Nixon's Foreign Policy and Its Liberal Critiques

Kissinger 743 to 753

Key liberal ideals shaping American foreign policy before Nixon

Collective security, judicial dispute settlement, disarmament as key to order.

Nixon's approach to foreign policy

Emphasized national interest and balance of power over collective security and disarmament.

Liberals' conflict about Nixon's foreign policy

Approved results like détente and China opening but disliked secret diplomacy and power politics methods.

Conservatives' view of Nixon's geopolitical strategy toward the USSR

Saw it as alien, preferring moral absolutism over compromise and believing negotiations equaled retreat.

Origin of the neoconservative movement

Emerged from liberal Democrats disillusioned by the Democratic Party's radical turn (e.g., McGovern 1972).

Neoconservatives' distrust of Nixon's Vietnam policy

Feared he might abandon U.S. interests to save his presidency and gave no credit for seeking 'honorable peace.'

Nixon's centralization of diplomacy

Bypassed State Dept. via backchannel with Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin, causing resentment among excluded officials.

Core debate between Nixon's strategic view of détente and his critics

Strategy (realism) vs. crusade (moralism)—incremental change vs. immediate results/moral clarity.

Senator Henry Jackson's characterization of détente in 1974

A Soviet tactic shifting from open conflict to covert ideological warfare (subversion, propaganda, blackmail).

Kissinger's 1976 analysis of Soviet power

USSR had systemic weaknesses, lagged militarily/economically, and wouldn't recklessly confront democracies.

Jackson's opposition to the ABM Treaty

Reduced U.S. missile defense sites from 12 to 2, limiting strategic flexibility he valued.

Main components of the 1972 SALT agreements

ABM Treaty (2 sites/200 interceptors) and Interim Agreement (freeze on offensive missile forces).

Impact of SALT I on U.S. and Soviet missile arsenals

U.S. had peaked earlier; Soviets dismantled 210 ICBMs but added 200/year until ceiling. U.S. led in MIRVs/bombers.

Missile inequality paradox post-SALT I

Critics framed voluntary U.S. limits as concessions, ignoring warhead/technology advantages.

Key defense programs Nixon launched during SALT era

B-1 bomber, stealth tech, MX missile, strategic cruise missiles, Trident submarines.

Jackson's concern about arms control

That focusing on negotiations would weaken defense strategy by making programs bargaining chips.

MAD doctrine's influence on SALT debate

Highlighted nuclear stalemate—deterrent value but no political utility, demoralizing allies and critics alike.

Philosophical shift during stalled arms control debates

Focus moved to human rights, aligning better with American idealism (e.g., Soviet Jewish emigration).

Nixon's handling of Jewish emigration issues with the USSR

Used tacit bargaining—no formal requests/responses, but lists of hardship cases led to 35,000 emigrants by 1973.

Jackson's 1972 response to the Soviet 'exit tax' on emigrants

Introduced amendment blocking MFN status for countries restricting emigration, targeting USSR's Lend-Lease deal.