Reagan Administration U.S. Soviet Relations example essay topic

American Presidency Cycle Parker Dr. Mark Leeper December 12th 2007 All the Worlds' a Stage; A Foreign Policy FOR America? In depth look at Presidential Policies and Action between the United States & neighboring Soviet nations in the 21st Century Often on the world stage, the relationships and tensions that play out between the superpowers of the globe has always been complex. How each leader of each respected nation handles these crises sets the foundation from which future leaders will derive effective solutions. There is the natural inclination to achieve dominance on the world stage, while trying to keep a stable relationship with neighboring world powers. The United States and the USSR had been recognized as superpowers since the end of World War II. "Boosting America into a foreign policy arms race, the United States' Manhattan Project led to atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945".

(Cohen, 20) In 1949, the USSR surprised the world by breaking the United States' monopoly on atomic weapons by exploding their own atomic bomb. In 1952, the United States developed and exploded a thermonuclear weapon, also known as the hydrogen bomb. In the following year, the USSR followed suit by detonating their hydrogen bomb. On a global playground for men with big guns, quickly it was realized that our two countries had major ideological differences. The American system of free market capitalism was in stark contrast to Soviet communism. (Cohen 54, 84) The American economy was built, made and sustained by self-made men who had brought themselves from "rags-to-riches".

This stereotype was further perpetuated by American authors of the time and living examples of true life heroes of American industry such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. The USSR's communist ideology was based on the belief that every person should have the same social status as everyone else with no citizens outranking in elite classes. Both countries began to stockpile nuclear weapons and the period known as the "Cold War" began when World War II ended. What culminating actions on either side caused this "warm tension" to become a period in our nation's history blemished with tales of espionage and counter-espionage between our two countries, each trying to get political and technological advantage over the other? This unofficial conflict lasted throughout each presidential administration predating Jimmy Carters induction until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 during the Bush Sr. administration. This essay will examine the events, policies and actions during each of the Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations that eased tensions between the countries or kept them apart.

Ford Administration Gerald Ford, the thirty-eighth president of the United States of America came took the oath in office on August 9, 1974 after Nixon had resigned. He was known as the "Accidental President" and declared, "I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances... This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts", after swearing in. Ford had been vice president for the previous two years under Nixon's term until his resignation. Ford was viewed by himself as a dyed-in-the-wool internationalist in foreign affairs. For the first term of his presidency, "Ford entrusted the foreign policy in the hands of the US Secretary of State, Kissinger, which gave Ford plenty of time to meet and become friends with world leaders.

Ford met with the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev e and the leaders of other European nations to sign the Helsinki Accords in 1975, which recognized the existing boundaries after the second world war". (Cohen 201-203) Strong states on human rights, which later in the Carter term would be used to hold the Soviets responsible for their actions in the Eastern European nations were included in the accords. Mr. Ford called for greater increases in defense spending to throw back at his critics who said that the accords had accepted the Soviet ruling in eastern European countries. Disagreements dealing with limits on Soviet bombers and American cruise missiles resulted in a failure to talk about negotiating and agreeing with the Soviet Union about limiting production and deployment of nuclear weapons. The communist armies of Laos, South Vietnam, and Cambodia consolidated their ruling over all of Indochina during President Ford's term. In 1974 he asked for an infusion to help aid the Southern Vietnam troops to fight back against a major offensive force in the north.

The US congress turned this down and refused to honor a commitment made by the notorious former president, Richard Nixon to "help the South in case of an invasion. Ford had little choice but to order the evacuation of all of the American troops as communist troops seized on Saigon in 1975. The north had infiltrated all of the South within days. Khmer Rouge, Cambodian communists, charged an American cargo ship with its thirty-eight American crew on board. The president, mandated a commando raid to release the crew. In the raid, forty-five Americans were killed on the island of Koh Tang.

Kissinger and Ford showed the return of the ship as a victory on the US's part which led to Ford gaining more public support". (Dallek 207-208) Carter Administration James Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia. He had 3 siblings, 2 sisters (Gloria and Ruth) and a brother named William. He was a southern Democrat, also sometimes known as a Dixie-Chat. Following his high school education in his home town, Carter attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He ran for presidential office on the Democratic ticket in 1976, as the former Governor of Georgia.

He defeated the incumbent Gerald Ford who was Republican. President Carter's agenda was mainly one of domestic issues such as unemployment and Civil rights. Carter's stance on foreign affairs was one of diplomacy. He received worldwide attention in 1977 when supported human rights movements in the USSR and other nations 1. U.S. - Soviet relations were strained when the Soviets deployed medium-range nuclear weapons in Europe.

A huge blow was dealt to this relationship when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in late 1979 and early 1980 and U.S. -Soviet relations were at their lowest point in some time. As a result of this invasion by the Soviet Union, the U. S placed an embargo on American grain to the USSR. The U. S also sent weapons to the group of rebels (known as the Taliban) fighting the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. "Weapons such as the stinger anti-air missile were given to help the Taliban. Carter also pressed for a U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, which was carried out by the American athletes.

