Détente – the chance to end the Cold War (149)

Today, we speak with Richard Crowder, the author of “Détente – the chance to end the Cold War”. Help support the podcast by buying the book here UK listeners https://amzn.to/34yNeB2 US listeners https://amzn.to/3kHU3pO Between 1968 and 1975, there was a subtle thawing of relations between East and West, for which Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev coined the name Détente. The leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union, Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev, hoped to forge a new relationship between East and West. We talk about some of the key moments such as where Henry Kissinger, Nixon’s Secretary of State agreed the end to the war in Vietnam, the 1973 Arab Israeli war where the world stood on the brink of armed conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States and the Helsinki Accords where the agreement to uphold human rights unleashed dissident movements against the Communist Parties of Eastern Europe. Now I really need your help to allow me the time to continue producing and preserving these Cold War stories. A monthly donation to help keep us on the air is only about $3, £3 or €3 per month (larger amounts are welcome too) plus you can get a sought after CWC coaster as a monthly financial supporter and you bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a financial contribution is not your cup of tea, then you can still help us by leaving written reviews wherever you listen to us as well as sharing us on social media. It really helps us get new guests on the show. I am delighted to welcome Richard Crowder to our Cold War conversation… There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, plus a book giveaway which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode149/ If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook. Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations 0:00 Introduction and Patreon appeal by Ian Sanders 1:06 Introduction to Richard Crowder and his book "Detente" 5:07 Overview of global social and economic changes and politics in the late 1960s 10:11 Richard Crowder discusses the flow of events from 1968 to 1975 14:05 Breakthrough with China and its impact on the Cold War 20:14 The need for the Berlin 4 power agreement 32:25 Discussion on the Paris Peace Accords and the end of US involvement in Vietnam 40:20 The Yom Kippur War and the risk of a superpower confrontation 44:52 Nixon's resignation and the Watergate scandal 49:34 Ford and Brezhnev's meeting in Vladivostok and the final summit of the détente period 57:42 Closing remarks and patron acknowledgements 58:25 How to support the podcast Chapters powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices