AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Presidential Cold War Policies (Day 266/309)

Hey APUSHers, let’s chat about Presidential Cold War Policies as part of my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

“Global Dominance,” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

During the Cold War, U.S. policies under Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon reflected evolving strategies to contain communism while avoiding direct confrontation with the Soviet Union. 

“Eisenhower and Khruschev,” National Gallery of Art

Eisenhower's administration emphasized the policy of "containment" and employed strategies such as brinkmanship and the doctrine of "massive retaliation," in which the U.S. would respond with disproportionate force to an attack, to deter Soviet aggression. 

“Bury You in Quicksand,” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kennedy's presidency saw the implementation of the flexible response strategy, which aimed to address communist threats through a range of military options and increased focus on counterinsurgency efforts, particularly in Southeast Asia. 

“Nightmare,” The Ohio State University

Johnson continued Kennedy's policies and due to the “domino theory” escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, viewing it as a crucial battleground in the fight against communism.

Nixon Cartoon

Nixon pursued a policy of détente, seeking to ease tensions with the Soviet Union through diplomacy and arms control agreements while also pursuing a policy of "Vietnamization" to gradually withdraw U.S. troops from Vietnam. 

Despite the variety of presidential strategies and efforts, the Cold War persisted, marked by periods of cooperation and confrontation between the superpowers.

Join me tomorrow as I explain the Red Scare in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!