Richard Nixon and Detente 

• • Elected 37th President in 1968
  • Promised to end the Vietnam war
  • Pulled troops but increased bombing campaign, implemented Vietnamization
  • Began a policy of Détente to lessen Cold War tensions
  • Resigned after being implemented in Watergate scandal, 1972
  
  Summary: Richard Nixon won the 37th election in 1968 and he promised to end the Vietnam War. He implemented Vietnamization and began the policy of detente to cool down the Cold War tensions. He resigned before he could be impeached, after he took part in the watergate scandal.
  

Watergate Scandal

• As Nixon was about to run for the 1972 election the Republicans were accused of a crime
• 5 men were caught trying to break into the Watergate hotel (headquarters for the Democrats) to place bugs
• The investigation led to much more corruptness and also implicated Nixon in the cover up
• Nixon resigned before he could be impeached

Summary: Nixon tried to cover up the Watergate scandal, he resigned before he could be impeached. Gerald Ford takes power after Nixon resigned, he was chosen. Nixon is remembered as tricky dicky, he was a liar and tried to cover things up. Although he was proped for ending the Vietnam War

Detente ( A Relaxation of Tension)

• Reasons why U.S. sought détente:

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

• Early Success:

• 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 détente was just a new form of containment

Summary: Tried to prevent other countries to possess Nuclear weapons. Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty limited the spread of Nulcear weapons, France and China do not sign this treaty.. they later get Nuclear weapons. Kissinger felt that it could be a new form of containment which could stop the threat spreading communism and nuclear weapon possession. 

Ostpolitik

• German for ‘east politics’
• Western German leader, Willy Brandt wished to unite 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, others see it as another détente move

Summary: Ostpolitik was known as the normalization of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany ( West Germany) and Eastern Europe ( particularly East Germany). WIlly Brandt wished to untie the Germanys together, a Basic Treaty was signed in 1972. Later on he was accuses of selling out the East Germany as it was seen as an action of detente. 

When the President does it, that means that it's not illegal. 
-Richard M. Nixon 

Subjunctive Question: 
What would have happened if Nixon had followed through with the peace he had promised?