Like all presidents of the United States, Richard M. Nixon left behind a legacy. His diplomatic relations with China and the Soviet Union benefitted the United States in many ways. However, the Watergate scandal marred Nixon’s presidency and clouded over all the good that he had done for the country. If placed on a scale, Nixon’s successes would definitely outweigh his failures.
Nixon’s actions concerning the United States’ foreign policy proved to be beneficial. During his administration, Nixon set out to improve relations with Communist countries. He felt that negotiations with the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union would help bring stability to the world. Nixon’s diplomatic interactions with Asian countries show his …show more content…
Small steps had to be taken first. Nixon eased trade restrictions between China and the United States to provide for a more friendly ground of interaction. In addition, the PRC invited the US ping-pong team to play a match in communist China. This informal contact, known as “Ping Pong Diplomacy,” helped ease the two countries into a more serious relation. While this was going on, Henry Kissinger, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, made two secret trips to Beijing, to discuss conditions for the US-PRC relation. Nixon opted to use the Pakistani President, Yahya Khan, as an intermediary between the US and China for Nixon feared that the US Department of State would oppose the foreign negotiations. Plus, Pakistan had good relations with both the US and PRC, so it made sense to contact China via Pakistan. Finally, on February 21, 1972, Nixon flew to China and met with Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and Zhou Enlai, the PRC Premier to discuss détente between the two countries.
The results of Nixon’s week in China benefited both countries. As the trip neared its end, the two governments issued the Shanghai Communiqué. The document recognized China and Taiwan as one inclusive China. It was not a case of two Chinas, one China and one Taiwan, or an independent Taiwan. The Shanghai Communiqué …show more content…
Scared that more information similar to the Pentagon Papers would be released to the public, Nixon organized a secret Special Investigation Unit to prevent “leaks” of information that might harm “national security.” The members of the committee were aptly dubbed the Plumbers. To soothe Nixon’s worries about his political opponents in the upcoming elections, CREEP-Committee for the Re-election of the President- worked to promote the candidate that would be easiest to defeat. The Plumbers played dirty tricks on the Democratic candidates, hoping to turn the presidential hopefuls against each other. Yet none of none of these scams compare to the infamous Watergate
Nixon’s actions concerning the United States’ foreign policy proved to be beneficial. During his administration, Nixon set out to improve relations with Communist countries. He felt that negotiations with the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union would help bring stability to the world. Nixon’s diplomatic interactions with Asian countries show his …show more content…
Small steps had to be taken first. Nixon eased trade restrictions between China and the United States to provide for a more friendly ground of interaction. In addition, the PRC invited the US ping-pong team to play a match in communist China. This informal contact, known as “Ping Pong Diplomacy,” helped ease the two countries into a more serious relation. While this was going on, Henry Kissinger, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, made two secret trips to Beijing, to discuss conditions for the US-PRC relation. Nixon opted to use the Pakistani President, Yahya Khan, as an intermediary between the US and China for Nixon feared that the US Department of State would oppose the foreign negotiations. Plus, Pakistan had good relations with both the US and PRC, so it made sense to contact China via Pakistan. Finally, on February 21, 1972, Nixon flew to China and met with Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and Zhou Enlai, the PRC Premier to discuss détente between the two countries.
The results of Nixon’s week in China benefited both countries. As the trip neared its end, the two governments issued the Shanghai Communiqué. The document recognized China and Taiwan as one inclusive China. It was not a case of two Chinas, one China and one Taiwan, or an independent Taiwan. The Shanghai Communiqué …show more content…
Scared that more information similar to the Pentagon Papers would be released to the public, Nixon organized a secret Special Investigation Unit to prevent “leaks” of information that might harm “national security.” The members of the committee were aptly dubbed the Plumbers. To soothe Nixon’s worries about his political opponents in the upcoming elections, CREEP-Committee for the Re-election of the President- worked to promote the candidate that would be easiest to defeat. The Plumbers played dirty tricks on the Democratic candidates, hoping to turn the presidential hopefuls against each other. Yet none of none of these scams compare to the infamous Watergate