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Cold War Policies (1945-1991)

Under Truman

His foreign policies are largely militarized, having a heavy reliance towards aggressive action.

Marshall Plan

June 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall announced that the US would finance and aid European
recovery. Soviet Union and Eastern Europe refused to join or partake in the Marshall Plan.

1948, the Marshall Plan spent $12.4 billion to Western Europe before it ended in 1951. All money spent,
must be spent on US products to help the US economy.

Cons:
- caused inflation
- failed to solve a balance-of-payments problems
- little steps towards economic integration

Pros:

- helped Western European industrial production


- became self-sustaining economic growth

National Security Act of 1947

Department of Defense (replaced the Department of War)


National Security Council (NSC)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) which conducted spying and information gathering

1950, the CIA, had expanded to covert operations aimed at overthrowing unfriendly leaders

1953, United States Information Agency was created to counter Soviet propaganda

June 1948, American, Britain and France agreed to fuse their parts of Germany together.

In response to the fusing, the Soviet Union cut off Western access to the joint occupation of Berlin.
President Truman ordered massive airlift of food, fuel, and other supplies to Berlin. The blockade was lifted
in May 1949.

NATO was founded in April 1949.

Mutual Defense Assistance Act allowed for spending towards NATO.

September 1949 Russia exploded their first atomic weapon. This spurred the development of the Hydrogen
Bomb.

National Security Council delivered a report tagged as NSC-68 which asked for an increase in military
budget to counter the Soviet. The start of the Korean War allowed for all this to happen without Congress
dissension.

1951, Japan and American signed a separate peace treaty – it restored sovereignty and ended occupation. A
defense pact was started with Japan as well.
Under Eisenhower
He continued to utilize containment; he also accepted the threat of the Cold War.

John Foster Dulles was a foreign administrator that Eisenhower relied on heavily – he demanded for
liberation instead of containment and is a staunch supporter of McCarthyism.

Eisenhower emphasized nuclear and air power as means of containment.

1950s Brinkmanship was practiced, a belief that meant never backing down even if the threat of war arises.

Domino Theory was established and clearly defined during this time – it is the belief that if one small
country falls then larger ones will too.

CIA reliance was heavy as well in Third World countries.

1952, America launched its first H-Bomb.

1953, Russia launched its first H-Bomb. Russia also became the first to launch and intercontinental ballistic
missile (ICBM) and then creating Sputnik.

1960, the US created Polaris missile bearing submarines into its navy. NASA (1958) was also created as a
counter response to the Soviet Union’s space advancement.

CIA U-2 spy planes also collected information which revealed that the Soviets had very little ICBMs.

Eisenhower, was not an advocate for the arms race, he knew that it would be costly and difficult to balance.
In response to the growing nuclear fear, Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE) was created in 1957.

Under John F. Kennedy


Disposed of Eisenhower’s “massive retaliation and prepared for all types of warfare. He bolstered military
aggression. Believed in a “flexible response” which is reacting against action.

1961 – ICBMs rose in numbers and military budget rose by 15%.


1964 – There was a 150% nuclear weapon increase.

Government encouraged citizens to build fallout shelters.

Arms and Disarmament Agency and the Limited Test Ban Treaty with the Soviet Union (1963) which
banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere, outer space and underwater. However, JFK actually accelerated
the arms race more than anything.

1961, Soviets wanted to negotiate an end to Western occupation of West Berlin. Kennedy rejected talks and
requested a $3.2 billion for defense.

August 1961, Russia began to erect a solid wall between East Berlin and West Berlin.

JFK involvement in the Cuban missile crisis was the most serious confrontation during his presidency – if
not all of the presidency. This event was actually started, initiated by Eisenhower when he demanded that
the CIA begin covert operations involving Cuban exiles. This began the sanctions of Cuba.
Under Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson shared similar thought patterns common to previous presidents. He did improve Soviet-
American relations by meetings in 1967 and his advocacy of nonproliferation treaty which was signed in
1968; the Cold War remained a solid problem.

Under Nixon
Nixon relied on a Harvard professor, Henry A. Kissinger who believed in the philosophy of “the ends
justify the means.”

Nixon and Kissinger promoted global balance of power and the first part to such policy is known as
détente: measured cooperation with the Soviets through negotiations within a general environment of
rivalry.

Détente’s primary purpose is containment – checking Soviet expansion and limiting their arms build-up.

The second part of the strategy was curbing radicalism/revolutions within the Third World that threatened
US trade.

Nixon expanded trade with the Soviet Union, and sent a $1 billion worth of American grain at bargain
prices.

SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks) were employed to reduce arms race. It also ended with a limited
antiballistic missile (ABM). There was also a five year freeze on offensive nuclear missiles.

Détente was also discussed with China, this ended Sin-American hostility. 1972, Nixon made a trip to
China where China hoped to improve trade relations. China and American agreed that the Soviet Union
should not be allowed to make gains in Asia.

It was concluded that economic stability and peace were intrinsic and interlinked. Unfortunately, by the
1970s the world was suffering from recession and Third World countries were heavily in debt. As a result,
the US suffered from trade deficit.

US’s international market was very strong and the majority of its economic reassurance came from
international relations which might have spurred the calming of relations with former unfriendly states.

Under Carter
Carter, unlike his predecessors, asked that Americans put Communism behind them. He wanted to reduce
the militarization that had taken place over the previous years. He also intended to advance peace talks in
the Middle East, mediate conflicts in the Third World and create economic stability. He also sought to
protect the environment.

Détente was slowly undone under Carter. His pressures on Soviet’s need to respect human rights and
acceptance towards opposition widen the gap. However SALT II was signed.

The agreement forced the Soviet Union to dismantle while it allowed the US to fill in the new gap it was
short on. However, this only pertained to the missiles and not warheads.
Middle East also tightened tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. The US boycotted the
1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow – CIA began to aid Afghan insurgents. However, Soviet forces did not
withdraw.

He is generally remembered for reviving the Cold War although he did have some success.

Under Reagan
He believed in the Devil Theory which is an avocation of the fact that the Soviet Union is really an “evil
empire” and the source of the world’s problems.

Détente suffered in further under Reagan’s administration by accusing the Soviets us readying to attack. He
believed that military force could limit Soviet aggression. He also caused more upheaval in the Third
World.

1985, Pentagon was spending $28 million an hour on the military. Reagan bolstered the military with new
weapons as well and created the SDI – Strategic Defense Initiative.

He also believed firmly in intervention – military intervention that is.

Reagan Doctrine claimed its root from the old declaration that the US will back any anti-communist
government. CIA became a key player in helping many countries.

Although relations with Soviet turned sour, Reagan did begin off on a good note by lifting the trade
embargo that Carter had imposed.

1981 – There was global outcry for American-Soviet arms race to be stopped and to prevent nuclear
holocaust.

1982 – Largest peace protest demanding America to freeze nuclear arms race.

1981 – The government did attempt to have peace talks. This created START – replacement to SALT. Both
sides agreed that missiles should be limited, but Soviet insisted that the Americans stop SDI.

By 1988 – Soviet relations had improved significantly – after Gorbachev, a new generation agreed to
reduce missiles and restore Soviet economy. Gorbachev also began arms reduction and settled regional
conflicts.

1989 – Soviet troops had left the state of Afghanistan and pulled out of Cambodia and Cuba.

By this time, the Cold War was ending and winding down with Bush taking the office.

In 1989 – East Germany renounced Communism and merged with West Germany – the Berlin Wall was
overcome. In 1990 – Soviet began to dismantle and with Gorbachev denouncing Communism more states
left.

This signaled the end of the Cold War.

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