Answer:
Explanation:
There were differences between President Carter’s foreign policy approach and the approaches of President Nixon and President Ford. President Nixon believed that the United States could enjoy a relaxation of tensions with Communist China and with the Soviet Union. He believed that if we dealt positively with one country, it would lead to a better relationship with the other. Thus, President Nixon visited Communist China and began to develop trade with them. The Soviet Union, fearful we might become friendlier with Communist China than with the Soviet Union, began to negotiate with us. This led to the SALT I agreement with the Soviet Union. President Ford, who was in office for about two years before the next election, followed similar policies to President Nixon. However, President Ford wasn’t able to keep South Vietnam from being taken over by communist North Vietnam.
President Carter tried to achieve some lofty goals with his foreign policy. He was able to get the leaders of Israel and of Egypt to sign a peace agreement, known as the Camp David Peace Accords. Some people felt these countries would always be at war. President Carter wanted to improve relations with Latin America. The Panama Canal Treaty was one way to achieve this. However, President Carter struggled mightily in getting our hostages freed from the Iranians in 1979. He also took a firm approach in dealing with the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union. We gave weapons to the Taliban, and we boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow. Recently, we have fought the Taliban in the war on terrorism.
Both Presidents had some successes with their foreign policy. It is hard to say if one was better than the other. Both had successes, and both had setbacks. Each President did what he thought was best for our country at that time.
