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Nixon's Foriegn Policy

 

Nixon and Kissinger's favorite mode of operation was secrecy, back-channel diplomacy. Frequently they acted with out the permission or the knowledge of the State Department.
             Nixon and Kissinger's obsession with secrecy would have disastrous consequences. Aside from a handful of NSC aides, Kissinger, the president, and ambassador Ellsworth Bunker would be the only ones aware of the parallel diplomatic track. Until January 25, 1972 the State Dept. the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA, and the Defense Dept. were kept out of this loop. President Thieu had been assured by Kissinger and Nixon that he would be consulted and kept abreast any private discussions [ ] He was informed but never consulted (Berman 43-44).
             Publicly, Nixon had promised that he would "win the peace- In Vietnam. Privately, he assured himself that he would not be the first American president to lose a war. To do so would not only be damaging to his image, but would encourage further aggression by the Soviets and the Chinese. He held on, hoping for an exit which would allow America at least the appearance of victory. .
             Nixon pursued an approach called Vietnamization. Initiating a series of phased withdrawals of American troops while expanding aid. This meant like it says, we would support South Vietnam with equipment and money while gradually withdrawing American troops from war. .
             By March of 1969 Nixon had a plan of action. He dispatched Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird to Vietnam, accompanied by General Wheeler, with a .
             Clear message: "The American people expected the new administration to bring the war to a satisfactory- (Berman, 49).
             Nixon coupled his policy of Vietnamization with hard-hitting attacks on North Vietnamese bases in Laos and Cambodia, but could not budge Hanoi (N. Vietnam's capital) into an agreement. The official peace talks stalled repeatedly. Covert dialogue between Henry Kissinger and North Vietnam dragged on with little progress.


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