Kissinger as National Security Adviser, 1968-1973 Henry Kissinger and American Power Osher Lifelong Learning 2018 1970 Nixon strategy: New Realism in foreign policy 1.) continued withdrawals – 150,000 – secret negotiations conducted by Kissinger in Paris 2.) invasion of Cambodia – May 1970 – domestic reaction – Kent State 3.) China – no progress – Mao reverses view after Cambodia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGBL AKq8xwc Kent State – May 4, 1970 Other Foreign Policy Frustrations and Achievements in 1970 1.) Middle East – Continuing Violence, Jordanian Crisis September 1970 (Kissinger – “”You can’t lose them all.”) 2.) Soviet submarine base in Cuba – Kissinger uses “channel” to prevent it 3.) Chile – Allende’s Victory – Kissinger’s role in plotting a coup – killing of General Schneider – debate over Kissinger’s responsibility 4.) Increasing European Assertiveness, German Ostpolitik 5.) Lack of Agreement with Soviets on Arms Control – no summit 6.) Kissinger cements his importance to Nixon – seen as a media favorite and asset to the Administration Midterm elections – Republican losses 1.) Republicans gained two seats in the Senate, but lost 9 in the House – Democratic margin in House elections increased from 1.1. million to 4.5 million 2.) Nixon – thought he might be a one-term president; considering end of the war announcement – tells advisers to highlight Kissinger, because of media favoritism https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/bob- haldeman-s-audio-diary-entry-on-nixon-s-plans-for-withdrawal-from- vietnam Kissinger answers a question about the decent interval: https://history.state.gov/conferences/2010-southeast- asia/secretary-kissinger 4.) Kissinger decides to stay 19710116CBS 001.mpg Nixon’s Frustrations, Kissinger’s Reassurance Low point in the Nixon presidency, Laos invasion had gone badly, Republican congressional leaders wanted to set a date to get out of Vietnam, Nixon resented their pressure 19710226CBS 001.mpg http://nixontapes.org/hak/1971-04- 07_Nixon_001-010.mp3 Shortly after this speech, things began to break for Nixon – the Chinese approved a trip, the Russians wanted talks Opening to China SALT negotiations Failure in South Asia – the India-Pakistan War of 1971 and the “tilt” toward Pakistan Kissinger as Nixon’s “Secret Agent” – TV coverage TV coverage Favorable treatment of Kissinger’s Press Club speech: 19720127CBS 001.mpg ht Kissinger in 1971 before China 19710710CBS 001.mp4 The trip to China: February 1972 Easter offensive, April 1972 Nixon’s gamble 1.) Nixon orders renewed bombing of North Vietnam and the mining of Haiphong harbor – against Kissinger’s advice 2.) Soviets don’t cancel the summit 3.) North Vietnam pressured to settle by Soviets and China The Soviet Summit McGovern’s Campaign – Come Home, America Kissinger’s – “Peace is at Hand” Press conference, Oct. 26, 1972 http://nixontapes.org/hak/1972-10- 26_Nixon_032-063.mp3 Nixon Landslide – 1968 vs. 1972 Time “Men of the Year” 1972 Christmas bombing December 1972 Paris Agreements Paris Peace Accords of January 1973 1.) North Vietnamese troops allowed to remain in the South 2.) US troops withdrawn 3.) US POWs returned 4.) Thieu remains in power (Nixon’s secret/public assurances) Nixon’s Second Term Hopes 1.) Year of Europe – planning for a new Atlantic Charter 2.) Middle East settlement – secret negotiations with Israel and Egypt 3.) Diplomatic Recognition of China and full relations 4.) A SALT II agreement with the Soviet Union Watergate Scandal Secretary of State, August 1973 Yom Kippur War, October 1973 Kissinger in the Middle East, 1973-1976 1.) Kissinger crafts the ceasefire that ends the Yom Kippur war of October 1973 – very favorable television coverage 2.) Kissinger negotiates disengagement agreements between Israel and Egypt and Israel and Syria 19740529NBC 001.mpg 3.) Kissinger establishes the United States as the “honest broker” for Middle East peace – pushes the Soviet Union out The Celebrity Diplomat – Dr. Kissinger Superman Kissinger Nixon’s Resignation – August 1974 Kissinger under attack 1.) Congress challenges Presidential power – Democratic “Watergate class of 1974” 2.) Opposition to détente among conservatives 3.) Liberals challenge morality of policies toward dictatorships like Chile, Brazil, Argentina 4.) Collapse in Vietnam Fall of Saigon, April 1975 Controversy over Solzhenitsyn and detente Helsinki Accords Helsinki – the Highpoint of Detente 1.) Soviet agreement on human rights questions 2.) Controversies in the US – role of Henry Jackson, issue of Soviet Jews, Ford and Solhzhenitsyn Opposition to Angola policy, December 1975 The Angolan Crisis – October-Dec. 1975 1.) Three factions – MPLA (Soviet and Cuban), FNLA (US) and UNITA (US and South African 2.) Cuban intervention 3.) South African intervention 4.) Congress cuts off US efforts 5.) Kissinger now engages in diplomacy in South Africa, push for majority rule in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia Criticism over human rights and Chile: Kissinger and Pinochet Kissinger under attack TV reports 19751205ABC 001.mpg Attacked from both sides of political spectrum Kissinger in Retirement 1.) Carter - Shadow Secretary of State (Attacked in books – Heller and Shawcross) 2.) Reagan – Adviser on the Soviet Union and Middle East – chair of the Central American Commission Attacked in Seymour Hersh, The Price of Power 3.) Bush I – influence of protégés – Brent Skowcroft, Lawrence Eagleburger 4.) Occasional Adviser – Clinton, Bush II, Obama Publication of Hitchens, The Trial of Henry Kissinger Softer Image Kissinger’s Public Service Ad after 9/11 20011108CNN 001.mpg.