foreign policy Flashcards
weaknesses of veitnamisation
- had a practice of not helping them
- 1971 had huge amount of air support but were unsuccessful in Lam Som 719
4 factors for why Nixon withdrew America from Vietnam
- tet offensive showed him only Vietnamese fighting for themselves would win
- sino-soviet relations decreased communist threat
- ‘the greatest honour history can bestow is title of peacemaker’
- didn’t want Vietnam to ruin his presidency like it had Johnsons (was so unpopular with the country)
3 methods Nixon used to seek peace with honour
Vietnamisation
getting ussr and china to press north Vietnam to agree to peace
military pressure to force NV to agree
who was his national security advisor
Kissinger
when did Nixon bomb Ho Chi Minh trail to server communist supply lines
1969
why did Nixon exclude Thieu from peace talks
so he could make concessions and drop Johnsons demand that NV troops leave SV before US troops
in June 1969 Nixon announced withdrawal of how many US troops
25,000
what percentage of Americans approved of Cambodian offensive
50%
what did Nixon do in 1970 that was controversial
- carpet bombed NV bases, Ho Chi Minh trail and Cambodia
- sent 30,000 US and SV troops into Cambodia (achieved little but protests)
congress threatened to stop financing war
Kent State Protest - when and what was it
May 1970
- rally opposing expanding involvement of war into Cambodia
- Ohio National Guard fired into crowd, killing 4 students
what demonstrated the failure of Vietnamisation in 1971
Lam Son Offensive
how many Americans (%) thought it was important for SV not to fall
74 %
what did Nixon do to Hanoi and Haiphong in 1972 that nearly made congress pull finance
bombed Hanoi (capital) and mined great port Haiphong
how did Nixon drive NV to settlement (choose 4)
mad man theory
- bombing, exhaustion, American concessions, Sino-soviet pressure and his likely re election etc
NV conceded that Theiu could stay in power on what condition
NV had a say in SV govt
terms of Paris Peace accords
- ceasefire
- NV forces could stay in SV but cannot fight or increase
- SV continue to exist with Theiu in power
- The Committee of National Reconciliation would contain communists
what disguised americas retreat
heavy bombing
when were Paris peace accords signed
jan 1973
negative of Paris peace accords
NV troops still in SV
positives of Paris peace accords
- Theiu still in power and SV forces supplied with American equipment
policy of realpolitik
putting American interests first at the expense of others
what happened in 1970 Chile that worried Nixon - what did he instruct CIA to do
election of socialist president Allende
- obstruct govt and possibly remove him
how did the CIA help remove Allende (Chile)
cut $70 mil aid to Chile
encouraged a military coup in Sept 1973
who was brought to power after coup in Chile 1973
dictator General Pinochet (condoned by USA)
what did Kissinger tell Nixon about the CIA’s involvement in Chile
didn’t do it but ‘created conditions’ for it to take place
Kissingers beliefs on foreign policy - what did he criticise previous leaders of doing
- felt US power was being wasted on helping weak regimes such as SV and SK.
he preferred directly negotiating with powers such as China and USSR
- if justice and rights were ignored USA would be on top
when did Nixon visit USSR
may 1972 - signed agreements that limited nuclear weapons
when did Nixon visit China
Feb 1972
- lots of media attention
what made Nixon unique to other presidents that had tried to improve relations with USSR and China
had the reputation of being a staunch anti- communist and was heavily involved with HUAC
