Word: rumsfeld
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...forge a SALT II pact with the Soviets if Schlesinger had remained Secretary of Defense. Though the two men differed fundamentally about détente (see page 20), Kissinger respected Schlesinger's intellect and feels they would have reached a compromise. In contrast, Kissinger has no great regard for Rumsfeld. The Soviets have rejected the latest U.S. position on SALT, and Kissinger fears he must wait until Rumsfeld is confirmed, probably early next year, before finishing work on a new negotiating proposal. Beyond that, the Administration may feel the need to take a tougher position to show conservatives that the firing...
...Rumsfeld is believed to hold Schlesinger's view that the U.S. should demand more concessions from the Soviets. Last summer, while Ford was flying to Brussels to attend a NATO conference, Rumsfeld worked with him to toughen his language in a speech on détente. Among the statements they composed was a call for a "realistic agenda for détente, an agenda that serves our interests and not the interests of others who do not share our values ... that anticipates and precludes the exploitation of our perceived weaknesses...
...Rumsfeld concludes that a SALT agreement will jeopardize Ford's election chances, he might recommend that it be delayed until 1977. Indeed, Ford said at his press conference that the U.S. was "under no time pressure" on SALT...
While Ford insisted that his personnel shake-up did not reflect "any weakness" on national defense, U.S. allies and adversaries were confused about what the changes would mean. Though the Soviets have often criticized Schlesinger as an ugly American, Moscow reacted cautiously to his ouster, because Rumsfeld is virtually unknown to them. In contrast, the Chinese officials feared that Schlesinger's firing could produce closer ties between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. Now they may want to assess the impact of the Cabinet shuffle before confirming that Ford's China trip will take place as scheduled in early December...
South Koreans were shaken by the loss of Schlesinger, who had been extremely popular because of his recommendation that the U.S. use "nuclear weapons if necessary" to repel any attack from the North. Schlesinger's replacement by Rumsfeld dismayed many European defense officials, who are afraid that the new man will pay more attention to the winds of American politics than the needs of facing up to the Russians. NATO officials got a good look at Rumsfeld while he was the U.S. Ambassador to the alliance, and while they became used to his crisp style, they rank him far behind...