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The Nixon Administration’s Initiatives in Europe and the European Integration Process

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Richard M. Nixon and European Integration

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Abstract

Siracusa and Nguyen offer a critical analysis of Nixon’s initiatives on reducing free riding on the United States before examining closely his idea of a responsible Europe. They also explore the Nixon administration’s establishment of an Atlantic Charter for the United States and the European Community, which focused on building a European Community in the Atlantic Framework. The coming together of these initiatives on Europe in the Nixon presidential years has manifested how the United States adjusted its policy towards European integration. By going into the level of detail that they do, and by carefully analysing the appropriate documents, Siracusa and Nguyen are thus able to draw an impartial and unbiased conclusion that the Nixon administration was sceptical of previous US administrations’ assumptions of European integration. This ambivalence led to the fact that Nixon cast a wary eye on the European moves towards unity and insisted on extending US strategic interests.

It’s time for America to look after its own interests … they [Western Europe] have got to know that I supported the Marshall Plan, I was on the Herter Committee, I supported reciprocal trade, I’ve been supporting the damn foreign aid. I believe in world responsibility. … My point is, that right now, we are in a period, where the United States, the people of this country, could very well turn isolationist unless their President was looking after their interests. And we must not let this happen.

President Richard Nixon, 1971.

You simply cannot expect the U.S. to defend an economic competitor. … You simply cannot expect this to go on indefinitely.

Henry Kissinger, 1972.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Editorial note, Foreign Relations of the United States (hereafter cited as FRUS), 1969–1976, Volume III, Foreign Economic Policy, International Monetary Policy, 1969–1972, viewed on April 12, 2014, Document 2, <https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v03/d2>.

  2. 2.

    Ibid.

  3. 3.

    Ibid.

  4. 4.

    Memorandum From the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Richardson) to President Nixon, May 26, 1969, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume III, Foreign Economic Policy, International Monetary Policy, 1969–1972, viewed on April 12, 2014, Document 22, viewed on September 12, 2014, <https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v03/d22>.

  5. 5.

    Memorandum from the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Hillenbrand) to Secretary of State Rogers, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 11, viewed on September 12, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d11>.

  6. 6.

    Ibid.

  7. 7.

    Ibid.

  8. 8.

    Ibid.

  9. 9.

    National Security Decision Memorandum 12, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 13, viewed on September 12, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d13>.

  10. 10.

    Memorandum From the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Richardson) to President Nixon, May 26, 1969, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume III, Foreign Economic Policy, International Monetary Policy, 1969–1972, viewed on April 12, 2014, Document 22, viewed on September 12, 2014, <https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v03/d22>.

  11. 11.

    Ibid.

  12. 12.

    Memorandum from the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Hillenbrand) to Secretary of State Rogers, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 11, viewed on September 12, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d11>.

  13. 13.

    National Security Decision Memorandum 12, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 13, viewed on September 12, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d13>.

  14. 14.

    Ibid.

  15. 15.

    Ibid.

  16. 16.

    Ibid.

  17. 17.

    Ibid.

  18. 18.

    Ibid.

  19. 19.

    National Security Decision Memorandum 12, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 13 viewed on April 30, 2014, <https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d13>.

  20. 20.

    Editorial note, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume III, Foreign Economic Policy, International Monetary Policy, 1969–1972, Document 17 viewed on January 12, 2015.

  21. 21.

    Memorandum From C. Fred Bergsten of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger),FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 21, viewed on September 22, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d21>.

  22. 22.

    Ibid.

  23. 23.

    Telegram from Secretary of State Rogers to the Department of State, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume III, Foreign Economic Policy, International Monetary Policy, 1969–1972, Document 86, viewed on February 20, 2015, <https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v03/d86>.

  24. 24.

    Paper Prepared in the Department of State, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume III, Foreign Economic Policy, International Monetary Policy, 1969–1972, Document 86, viewed on February 20, 2015,<https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v03/d68>.

  25. 25.

    Ibid.

  26. 26.

    Message to the Congress Reporting on Balance of Payments Deficit Incurred Under the Atlantic Treaty, May 16 1974, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1974.

  27. 27.

    Nixon, R, 1970, First Annual Report to the Congress on United States Foreign Policy for the 1970’s, February 18, 1970, viewed on October 18, 2014, <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=2835>.

  28. 28.

    Kaplan, LS, 1999, The Long Entanglement, Praeger, London, p. 149.

  29. 29.

    Ibid.

  30. 30.

    Brogan, D, 1968, “The Illusion of American Omnipotence: Reconsidered,” Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Vol. 21, No. 6, American Academy of Arts & Sciences, pp. 2–10.

  31. 31.

    Nixon, R, 1970, First Annual Report to the Congress on United States Foreign Policy for the 1970’s, February 18, 1970.

  32. 32.

    Radio Address by President Nixon on 25 February 1971, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 85.

  33. 33.

    Nixon, R, 1970, First Annual Report to the Congress on United States Foreign Policy for the 1970’s, February 18, 1970.

  34. 34.

    Kaplan, LS, 1999, The Long Entanglement, Praeger, London, p. 159.

  35. 35.

    Ibid.

  36. 36.

    Memorandum from Special Assistant for National Security Affairs, Robert Cutler, to the Secretary of State, 9 September 1953, in U.S. Department of State, FRUS, 1952–1954, Vol. II, p. 456.

  37. 37.

    National Security Study Memorandum 6, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 2, viewed on February 20, 2015, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d2>.

  38. 38.

    Telegram From the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the Department of State, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 4, viewed on September 22, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d4>.

  39. 39.

    Ibid.

  40. 40.

    Ibid.

  41. 41.

    Ibid.

  42. 42.

    Memorandum of Conversation, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 7, viewed on September 12, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d7>.

  43. 43.

    Ibid.

  44. 44.

    Ibid.

  45. 45.

    Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, RRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 22, viewed on September 22, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d22>.

  46. 46.

    Ibid.

  47. 47.

    National Security Decision Memorandum 88, RRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 22, viewed on October 14, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d50>.

  48. 48.

    National Security Decision Memorandum 88, RRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 22, viewed on October 14, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d50>.

  49. 49.

    Memorandum from Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 8, viewed on September 22, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d8>.

  50. 50.

    Memorandum From the Chairman of the Interdepartmental Group for Europe (Hillenbrand) to the Chairman of the Review Group (Kissinger), FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 6, viewed on September 28, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d9>.

  51. 51.

    Kieninger, S, 2016, Dynamic Détente: The United States and Europe, 1964–1975, Lexington Books, New York.

  52. 52.

    Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 6, viewed on September 28, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d49>.

  53. 53.

    Minutes of a National Security Council Meeting, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 6, viewed on September 28, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d49>.

  54. 54.

    National Security Decision Memorandum 95, November 25, 1970, viewed on September 28, 2014, <http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/virtuallibrary/documents/nsdm/nsdm_095.pdf>.

  55. 55.

    Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 8, viewed on September 22, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d8>.

  56. 56.

    National Security Decision Memorandum 88, October 15, 1970, viewed on 18 February 2014, <http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/virtuallibrary/documents/nsdm/nsdm_088.pdf>.

  57. 57.

    Ibid.

  58. 58.

    Ibid.

  59. 59.

    Telegram From the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the Department of State, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 55, viewed on September 24, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d55>.

  60. 60.

    Ibid.

  61. 61.

    Ibid.

  62. 62.

    Ibid.

  63. 63.

    Ibid.

  64. 64.

    Memorandum from Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 56, viewed on September 24, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d56>.

  65. 65.

    National Security Decision Memorandum 133, September 22, 1971, viewed on 11 February 2015, <http://fas.org/irp/offdocs/nsdm-nixon/nsdm-133.pdf>.

  66. 66.

    Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to President Nixon, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 56, viewed on September 24, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d74>.

  67. 67.

    U.S. Ambassador to NATO Donald Rumsfeld address to the Board of Governors of the Atlantic Institute in Paris, on June 2, 1973.

  68. 68.

    Nitchter, LA, 2015, Richard Nixon and Europe: The Reshaping of the Postwar Atlantic World, Cambridge University Press, New York.

  69. 69.

    Kaplan, LS, 2004, NATO Divided, NATO United: The Evolution of an Alliance, Praeger, London, p. 68.

  70. 70.

    Ibid.

  71. 71.

    Nixon Tapes, OVAL 784-7, September 21, 1972, 10:15 am–10:50 am.

