Question

Compare and contrast the foreign policies of Nixon and Reagan, especially in regards to the Cold War.

Answer 1

President Richard Nixon's foreign policy was called the Nixon Doctrine. It stated that the United States would stand as the nuclear umbrella for it's allies, if ever something went seriously wrong and their security was threatened. However, he also stated that their security was something the allies would have to take care of themselves and that he would not interfere unless he was asked to. Ronald Reagan had more of a harsher stance and often supported authoritarian governments if he thought it would be more of a benefit to the United States and would oppose communism, as he was worried about the rise of communism and the Soviet Union. He was heavily involved in conflicts abroad, in contrast to Nixon.