Military History and the Geopolitical Collapse of the Soviet Union

America’s Military and National Resolve During the Cold War

• The Kennedy Doctrine and National Pledge:
  • During President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, he established a firm stance for the United States regarding the preservation of global freedom.
  • He pledged that the nation would "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
  • This directive served as the foundation for American foreign policy and military engagement throughout the high-tension years of the Cold War.
• The Role of the Military:
  • Maintaining a strong military was considered the essential key to America’s success against communist expansion.
  • Millions of Americans served in the armed forces during this era, tasked with defending freedom in various global theaters.
  • These conflicts were not always popular at home, and the cost of service was high, resulting in many service members being killed or wounded.
• Ultimate Outcome of the Struggle:
  • The United States and the American ideals of democracy and freedom ultimately prevailed in the long-term struggle against Soviet communism.
  • The transcript credits the service and sacrifice of military personnel as the reason for this victory.

Cold War Military Statistics and Casualties

• Conflict-Specific Data:

  • The Korean War:

    • Number serving: $5,720,000$
    • Total deaths: $36,574$
    • Battle deaths: $33,739$
    • Other deaths: $2,835$
    • Wounded: $103,284$

  • The Vietnam War:

    • Number serving: $8,744,000$
    • Total deaths: $58,220$
    • Battle deaths: $47,434$
    • Other deaths: $10,786$
    • Wounded: $303,644$

  • The Persian Gulf War:

    • Number serving: $2,225,000$
    • Total deaths: $383$
    • Battle deaths: $147$
    • Other deaths: $235$
    • Wounded: $467$

Treatment and Status of Cold War Veterans

• Contrasting Returns:
  • World War II veterans returned to a nation that was grateful and supportive.
  • In contrast, Vietnam veterans often faced indifference or outright hostility upon their return to the United States.
  • It took several years after the conclusion of the Vietnam War for national wounds to begin healing and for veterans to receive recognition for their service and sacrifice.
• Veterans and Homelessness:
  • There are approximately $8.2$ million Vietnam-era veterans.
  • $429,000$ veterans served in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that approximately $107,000$ veterans are homeless on any given night.
  • Nearly half ($50\%$) of all homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era.
  • Two-thirds ($\frac{2}{3}$) of homeless veterans served for at least $3$ years, and one-third ($\frac{1}{3}$) were stationed in an active war zone.

Nixon’s Foreign Policy and Détente

• Presidential Overview:
  • Richard M. Nixon was elected President in $1968$.
  • His greatest achievements are widely considered to be in the realm of foreign policy.
  • He employed a creative approach to foreign affairs to ease Cold War tensions and relied heavily on Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
• Détente:
  • Definition: A relaxation in tensions between the United States and the world’s two largest communist powers: China and the Soviet Union.
• Relations with China:
  • Nixon sought to improve the relationship through tangible diplomatic shifts.
  • He lifted restrictions on travel to China and ended the trade embargo.
  • In $1972$, Nixon became the first U.S. President to visit China.
• Relations with the Soviet Union:
  • In $1972$, Nixon visited the Soviet Union to meet with the Soviet Premier.
  • This visit led to the completion of negotiations for SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks).
  • SALT I effectively froze the number of nuclear missiles at their $1972$ levels.

The Transitions to Ford and Carter

• The Ford Presidency:
  • Richard Nixon resigned from office on August $9$, $1974$.
  • Gerald R. Ford became President following the resignation.
  • Ford issued a pardon to Nixon for all offenses, sparing the former president from further legal punishment.
• The Carter Presidency:
  • Jimmy Carter won the election of $1976$.
  • Carter was a former peanut farmer and Governor of Georgia; he arrived in Washington with no prior national political experience.
  • Major Challenges under Carter:
    • An unstable economy.
    • The Iran Hostage Crisis.
    • The boycott of the $1980$ Summer Olympics, which were held in Moscow.

Reagan, Gorbachev, and the End of the Cold War

• Ronald Reagan’s Presidency:
  • Elected in $1980$, Reagan was a former Hollywood actor and Governor of California.
  • At the time of his service, he was the oldest man to serve as President.
  • He adopted a "tough approach" toward the Soviet Union, famously labeling it the "Evil Empire."
• Military Expansion and Pressure:
  • Reagan initiated a very costly military buildup to outpace the Soviets.
  • Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): Proposed the creation of a massive satellite shield in space to intercept missiles; this was nicknamed "Star Wars."
  • Reagan increased both military and economic pressure on the Soviet Union.
  • He challenged the moral legitimacy of the Soviet state, exemplified by his famous speech at the Berlin Wall.
• Relationship with Mikhail Gorbachev:
  • Despite Reagan’s fierce anti-communist stance, he developed a close personal friendship with the Soviet leader.
• Gorbachev’s Reform Policies:
  • To reform the failing Soviet system, Gorbachev instituted two key policies:
    • Glasnost: Meaning "political openness," which allowed for freedom of speech.
    • Perestroika: Meaning "restructuring," which was an economic policy intended to allow limited free enterprise (capitalism).

The Collapse and Dissolution of the Soviet Union

• Primary Reasons for the Soviet Collapse:
  • Increasing military expenses required to compete with American defense spending.
  • Rising nationalism among the various Soviet republics.
  • Economic inefficiency inherent in the Soviet system.
  • The fast-paced nature of market economy reforms.
  • The opening of the political system via Glasnost and Perestroika, which weakened central control.
• The List of Soviet Socialist Republics (SSRs):
  • Russian SSR
  • Ukrainian SSR
  • Byelorussian SSR
  • Uzbek SSR
  • Kazakh SSR
  • Georgian SSR
  • Azerbaijan SSR
  • Lithuanian SSR
  • Moldovian SSR
  • Latvian SSR
  • Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) SSR
  • Tajik SSR
  • Armenian SSR
  • Turkmen SSR
  • Estonian SSR
• Final Timeline of Dissolution:
  • November $9$, $1989$: The Berlin Wall was opened/taken down.
  • December $25$, $1991$: Mikhail Gorbachev resigned the presidency of the Soviet Union.
  • Within one week of the resignation, the Soviet Union was officially dissolved.
  • The USSR was replaced by a loose alliance of former republics known as the Commonwealth of Independent States.