Word: brezhnevs
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...tente is very much alive, despite recent Soviet maneuvering and the new American relationship with Peking. To the Soviets, standing on an equal footing with the U.S. is of tremendous importance, even in its purely symbolic forms. Thus the Kremlin, to the Americans' surprise, requested that Carter and Brezhnev spend as much time together as possible...
...down the benefits of personal diplomacy. Said a Carter adviser: "Personal relations do little but smooth rough edges. What is important are binding agreements." Beyond the signing of SALT II, agreements between the two nations were not on the agenda at Vienna. Even so, the fact that Carter and Brezhnev exchanged views on the issues that divide East and West constituted progress...
...first Soviet-American summit since Brezhnev and Gerald Ford met at Vladivostok in 1974. Clearly another one was overdue. Détente, launched in 1972 by Richard Nixon and Brezhnev to the clink of champagne glasses under the crystal chandeliers at the Kremlin, had eroded badly. There were strains over the huge buildup of Soviet nuclear and conventional arms, Soviet intervention in Africa, the fall of the pro-Western regime in Iran. Brezhnev, on the other hand, had been enraged by Carter's human rights campaign, which the Soviets viewed as interference with their internal affairs, the Americans' surprise proposal...
...summit was designed to help clear away misconceptions on both sides. The participants knew, however, that they were going to Vienna somewhat impaired, Brezhnev by his age (72) and ailments; Carter by his loss of political support (the latest polls show him with only 30% approval). Neither leader had any illusions about making major breakthroughs. At a Kremlin dinner before his departure, Brezhnev expressed only the hope that the summit would "become an important stage of further development of Soviet-American relations." As Carter left Washington, he warned that progress toward peace is "often measured in inches...
Despite the forecast of modest achievements, Carter went to Vienna visibly excited. He told aides that he had looked forward to meeting Brezhnev more than almost anything else during his years as President, and he spent an unprecedented amount of time preparing for the encounter. He phoned Richard Nixon, who had signed SALT I in Moscow in 1972, for advice on how to deal with Brezhnev. Gerald Ford came by the White House to suggest that if Brezhnev became blustery, as he did at Vladivostok in 1974, Carter should respond politely but firmly and not retreat an inch. CIA Director...