{"id":4101,"date":"2020-11-05T13:34:49","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T13:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/?page_id=4101"},"modified":"2026-04-14T12:51:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T12:51:21","slug":"detente-diplomacy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/course-syllabus\/detente-diplomacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Detente Diplomacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>CHAPTER 17:\u00a0 Nixon, Kissinger, and the End of the Postwar Era, 1969-1974<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;It was an act without precedence in the annals of twentieth-century U.S. diplomacy: the odd couple of President Richard M. Nixon and National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger devising and implementing a foreign policy imaginative in concept and radical in some of its essential elements. The two men perceived the dramatic changes that had occurred since the end of World War II and set out to craft what Nixon called a &#8216;new approach to foreign policy to match a new era of international relations&#8217;&#8230; Within less than two years, their Grand Design was in tatters, a disgraced Nixon forced to resign the office he had fought so doggedly to obtain.\u00a0 Brilliant in many respects, the Nixon-Kissinger scheme was fatally flawed in others.&#8221; (Herring, 760)<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/donald-trump-madman-strategy-north-korea-nuclear-weapons\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4102 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.28.26-AM-1024x575.png\" alt=\"Nixon and Kissinger\" width=\"940\" height=\"528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.28.26-AM-1024x575.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.28.26-AM-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.28.26-AM-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.28.26-AM-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.28.26-AM.png 1258w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/a><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Describe the nature of Nixon&#8217;s and Kissinger&#8217;s relationship during their time together running American foreign policy, 1969-1974.<\/li>\n<li>How would you assess Nixonian Diplomacy?\u00a0 What were the greatest achievements?\u00a0 What were the worst setbacks or mistakes?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Background:\u00a0 <\/strong><strong>Vietnam Timeline<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1963 \/\/ Assassination of Diem<\/li>\n<li>1964 \/\/ Gulf of Tonkin Resolution<\/li>\n<li>1965-68 \/\/ Escalation (<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-118pinsker\/2017\/11\/01\/vietnam-war-3\/\">A<\/a> \/ <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-118pinsker\/2018\/04\/02\/nsa-secrets-of-the-vietnam-war\/\">B<\/a> \/ <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-118pinsker\/2016\/05\/06\/the-vietnam-war-protests-and-the-commencement-of-a-new-movement\/\">C<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>1968 \/\/ Tet Offensive<\/li>\n<li>1970 \/\/ Invasion of Cambodia and Kent State protests (<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-118pinsker\/2016\/05\/06\/a-new-campus-culture-anti-war-movement-and-education-reform-at-dickinson-college\/\">A<\/a> \/ <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-118pinsker\/2015\/05\/21\/the-impact-and-irrelevance-of-the-vietnam-war-protests\/\">B<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>1971 \/\/ Pentagon Papers &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/mylaimassacre3161968.weebly.com\/\">trial of Lt. William Calley (My Lai)<\/a><\/li>\n<li>1972 \/\/ China opening, Easter offensive, Detente (SALT \/ ABM)<\/li>\n<li>1973 \/\/ Paris peace accords\u00a0 (Vietnam agreement)<\/li>\n<li>1975 \/\/ Fall of Saigon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Perhaps the most famous (or infamous) ad in the history of modern presidential campaigns appeared as a paid advertisement on TV only once \u2013the so-called \u201cDaisy ad\u201d from 1964. Students should be able to explain what this ad was about, and why it was so powerful and controversial.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingroomcandidate.org\/commercials\/1964\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-419\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-coldwar\/files\/2024\/04\/Screen-Shot-2024-04-01-at-12.35.38-PM.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-coldwar\/files\/2024\/04\/Screen-Shot-2024-04-01-at-12.35.38-PM.png 880w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-coldwar\/files\/2024\/04\/Screen-Shot-2024-04-01-at-12.35.38-PM-300x272.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-coldwar\/files\/2024\/04\/Screen-Shot-2024-04-01-at-12.35.38-PM-768x696.png 768w\" alt=\"1964 ad\" width=\"880\" height=\"798\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2014\/09\/07\/daisy-girl-political-ad-still-haunting-50-years-later\/15246667\/\">Find out more about the \u201cDaisy Girl,\u201d (<strong>Monique Corzilius)<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/video\/2016\/10\/clinton-ad-daisy-061108\">See Hilary Clinton\u2019s 2016 update of the Daisy Girl ad<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Recalling the Turning Point:\u00a0 Tet Offensive (1968)<\/h2>\n<p>Here are video clips of Walter Cronkite\u2019s original February 27, 1968 CBS Evening News Broadcast on the Tet Offensive, illustrating a turning point in the \u201cliving room war.