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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 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 attributed to Richard Nixon's deft diplomacy.

The years leading up to the rapprochement between the United States and the Soviet Union were often tense. 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.

====What is The Seeds of Détente?====[[File:Carter_Brezhnev_sign_SALT_II.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The SALT II Treaty signed in 1979.]] By 1969, foreign relations between the United States and the Soviet Union were stressed. Still, there were a series of essential shifts in the United States, China, and the Soviet Union that changed policy. In the Soviet Union, Premier Nikita Khrushchev was replaced by party hardliner Leonid Brezhnev. There was also increasing tension between the U.S.S.R. and the People's Republic of China, which resulted in a brief border conflict in 1969.

====Major Political Changes====[[File:Carter_Brezhnev_sign_SALT_IIChina's Great Leap Forward, intended to modernize and industrialize the country, was a tragic human and financial disaster. Dictator Mao Zedong was forced to seek alternatives to Soviet hegemony.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The SALT II Treaty signed United States saw a prolonged period of instability initiated by the assassination of President John Kennedy in 1979November 1963.]] There were Protests against involvement in Vietnam and a series of important shifts social issues continued to grow. By 1968 President Lyndon Johnson was broken in the United States, China, spirit and the Soviet Union that allowed decided not to run for policy to changere-election. In the Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev was replaced by party hardliner Leonid Brezhnev<ref>Gaddis, John Lewis, ''The Cold War: a New History. There was also increasing tension between the U.S.S''' New York: Penguin Books, 2006.Rpgs. and People's Republic of China, which resulted in a brief border conflict in 196979-80. </ref>

China's Great Leap ForwardIt was in this atmosphere that former Vice President Richard Nixon reemerged. Having served under President Eisenhower from 1953-1961, intended to modernize and industrialize Nixon ran unsuccessfully for the country, was White House against Kennedy in 1960. Nixon also launched a tragic human failed bid for California governor in 1964 and financial disasterdeclared that his political life was over. Dictator Mao Zedong was forced Nixon had developed a contentious but respectful role with Soviet leaders, even flying to seek alternatives to Soviet hegemony. The United States saw Moscow for a prolonged period debate with Khrushchev on the strengths of instability initiated by a capitalist system, dubbed the assassination of President John Kennedy "Kitchen Debate" in November 19631959. Protests against involvement Nixon's return in Vietnam and a series of social issues continued to grow. By 1968 President Lyndon Johnson was broken in spirit built on the twin ideas that he would be tough on Communism and decided not to run for re-election. <ref>Gaddis, John Lewis, crackdown on instability through his 'law and order'The Cold War: a New History.''' New York: Penguin Books, 2006. Pages 79-80platform.</ref>

It ====Détente becomes Possible====[[File:SovietInvasionAfghanistanMap.png|300px|thumb|left|The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was a significant factor in this atmosphere that former Vice President Richard Nixon reemergedending Detente. Having served under President Eisenhower from 1953-1961 ]] Nixon ran unsuccessfully 's ascension brought competing for ideas to light. In one regard, he was a Cold Warrior, launching a significant escalation of bombing in Vietnam (and later Cambodia and Laos) while also dramatically reducing the White House against Kennedy number of combat troops in 1960Southeast Asia. Nixon also launched ended the draft, undercutting a failed bid for California governor in 1964 major argument of American doves. As both Brezhnev and declared Nixon were looked upon as hardliners, it appeared that his political life was overa thaw might not be possible. The year before Nixon had developed a contentious but respectful role with Soviet leaderstook office, even flying to Moscow for a debate with Khrushchev on the strengths Brezhnev launched bloody repression of a capitalist system, dubbed the "Kitchen Debate" in 1959. Nixon's return an uprising 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' platformCzechoslovakia.

====Start of a Thaw====[[File:SovietInvasionAfghanistanMap.png|300px|thumb|left|The United States also saw the emerging Sino-Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was a major factor in ending Detentesplit.]] NixonMao bitterly resented Khrushchev's ascension brought competing for ideas to lightde-Stalinization, and the Soviets feared China joining the nuclear club. In one regard, he China was a Cold Warrior, launching a large escalation of bombing growing increasingly uneasy with the Soviets' role in Vietnam (and later Cambodia and Laos) while also dramatically reducing , disliking the number idea of combat troops in Southeast Asiaa Soviet client state on their southern border. With this backdrop, Nixon also ended the draft, undercutting a major argument of American doves. As both began negotiations with Soviet Premier Brezhnev and Nixon were looked upon as hardliners, it appeared that a thaw might not be possiblein 1969 on bilateral arms reduction treaties. The year before Nixon took officefirst was the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, or SALT, Brezhnev launched bloody repression which limited the number of an uprising in Czechoslovakianuclear warheads on each side.

The United States also saw two superpowers agreed to the emerging SinoAnti-Soviet splitBallistic Missile Treaty, or ABM, which limited the number of anti-ICBM defenses each nation would develop. Mao bitterly resented Khrushchev's de-StalinizationThis thaw grew into a wider policy, known as Detente between East and West. One of the Soviets feared China joining largest and most symbolic acts was the nuclear club. China was growing increasingly uneasy with agreement between many capitalist and Communist nations to sign the Soviets' role Helsinki Accords in Vietnam, disliking the idea of a Soviet client state on their southern border1975 to improve relations further. With this backdrop, Nixon began negotiations with Soviet Premier A follow-up SALT II Treaty was signed by Brezhnev and Carter in 1969 on a series of bilateral arms reduction treaties1979. The first was the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty<ref>Hanhimaki, or SALTJussi, which limited the number ''The Rise and Fall of nuclear warheads on each sideDetente.'' Washington: Potomac Books, 2013. Page 83. </ref>

The emergence of China on the geopolitical scene almost created a tri-polar world. China by the end of the 1960s did not fall in the Soviet camp, and Mao believed that the U.S.S.R. was adulterating Communist ideology. The U.S. has refused to recognize the People's Republic since its victory in the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Chinese involvement against United Nations forces in the Korean War also deepened mistrust. However, this changed by the early 1970s. The two countries exchanged friendly ping-pong athletes for exhibition games, which evolved into deeper and deeper talks. Nixon had fostered such talks since his first term began in 1969, but by 1971 National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger traveled secretly to Beijing to begin talks of a deeper thaw. <ref>DeVoss, David, "Ping-Pong Diplomacy." <i>Smithsonian Magazine</i>, April 2002.</ref>

In July 1971 , Nixon shocked audiences in both the United States and the Soviet Union by announcing that he was visiting China. In February 1972 , he made the journey and had a cordial meeting with Mao. The United States also recognized China, allowing the PRC to take Taiwan's seat at the United Nations. Shortly after that , full diplomatic and commercial ties were established. Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter attempted to use this as leverage to smooth relations further. Under the guise of improved relations and further local diplomacy, the United States removed combat troops from Vietnam in 1973.

The better relations between the United States with China and the Soviet Union was were not a permanent development. As the United States and her 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. Brezhnev also kept Eastern Europe repressed with a heavy hand through the remainder of his dictatorship. It was in Against this backdrop that , former California Governor Ronald Reagan ran and won for President in 1980, promising to end the Detente.

Updated Decemeber 31October 7, 20182021.