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Moscow 1972: Address to the Soviet People
President Nixon spoke directly to the Soviet and American people in a live television address from Moscow In all the bilateral negotiations, backchannel consultations, and breakthrough agreements that occurred before and during the first Moscow summit, it is easy to...
Moscow 1972: Nixon Negotiates
When President Nixon arrived in Moscow on May 22, 1972, the prospective results of his trip were all but predictable. Although the existence of the US-Soviet summit proved that both governments were prepared to open a new dialogue, most remained skeptic about the...
Nixon’s Defense Secretary Melvin Laird Dies at 94
Defense Secretary Laird helped end the Vietnam War and implement all-volunteer military Melvin Laird, former Secretary of Defense under President Nixon died November 16 in Fort Myers, Florida. He was 94. During his tenure as Defense Secretary from 1969-1973, Laird was...
Moscow 1972: Eve of the Summit
Nixon becomes first U.S. President to visit Moscow On a rainy day in May of 1972, President Nixon addressed a crowd buzzing with anticipation at Andrew’s Air Force Base as he prepared to depart on an extraordinary trip. President Nixon made history early that year...
President Nixon’s Vision of NATO
Nixon’s first trip abroad as president was a tour of the major European cities. As he traveled through Brussels and London, West Berlin and Paris, President Nixon carefully evaluated the collective concerns faced by Western Europe and the United States, and NATO’s...
Then and Now: U.S. Support of NATO
Recently, the United State’s role in NATO has received renewed public interest. While some Americans wish to continue backing NATO, critics of the alliance have called into question the levels of U.S. monetary and military support. U.S. representatives to NATO have...
Nixon Expands Veterans Benefits
President Nixon signs two landmark bills to expand Veterans benefits on this day in 1972 On October 24, 1972 President Nixon signed into law two bills that significantly expanded Veterans benefits, ensuring that not only those who were returning home from Vietnam were...
The Space Race and Peaceful Competition
The Space Race demonstrated that the United States and Soviet Union could partake in peaceful competition and cooperation From Sputnik to the lunar landings, the Space Race represented one of the more electrifying aspects of the Cold War: the United States and the...
In the Arena with Newt Gingrich
October 19, 2016: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich returned to the Nixon Library for a special East Room talk, paying homage to Richard Nixon's political career and accomplishments while offering insider analysis regarding the current presidential election....
Ostpolitik and Détente
The Four Power Agreement fused the objectives of Ostpolitik and Détente, setting Germany on the path to reunification Nowhere was the division between the East and the West more noticeable than Berlin. Following Allied victory in 1945, the United States, United...