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Dn2RjahTi3M\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-origwidth=\"560\" data-origheight=\"315\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>When All Hell Broke Loose:\u00a0 May 1970<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_4105\" style=\"width: 950px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-118pinsker\/2016\/05\/06\/a-new-campus-culture-anti-war-movement-and-education-reform-at-dickinson-college\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4105\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4105\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.36.10-AM-1024x1017.png\" alt=\"Protest\" width=\"940\" height=\"934\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.36.10-AM-1024x1017.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.36.10-AM-300x298.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.36.10-AM-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.36.10-AM-768x763.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.36.10-AM-302x300.png 302w, https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/files\/2020\/11\/Screen-Shot-2020-11-05-at-8.36.10-AM.png 1188w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4105\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Why were Dickinson students protesting US foreign policy outside of Denny Hall in May 1970?<\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>KEY TERMS:\u00a0 Detente (1972) \/\/ China Opening (1972)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<header class=\"entry-header\">\n<div class=\"entry-hdr\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title\">Detente (1972)<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content cf\">\n<p>\u201cNixon moved detente to the top of his foreign policy agenda.\u00a0 By the time he took office [in 1969], the one-time ardent Cold Warrior viewed the Soviet Union as a \u2018normal\u2019 world power more intent on maintaining its position than upsetting the international status quo and therefore a nation that could be negotiated with.\u00a0 He recognized that the relative decline in U.S. power required major adjustments in its relations with other nations and that Soviet needs and especially the Sino-Soviet conflict provided openings a skillful diplomatist might exploit.\u00a0 He perceived that his reputation as a hard-liner enabled him to do things other U.S. politicians could not \u2013indeed, by making him appear statesmanlike they might even win him points at home.\u00a0 In pursuing detente, Nixon and Kissinger did not abandon containment.\u00a0 Rather, they hoped through negotiations on key issues to create linkages that would enable them to influence Soviet behavior in other areas.\u00a0 Through what Kissinger called the \u2018subtle triangle of relations between Washington, Beijing, and Moscow,\u2019 they sought to \u2018improve the possibilities of accommodations with each as increase our options with both.\u2019\u00a0 They viewed detente not as an end in itself but rather, in Nixon\u2019s words, a means to \u2018minimize confrontation in marginal areas and provide, at least, alternative possibilities in the major ones.\u2019\u00a0 They hoped it would enable them to manage Soviet power and thus get the USSR to accept the emerging world order.\u201d\u00a0 \u2013George Herring,\u00a0<em>From Colony to Superpower,\u00a0<\/em>p. 771<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Explain how detente affected US policy in Asia, in regard to attempts to negotiate an end to the war in Vietnam or to explore an opening in relations with Communist China.<\/li>\n<li>How did the Nixon-Kissinger approach to detente compare to their policies in other areas of the world, like Latin America, the Middle East, or Africa?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<header class=\"entry-header\">\n<div class=\"entry-hdr\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title\">China Opening (1972)<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content cf\">\n<p>\u201cMeanwhile, Nixon and Kissinger inched cautiously toward normalizing relations with the People\u2019s Republic of China.\u00a0 United States elites, including much of the foreign policy establishment, had long argued that the policy of isolation and containment were outdated.\u00a0 Liberal Democrats such as Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts had taken up the cause.\u00a0 A slowing economy revived century-old dreams of a potentially limitless Chinese mark as a solution.\u00a0 Nixon and Kissinger saw geopolitical gains in the form of leverage with the Soviet Union and with North Vietnam in ending the war.\u00a0 Ever the political animal, Nixon relished the prospect of being the first American president to visit China, in part because of the exquisite irony given his reputation as a hard-core anti-Communist, also for the likely political advantage.\u201d \u2013George Herring,\u00a0<em>From Colony to Superpower,\u00a0<\/em>p. 775<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How did secrecy and deception contribute to the move toward opening of US-Chinese relations in 1971 and 1972?<\/li>\n<li>Explain the mindset of the various forces \u2013both inside and outside the US\u2013 who opposed the normalization of relations between the US and Communist China.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CHAPTER 17:\u00a0 Nixon, Kissinger, and the End of the Postwar Era, 1969-1974 &#8220;It was an act without precedence in the annals of twentieth-century U.S. diplomacy: the odd couple of President Richard M. Nixon and National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger devising and implementing a foreign policy imaginative in concept and radical in some of its [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":373,"featured_media":0,"parent":10,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4101","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/373"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4101"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5044,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4101\/revisions\/5044"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-282pinsker\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}