Question

How would you describe Nixon and Kissinger’s policy of détente?

Answer 1

Hint: Richard Nixon was the 37th president of the United States of America, he was a republican. Henry Kissinger was the secretary of state during Nixon’s official term. Nixon held the office from 1969 to 1974 and made some major changes in the existing problems of the nation like the ongoing Vietnam war and the Cold war with the USSR.

Complete answer: - Détente is used to describe the period of easing tensions and peace between America and USSR, starting in 1971 and this was due to the efforts of President Nixon and his secretary of state, Henry Kissinger.
- The détente lasted from 1971 to 1979 and it was characterized by increased trade and communication between the two countries, the main aim of this policy was economic prosperity and peace.
- America and USSR also signed the Strategic Arms Limitations talks or SALTs. In May 1971, Nixon visited Moscow and signed seven agreements with Leonid Brezhnev, the general secretary of USSR. These agreements addressed things like prevention of military clashes and arms control. This was the first summit.
- The second summit was held in 1971 when Brezhnev visited the United States of America, new agreements were added to continue with the commitment of peace. The third summit was held in June 1974 but by then the relationship between the two countries had started somewhat cooling again.

Note: The reason for the failure of the third summit was that congress in America had blocked a few commercial deals with USSR because of their treatment of Jews. Nixon’s successors like Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan were supporters of military preparedness against USSR and human rights. The last straw was America’s entry into Afghanistan. This ended the détente.