  72. 72.

    Nixon, R, 1988, Victory without War, Simon and Schuster, New York, p. 207.

  73. 73.

    Ibid.

  74. 74.

    Kissinger, H, 1999, Years of Renewal: The Concluding Volume of His Memoirs, Simon and Schuster, New York, p. 600.

  75. 75.

    Nixon Tapes, OVAL 788-15, September 29, 1972, 4:04 pm–5:15 pm.

  76. 76.

    National Security Study Memorandum 164, viewed on September 24, 2014, <http://fas.org/irp/offdocs/nssm-nixon/nssm_164.pdf>.

  77. 77.

    Ibid.

  78. 78.

    Memorandum from Robert Hormats to Henry Kissinger, Report on My Discussions in Europe and Recommended Strategy for Dealing with Economic Issues, December 18, 1972, NSC Box 322.

  79. 79.

    Memorandum from Robert Hormats to Henry Kissinger, December 18, 1972.

  80. 80.

    Nichter, AL, 2015, Richard Nixon and Europe: The Reshaping of the Postwar Atlantic World, Cambridge University Press, New York, p. 113.

  81. 81.

    The President’s News Conference, January 31, 1973, viewed on January 15, 2015, <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=3930>.

  82. 82.

    Ibid.

  83. 83.

    Memorandum from President Nixon to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), FRUS, 1973–1976, Volume XXXI, Foreign Economic Policy, Document 31, viewed on December 18, 2014, <https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v31/d31>.

  84. 84.

    Kissinger, H, 1973, The Year of Europe Speech, viewed on January 12, 2014, <http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/polisci/faculty/trachtenberg/ffus/SelDocs(ffus).html>.

  85. 85.

    Smith, M, 2008, “The USA and the EU” in Cox, M., and Stokes, D. (eds.) U.S. Foreign Policy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, p. 240.

  86. 86.

    Rosecrance, R, 1976, America as an Ordinary Country: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Future, Cornell University Press, New York.

  87. 87.

    Calleo, D, & Rowland, B, 1973, America and the World Political Economy: Atlantic Dreams and National Realities, Indiana State University Press, Bloomington.

  88. 88.

    Memorandum for the President’s File by the President’s Assistant (Flanigan), FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume I, Foundation of Foreign Policy, 1969–1972, Document 120, viewed on November 15, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v01/d120>.

  89. 89.

    Kissinger, H, 1999, Years of Renewal: The Concluding Volume of His Memoirs, Simon and Schuster, New York, p. 600.

  90. 90.

    Kissinger, H, 1979, White House Years, Little Brown and Company Limited, Boston, p. 399.

  91. 91.

    Ibid.

  92. 92.

    Security Decision Memorandum 12, FRUS, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe, NATO, 1969–1972, Document 29, viewed on July 17, 2014, <http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v41/d29>.

  93. 93.

    Coppe, A, 1956, New Europe: Unity for Expansion, Speech by Albert Coppe, Vice-President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community, viewed on March 18, 2015, <http://aei.pitt.edu/14383/1/S57.pdf>.

  94. 94.

    Nixon, R, 1972, The 3rd Annual Report To The Congress on United States Foreign Policy, February 9, 1972, viewed on February 10, 2014, <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=3736>.

  95. 95.

    Ibid.

  96. 96.

    Ibid.

  97. 97.

    Nixon, R, 1973, The 4th Annual Report to the Congress on United States Foreign Policy, May, 1973, viewed on February 10, 2015, <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=3832>.

  98. 98.

    Nixon, R, 1970, The First Annual Report to the Congress on United States Foreign Policy for the 1970’s, February 18, 1970, viewed on October 18, 2014, <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=2835>.

  99. 99.

    Stebbins, RP, 1952, The United States in World Affairs, 1951, Columbia University Press, New York, p. 360.

  100. 100.

    Marcel, G, 1953, Man Against Mass Society, Henry Regnery Company, Chicago, p. 243.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Joseph M. Siracusa

  2. Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Hang Thi Thuy Nguyen

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Siracusa, J.M., Nguyen, H.T.T. (2018). The Nixon Administration’s Initiatives in Europe and the European Integration Process. In: Richard M. Nixon and European Integration. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75662-2_5

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