4.From Eisenhower to Clinton

In 1960sand 1970s，the US foreign policy underwent some important changes.During Eisenhower’s administration，American military“advisers”were sent to South Vietnam to help its anti-communist government.Kennedy expanded the American involvement，but Lyndon Johnson sent 500，000 American soldiers to Vietnam.Heavy casualties and the expenditure of billions failed to win a victory.Opposition to the war mounted，especially among college students.Although Nixon was elected President in 1969partly on vague assurances about a plan to end the war in Vietnam，the fighting continued four more years.In his most surprising reversal of foreign policy goals，Nixon opened the door to China.In his State of the World Message on Feb.26，1971，he cited the People’s Republic of China by name and proposed more trade and the beginning of“serious dialogue”with China.After months of preparation，President Nixon finally landed in Beijing on Feb.20，1972.After several meeting with Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong，the two governments issued a joint communique pledging peaceful co-existence and recognizing Taiwan as an internal Chinese problem.In effect，Nixon had granted the fact of single China；he also promised eventual withdrawal of American forces from Taiwan.Domestically，Nixon was less successful.His largest problem was an economy threatened by inflation and by increasing deficits in the balance of payments.Yet his fatal trouble was the disclosure of the Watergate scandal.In the presidential election year 1972，five men of the Committee for the Reelection of the President broke into the Democratic national headquarters at the Watergate Hotel，Washington D.C.，where they planted taps or bugs in order to get information for the Committee.But unfortunately they were arrested.Although it was never proved that Nixon planned the Watergate break-in or that he ever knew about it beforehand，he was eventually forced out of office because he was found guilty for his effect to avoid the investigation and disclosures.Faced with impeachment，Nixon resigned on Aug.9，1974.He was succeeded by Gerald R.Ford，who very soon gave Nixon a“full，free and absolute pardon.”

American Presidents

Jimmy Carter became President in 1977，whose administration covered four eventful years.On the economy，the administration’s initial focus on employment was soon replaced by concern with the highest peacetime inflation rates in American history.In foreign affairs，Carter won approval of a treaty giving Panama sovereign control over the Panama Canal by 2000AD.During his presidency the formal diplomatic relation between China and the US was set up in 1979.His major foreign policy triumph was achieved at Camp David in 1978，where his mediation efforts succeeded in bringing Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar el Sadat to settle the long-standing differences growing out of the 1973Arab-Israeli war.But his failure in dealings with the American hostage in Teheran in 1980spoiled his figure among the Americans.As the general elections came in 1980，Carter was defeated by his opponent，Ronald Reagan.

During his administration，Reagan planned to cut taxes and social spending while vastly increasing the defense budget and somehow balancing the budget.In reality，the national debt was increased greatly under Reagan.By 1988the gross federal debt was more than＄2trillion.His“Star Wars”program proposed in 1983，officially called the Strategic Defense Initiative（SDI），was considered as one of the biggest research projects in American history，a five year＄26billion undertaking.This project sought to discover and construct a defensive“shield”against incoming missiles.The shield would be made of laser and electronic devices that would destroy such missiles launched to attack the US.

George Bush was the first sitting Vice President elected President in over 160years.He suffered early criticism for lack of skill of leadership.But he struck back with major initiatives，including major arms control proposals and two summit meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.In 1990，Bush ordered Operation Desert Storm to punish Iraq，more than 200，000US troops were sent to Saudi Arabia，and the US navy blocked all oil exports from Iraq and all imports except food.Throughout 1991，as Soviet Union was crumbling，Bush acted quickly and decisively to support those republic seeking independence，and to provide food and medical supplies where needed.He and Gorbachev declared an end to the arms race by signing the first nuclear arms reduction pact in July 1991.Bush had less success on the domestic front.The economic recession and a very high level of unemployment under him might be the chief causes to make him lose to Bill Clinton in the general election in 1992.

During Clinton’s administration，the US enjoyed an economic growth for nine consecutive years.It sets a record for the longest economic growth period after World WarⅡ.This phenomenon，hardly seen before，has been termed the“new economy”by some.The fundamental reason for the emergence of“new economy”is that its economic structure went through essential changes because of the promotion of scientific and technological progress.In foreign affairs Clinton succeeded in assuring the stability of Russia’s government as it tried to maintain power in the midst of parliamentary chaos.In the Middle East，Clinton’s secretary of state，Warren Christopher，negotiated a historic peace treaty between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization that recognized Palestinian self-rule in Gaza and part of the West Bank.In the Kosovo crisis，the US tried to propagate“human rights transcending sovereignty”and promoted the new interventionism mainly featured by humane interference.This has become the new content of US hegemonism in the new century.American people generally thought that Clinton performed well as President.But his fame was spoiled by his love affair with Monica Lewinsky.This led to the impeachment for Clinton.Although the impeachment failed，Clinton becomes the second President who faced impeachment in US history.