President Nixon and the Soviets
The Soviet leadership, particularly under General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, viewed Richard Nixon as the best US President to deal with during the Cold War because of his pragmatic, realistic approach to foreign policy, which prioritized strategic stability over ideological confrontation, leading to the era of détente (known in Russian as razryadka).
Soviet leaders believed they could manage a “realistic” partnership with Nixon, which was starkly different from the unpredictability of other US administrations.
Key Reasons the Soviets Preferred Nixon:
- Pragmatism Over Ideology: Despite his history as a staunch anti-communist, Nixon shifted from “confrontation” to “negotiation”. The Soviets found him to be a “realist” who sought common ground (arms control) rather than trying to destroy their system, which they preferred over the moralizing of liberal American politicians.
- The “Broker” Strategy (Détente): Nixon, alongside Henry Kissinger, focused on détente to reduce tensions and manage the rivalry with the Soviet Union. This led to unprecedented summits, such as the 1972 Moscow summit—the first time a US president visited the USSR.
- Landmark Arms Control Agreements: Nixon’s administration resulted in tangible deals that met Soviet goals, such as the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) in 1972, which provided security stability and legitimacy to the Soviet Union.
- The “Personal” Partnership (Nixon-Brezhnev Friendship): Nixon and Brezhnev developed a unique, almost personal bond. They held numerous meetings and phone calls, establishing a personal trust that eased communication and fostered a “unique, personal relationship with Washington”.
- The “Madman Theory” & Reliability: Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin noted that while Nixon was a tough opponent, he was not prone to brinkmanship or irrational risks. They found his foreign policy predictable and pragmatic.
- Support During Watergate: As Watergate weakened Nixon, the Soviets actually grew concerned, fearing his replacement would be more hostile to détente. Brezhnev continued to support Nixon as a reliable partner until his resignation.
In summary, the Soviets saw Nixon as a hard-nosed, practical negotiator who—driven by his own interest in foreign policy success—offered a rare period of stable, predictable, and manageable relations with the United States.
What is détente?
Détente (/deɪˈtɑːnt/ ⓘ day-TAHNT, also UK: /ˈdeɪtɒnt/ DAY-tont;[1][2] French for ‘relaxation’, French pronunciation: [detɑ̃t])[3] is the relaxation of strained relations, especially political ones, through verbal communication. The diplomacy term originates from around 1912, when France and Germany tried unsuccessfully to reduce tensions.[4]
The term is often used to refer to a period of general easing of geopolitical tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. Détente began in 1969 as a core element of the foreign policy of U.S. president Richard Nixon. In an effort to avoid an escalation of conflict with the Eastern Bloc, the Nixon administration promoted greater dialogue with the Soviet government in order to facilitate negotiations over arms control and other bilateral agreements.[5] Détente was known in Russian as разрядка (razryadka), loosely meaning “relaxation of tension”.1