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{{Mediawiki:kindleoasis}}[[File:1149px-Kitchen debate.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Debate between Nikita Khrushchev and Richard Nixon in 1959 in American model kitchen in Moscow.]]

Detente was a period lasting approximately from 1972 to 1981 in which there . There was a thaw in relations between the United States and the Soviet Unionduring this time frame. It was punctuated by Several major and surprising events, including the end of American involvement in the Vietnam War, a large significant economic downturn in the West, and the opening of relations with China, occurred contemporaneously with the thaw. This period proved to be starkly different than the escalations in Cold War tensions in the 1960s and 1980s and is generally credited as a major function of attributed to Richard Nixon's deft diplomacy.

==Introduction==The Collapse of US/USSR relations after World War 2====The years leading up to the rapprochement between the United States and the Soviet Union were often tense, to say the least. The 1950s saw a massive military buildup on both sides, with the number of deployable nuclear weapons reaching into the tens of thousands. Furthermore, the 1950s and 1960s saw other countries, including the U.K., France, and China , each joining the nuclear club. The defining moment of this arms race was the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that brought the superpowers to the brink of war.

Additionally, the two sides were locked in a series of crises and wars across the globe. The Soviet Union began construction on the infamous Berlin Wall in 1961 to prevent people from leaving East Berlin. There were successive crises over Taiwan and the straits. The largest of these issues was certainly indeed the Vietnam War. Although the United States had been sending advisers to anti-Communist South Vietnam since France left its former colony in the 1950s, the involvement massively escalated in the mid-1960s. The U.S. utilized drafted soldiers, causing tremendous resentment on the home front. Furthermore, the South Vietnamese regime was unstable, facing several coups and general unpopularity. By 1968 there were already over 600,000 combat troops in the country, representing the peak of American intervention.

==Major Political Changes==[[File:Carter_Brezhnev_sign_SALT_II.jpg|200px|thumb|Although the United States had been sending advisers to anti-Communist South Vietnam since France left|The SALT II Treaty signed in 1979.]] There were a series of important shifts its former colony in the United States1950s, China, and Soviet Union that allowed for policy to change. In the Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev was replaced by party hardliner Leonid Brezhnevinvolvement quickly escalated in the mid-1960s. There was also increasing tension between the The U.S.S.R. and People's Republic of Chinautilized drafted soldiers, which resulted in a brief border conflict in 1969causing tremendous resentment on the home front. China's Great Leap ForwardFurthermore, intended to modernize and industrialize the country, had failed terriblySouth Vietnamese regime was unstable, facing several coups and dictator Mao Zedong sought alternatives to Soviet hegemony. The United States saw a prolonged period of instability initiated by the assassination of President John Kennedy in November 1963. Protests against involvement in Vietnam and a series of social issues continued to growgeneral unpopularity. By 1968 President Lyndon Johnson was broken there were already over 600,000 combat troops in spirit and decided not to run for re-election. <ref>Gaddisthe country, John Lewis, ''The Cold War: a New History.''' New York: Penguin Books, 2006. Pages 79-80representing the peak of American intervention.</ref>

It was ====The Seeds of Détente?====[[File:Carter_Brezhnev_sign_SALT_II.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The SALT II Treaty signed in this atmosphere that former Vice President Richard Nixon reemerged1979. Having served under President Eisenhower from 1953-1961 Nixon ran unsuccessfully for ]] By 1969, foreign relations between the United States and the White House against Kennedy in 1960Soviet Union were stressed. Nixon also launched Still, there were a failed bid for California governor series of essential shifts in 1964 the United States, China, and declared the Soviet Union that his political life was overchanged policy. Nixon had developed a contentious but respectful role with In the Soviet leadersUnion, even flying to Moscow for a debate with Premier Nikita Khrushchev on was replaced by party hardliner Leonid Brezhnev. There was also increasing tension between the U.S.S.R. and the strengths People's Republic of a capitalist systemChina, dubbed the "Kitchen Debate" which resulted in 1959. Nixon's return a brief border conflict in 1968 was built on the twin ideas that he would be tough on Communism and crack down on instability through his 'law and order' platform1969.

==Start of a Thaw==NixonChina's ascension brought competing ideas Great Leap Forward, intended to light. In one regardmodernize and industrialize the country, he was a Cold Warrior, launching tragic human and financial disaster. Dictator Mao Zedong was forced to seek alternatives to Soviet hegemony. The United States saw a large escalation prolonged period of bombing in Vietnam (and later Cambodia and Laos) while also dramatically reducing instability initiated by the number assassination of combat troops President John Kennedy in Southeast AsiaNovember 1963. Nixon also ended the draft, undercutting Protests against involvement in Vietnam and a major argument series of American dovessocial issues continued to grow. As both Brezhnev By 1968 President Lyndon Johnson was broken in spirit and Nixon were looked upon as hardlinersdecided not to run for re-election. <ref>Gaddis, it appeared that John Lewis, ''The Cold War: a thaw might not be possibleNew History. The year before Nixon took office''' New York: Penguin Books, Brezhnev launched a bloody repression of an uprising in Czechoslovakia2006. pgs. 79-80.</ref>

