Title The Nixon administration and the making of U.S. nuclear strategy / Terry Terriff

Published Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 1995

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Description 1 online resource (xvi, 252 pages) Series Cornell studies in security affairs Cornell studies in security affairs. Contents 1. The Schlesinger Doctrine and Extended Deterrence -- 2. The Changing Strategic Environment -- 3. Disquiet with Assured Destruction -- 4. The National Strategic Targeting and Attack Policy Review Panel -- 5. Developing a Policy Consensus -- 6. The Politics of Strategic Nuclear Policy -- 7. Implementing the New Nuclear Targeting Guidance -- 8. Determinants of U.S. Nuclear Strategy -- Appendix: National Security Decision Memorandum 242 Summary In 1974 Richard Nixon's defense secretary, James Schlesinger, announced that the United States would change its nuclear targeting policy from "assured destruction" to "limited nuclear options." In the first account of the Schlesinger Doctrine to be based on newly declassified documents and extensive interviews with key actors, Terry Terriff challenges the Nixon administration's official explanation of why and how this policy innovation occurred. According to Terriff, Schlesinger himself argued that "assured destruction," which called for a massive retaliatory nuclear attack to destroy the Soviet Union, could lead to a devastating counterstrike against U.S. cities. The new strategy added a range of limited nuclear options in order to reduce the potential for counterattacks against non-military targets. Schlesinger also stressed that the policy change was necessary because, with the Soviets' achievement of nuclear parity, the American nuclear defense of Western Europe was no longer a credible deterrent. Terriff concludes that the new targeting policy was influenced by strategic concerns other than those Schlesinger publicly expressed and that it was further shaped by political, budgetary, and technological considerations. The author examines why policymakers believed that targeting practices needed to be revised, what they sought to achieve, and how they went about devising the new policy Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Print version record SUBJECT Universidad Sergio Arboleda gnd Subject Nuclear weapons -- United States. Deterrence (Strategy) Deterrence (Strategy) HISTORY -- Military -- Other. TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING -- Military Science. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Security (National & International) Deterrence (Strategy) Military policy Nuclear weapons Politics and government Atomstrategie Kernwapens. Militaire politiek. Geschichte (1974) SUBJECT United States -- Military policy. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140379 United States -- Politics and government -- 1969-1974. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140471 United States -- politics & government -- 1969 Subject United States USA Form Electronic book ISBN 9781501717598 1501717596

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