to Beijing.

•The visit was extensively covered on television. This
trip led to the US later recognizing the government of
the People’s Republic of China.

Visit to USSR

• In May, 1972, Nixon visited the Soviet Union and

met with Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev.

• Nixon and Kissinger used the new relationship

with China to put pressure on the Soviets to
agree to a treaty limiting antiballistic missiles.

• This led to the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks

(SALT I)

Trouble in the Middle East

• October 6, 1973: Syrians and Egyptians launched an
attack on Israel in an attempt to recover lands lost in the
Six Day War in 1967.

•Nixon ordered US nuclear forces on alert and we
shipped $2 billion in arms to Israel. This helped Israel
take control of the war.

OPEC Oil Embargo

• In response to the US support of Israel, the

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
placed an embargo on oil sold to Israel’s
supporters.

• This caused a worldwide shortage and long lines

at gas stations in the US

​1970 Ford Mustang 1980

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