The United States also saw the emerging Sino-Soviet split. Mao bitterly resented Khrushchev's de-Stalinization , and the Soviets feared China joining the nuclear club. China was growing increasingly uneasy with the Soviets' role in Vietnam, disliking the idea of a Soviet client state on their southern border. With this backdrop, Nixon began negotiations with Soviet Premier Brezhnev in 1969 on a series of bilateral arms reduction treaties. The first was the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, or SALT, which limited the number of nuclear warheads on each side. The following year the two superpowers agreed to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, or ABM, which limited the number of anti-ICBM defenses each nation would develop. This thaw grew into a wider policy, known as Detente between East and West. One of the largest and most symbolic acts was the agreement between many capitalist and Communist nations to sign the Helsinki Accords in 1975 in an effort to further improve relations. A follow up SALT II Treaty was signed by Brezhnev and Carter in 1979. <ref>Hanhimaki, Jussi, ''The Rise and Fall of Detente.'' Washington: Potomac Books, 2013. Page 83.</ref>

==Opening Relations with China==[[File:Mao_Nixon.jpeg|thumbnail|300px|Nixon's famous visit The two superpowers agreed to Beijing in February 1972the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, or ABM, which limited the number of anti-ICBM defenses each nation would develop.]]The emergence of China on the geopolitical scene almost created This thaw grew into a tri-polar worldwider policy, known as Detente between East and West. China by the end One of the 1960s did not fall in largest and most symbolic acts was the Soviet camp agreement between many capitalist and Mao believed that the U.S.S.R. was adulterating Communist ideology. The U.S. refused nations to recognize sign the People's Republic since its victory Helsinki Accords in the Chinese Civil War in 19491975 to improve relations further. Chinese involvement against United Nations forces in the Korean War also deepened mistrust. However, this changed A follow-up SALT II Treaty was signed by the early 1970s. The two countries exchanged friendly ping-pong athletes for exhibition games, which evolved into deeper Brezhnev and deeper talks. Nixon had fostered such talks since his first term began Carter in 1969 but by 1971 National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger traveled secretly to Beijing to begin talks of a deeper thaw1979. <ref>DeVossHanhimaki, DavidJussi, "Ping-Pong Diplomacy''The Rise and Fall of Detente." '' Washington: Smithsonian MagazinePotomac Books, April 20022013. Page 83.</ref>

In July 1971 ====Opening Relations with China====[[File:Mao_Nixon.jpeg|thumbnail|300px|left|Nixon shocked audiences 's famous visit to Beijing in both the United States and Soviet Union by announcing that he was visiting China. In February 1972 he made .]]The emergence of China on the journey and had geopolitical scene almost created a cordial meeting with Maotri-polar world. The United States also recognized Chinaby the end of the 1960s did not fall in the Soviet camp, allowing and Mao believed that the PRC U.S.S.R. was adulterating Communist ideology. The U.S. has refused to take Taiwanrecognize the People's seat at Republic since its victory in the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Chinese involvement against United Nationsforces in the Korean War also deepened mistrust. However, this changed by the early 1970s. Shortly thereafter full diplomatic The two countries exchanged friendly ping-pong athletes for exhibition games, which evolved into deeper and commercial ties were establisheddeeper talks. Presidents Nixonhad fostered such talks since his first term began in 1969, Ford, and Carter attempted but by 1971 National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger traveled secretly to use this as leverage Beijing to smooth relations furtherbegin talks of a deeper thaw. Under the guise of improved relations and further local diplomacy<ref>DeVoss, David, "Ping-Pong Diplomacy." <i>Smithsonian Magazine</i>, the United States removed combat troops from Vietnam in 1973April 2002.</ref>

[[File:SovietInvasionAfghanistanMap.png|200px|thumb|left|====Conclusion====The better relations between the United States with China and the Soviet invasion Union were not a permanent development. As the United States and its allies fell into a deep "malaise" in the late 1970s, the Soviets attempted to take advantage of the situation. The Soviets expanded their influence in the Middle East and invaded Afghanistan to prop up a puppet government in 1979 was . Brezhnev also kept Eastern Europe repressed with a major factor heavy hand through the remainder of his dictatorship. Against this backdrop, former California Governor Ronald Reagan ran and won for President in ending 1980, promising to end the Detente.]]

The better relations between the United States with China and the Soviet Union was not a permanent development. As the United States and her allies fell into a deep "malaise" in the late 1970s the Soviets attempted to take advantage of the situation. The Soviets expanded their influence in the Middle East and invaded Afghanistan to prop up a puppet government in 1979. Brezhnev also kept Eastern Europe repressed with a heavy hand through the remainder of his dictatorship. It was in this backdrop that former California Governor Ronald Reagan ran and won for President in 1980, promising to end the Detente. ====References====

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