President Carter gave the go ahead on a new missile system, know as the MX. This further strained international relations as only a new nuclear weapons system can. Things were not all bad between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during Carter's presidency. In 1979 the Carter administration and Soviet officials negotiated a treaty to limit the use of nuclear arms by the U.S. and the USSR. It was known as the S.A.L.T. II treaty because it resulted from the second round of Strategic Arms Limitations Talks. The treaty would not take effect however unless it was approved by the U.S. Senate".

(Pika, Maltese 374) Carter had hoped to continue the policy of the easing of tensions or strained relations with the Soviet Union, however his appointment to the National Security Council of Brzezinski gave him an adviser who was intensely suspicious of Soviet motives, and led Carter into several major meetings with the Russians. "Carter ordered a large five-year defense buildup that the Soviets found provocative". (Hastedt 236) "The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to quash a Muslim-based rebellion outraged the United States in return". (Pika, Maltese 374) The guerrilla war that ensued put a crimp in arms control talks between Moscow and Washington. The two sides had signed SALT II, a treaty limiting the deployment of nuclear missiles, and as mentioned above, the treaty had already been sent to the Senate. "After the invasion it was clear that the Senate would take no action.

Carter withdrew the treaty, but Moscow and Washington agreed to follow the rules, even though neither side signed it" (Hastedt 237,240) Carter ordered a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Games by U.S. athletes in punishment for the USSR invading Afghanistan. Because much of the American public of the time considered this to be more of a punishment aimed towards American swimmers and runners than Soviet leaders, Carter's response only reinforced his weak image. When he chose to grant the communist regime formal diplomatic recognition on January 1, 1979, Carter continued to expand American contacts with communist China. (Dallek 162-163) To do that would have required the break up of diplomatic ties and withdrawal of recognition of non-communist Taiwan. In addition, Carter revoked the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1955 with the Republic of China, starting on January 1, 1980. "Carter's treaty abrogation was challenged in the federal courts by conservative Republicans.

In the federal district court his opponents won. However, in an appeals court the government's position that Carter had the power to revoke the treaty without Senate consent won. The Supreme Court then threw the entire case out without rethinking any decision, resulting in leaving the constitutional win with the president by default. Carter's recognition of China significantly reduced tensions in East Asia". (Ikenberry 602-604) Hard-liners in China were replaced by communists who were more interested in economic growth than in military confrontations.

Beneficial trade relations were established between China and the U.S., leading to huge imports of finished consumer goods from China, in return for U.S. lumber and foodstuffs. Many people believed that these actions served as milestones in slowing the arms race. Reagan Administration Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in 1911 and died in 2004. He was seen as an icon of American greatness and traditional values by many of his constituents. Reagan had first become famous as an actor in Hollywood movies. Reagan was known for his considerable personal charm and his identification with conservative groups.

After having been elected as Governor of California he set his political sights on the White House in the 1980 presidential election and defeated Jimmy Carter with his charm and good looks (In theory). The Reagan administration was staunchly against the Soviet Union and all of the influence that it projected around the world. In March 1983, Reagan famously labeled the USSR. "an evil empire". Jean Kirkpatrick, the U.S. ambassador to the U. N, devised a formula for directing the U.S. crusade on "leftists". Governments globally were placed in two categories, authoritarian and totalitarian; the U. S deemed itself to be more compatible with authoritarian governments. Using this formula the U.S. successfully stopped or overthrew many leftist regimes or governments around the world to so hinder the possible global spread of communism.

The Reagan administration did much too unease the Soviet Union. They sent large quantities of military supplies to traditionalist Muslim guerillas that were fighting modernizing communist governments supported by the Soviet Union. Military arms, money and advisors were also sent to: Angola, El Salvador, Grenada and most controversially, Nicaragua. "In Nicaragua a major campaign was mobilized to overthrow the Sandinista government. Besides money, weapons and training, the U.S. also planted mines in Nicaraguan harbors'. The U. S also sold arms to Iran and then used the money to help the contras who were fighting Sandinista".

(Hastedt 154-155) This was a huge scandal because at the time the U. S had a policy against selling weapons to Iran and other supporters or terrorism. All of these actions greatly increased Soviet-American tensions due to the fact that the U. S was undermining the spread of left-leaning, democratically elected governments around the world. On top of the support for right-wing governments, "Reagan insisted on a massive build-up of the military on the basis that the U. S needed an advantage militarily over the Soviet Union. This big build-up threatened Soviet security and impeded efforts to stabilize or reverse the arms race.

The Soviet Union protested when in 1983 Pershing missiles were deployed in European NATO countries". (Dallek 177) Reagan also insisted on pushing a new missile defense plan, known commonly as "Star Wars."Star Wars" technology supposedly would "enable the U.S. to intercept enemy missiles in space using micro-machines; this would make it easier for the U.S. to launch an attack on the USSR without fear or a retaliatory strike. Reagan claimed that "Star Wars" did not violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missiles Treaty but the controversy over the program halted strategic arms control talks to a standstill". (Cohen 232-233) Mikhail Gorbachev, Premier of the Soviet Union protested "Star Wars" greatly during summit meetings with Reagan in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988. Many people at the time believed that the feared nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union might begin due to the actions of Reagan. However, the lofty "Star Wars" project was never built or put into operation partly due to the massive budget it would have required and the controversy it stirred about its function.

Not all of the actions by the Reagan administration increased tensions between the two great superpowers. "In 1987, Mikhail Gorbachev visited the U.S. He and Reagan signed the Intermediate and Short Range Missiles Treaty. In the treaty, the two countries agreed to eliminate all ground-launched nuclear missiles with ranges between 500 to 5,500 km (310 to 3420 miles)". (Cohen 234) The treaty took effect in 1988. Although this was a small fraction of the countries nuclear stockpiles, it was significant in the fact that it was the first time existing nuclear weapons were being destroyed.

Also that year, Reagan met with Gorbachev in the Soviet Union so as to show the U. S had some degree of trust in the Soviet Union. Although this was a fraction of the respective countries nuclear stockpiles, it was significant in the fact that it was the first time existing nuclear weapons were being destroyed. This was one of the few actions that Reagan did to ease tensions between the U. S and the USSR. Bush Sr. Administration George Herbert Walker Bush was born on June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts. He was vice president under Reagan and was like Reagan in many ways, but without the charismatic personal charm. After graduating from Phillips Academy, Andover, Bush joined the U.S. Naval reserve.

During WWII he served as a torpedo bomber pilot in the Pacific Theatre. He was shot down and for his service efforts he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Post war he attended Yale University from which he graduated in 1948. Bush Sr. was chosen to serve as vice-president for Ronald Reagan in both of his consecutive terms after abandoning hope of winning the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 1980. When Bush defeated Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election he continued much of the foreign policy of President Reagan.

President Bush increased military spending for the "Star Wars" program. Bush also refused to end nuclear weapons tests even after the USSR had done so. Much of the Bush presidency concerning U. S-Soviet had to do with the USSR collapsing in 1991. Although even before it collapsed Bush had been meeting with Soviet leaders to sign new, unprecedented treaties.

"In 1989, Bush met Mikhail Gorbachev on a Soviet ship off the coast of Malta. Then in May and June of 1990, Gorbachev came to the U.S. At this meeting between the two leaders they both agreed on destroying most of their countries chemical stockpiles. This was a very important step in halting and reversing the arms race". (Hastedt 239-240) The relations between the two countries improved as well at the U.N. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Bush sought support from the USSR in the U.N. to expel Iraq from Kuwait. The USSR approved and the resolution was passed.

This was another great moment as for many years the two countries had used their veto powers to halt any resolutions that might help clear up problems for the other country. In that same year Bush, Gorbachev and many other world leaders signed the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe this treaty called for the destruction of many tanks and other non-nuclear weapons in Europe. A revised form of this treaty was put into effect in 1992. In 1991, Gorbachev and Bush met in Moscow to sign the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty One third of nuclear weapons and long-range bombers were to be destroyed. (Hastedt 28-30) This was the first treaty to reduce the number of long-range nuclear weapons. U. S-Soviet relations were flying high. During the Carter's presidency, Soviet-American relations were at a low due to the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 by the Soviet Union.

The boycott of the Olympics and embargo on U.S. grain to the USSR were only reactions to this crisis. Through no real fault of President Carter the two superpowers were very far apart diplomatically. In the Reagan administration U. S-Soviet relations hit their lowest point at times. The constant criticism and military build-up of the U.S. took their toll on Soviet patience. Through fanciful projects like "Star Wars" the bridge between the two countries only crossed due to the fear of nuclear annihilation. "The INF treaty was one of the few things that brought the U.S. and USSR closer together as co-operating nations".

(Hastedt 239) During the Bush administration the two nations came together finally. By the time they did however, the Soviet Union collapsed. Luckily before this happened many treaties were signed involving the two nations such as START I. (Hastedt 236-37,240) It took the right sequence of events but eventually the two nations could be tolerant neighbors in our world. The actions of many men ultimately create the image of the leader who is running our great nation. Etched in the canvas of political history are those actions accountable to the man who presides over the oval office. From my research I have gathered that in recent decades a multitude of life-saving presidential techniques have been used to create a less hostile climate, encourage disarmament and peace talks in neighboring countries as well as promote a general foreign policy for America.

While in the interim of great leaders there have been intermissions of presidential blunders the above stated presidents have effectively and procedurally carried out the duties of the presidency as outlined in the make up of our nation's greatest document, the Constitution of the United States.

Bibliography

1., Pika, Joseph and John Anthony Maltese. The Politics of the Presidency. Washington, DC: GQ Press 2006 2.
Cohen, Warren I. The Cambridge History of American Foreign Relations Volume IV America in the Age of Soviet Power, 1945-1991.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993 3.
Dallek, Robert. The American Style of Foreign Policy Cultural Politics and Foreign Affairs. New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1983.
4., Ikenberry John G. American Foreign Policy Theoretical Essays. Glenview Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1989.
5., Hastedt, Glenn P. American Foreign Policy. Guilford, CT: Dushkin Publishing Group / Brown & Benchmark Publishers, 1997.