Jimmy Carter in Africa: Race and the Cold War (Cold War International History Project)

“By a wide margin the best book about [Carter’s] presidency that’s yet appeared.” — Christian Science Monitor In the mid-1970s, the Cold War had frozen into a nuclear stalemate in Europe and retreated from the headlines in Asia. As Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter fought for the presidency in late 1976, the superpower struggle overseas seemed to take a backseat to more contentious domestic issues of race relations and rising unemployment. There was one continent, however, where the Cold War was on the point of flaring hot: Africa. Jimmy Carter in Africa opens just after Henry Kissinger’s failed 1975 plot in Angola, as Carter launches his presidential campaign. The Civil Rights Act was only a decade old, and issues of racial justice remained contentious. Racism at home undermined Americans’ efforts to “win hearts and minds” abroad, and provided potent propaganda to the Kremlin. As President Carter confronted Africa, the essence of American foreign policy—stopping Soviet expansion—slammed up against the most explosive and raw aspect of American domestic politics—racism. Drawing on candid interviews with Carter, as well as key U.S. and foreign diplomats, and on a dazzling array of international archival sources, Nancy Mitchell offers a timely reevaluation of the Carter administration and of the man himself. In the face of two major tests, in Rhodesia and the Horn of Africa, Carter grappled with questions of Cold War competition, domestic politics, personal loyalty, and decision-making style. Mitchell reveals an administration not beset by weakness and indecision, as is too commonly assumed, but rather constrained by Cold War dynamics and by the president’s own temperament as he wrestled with a divided public and his own human failings. Jimmy Carter in Africa presents a stark portrait of how deeply Cold War politics and racial justice were intertwined. “An impressive historical work in every respect.” — Choice “Her writing flows, and she places Carter's Africa policy within the larger context of US foreign policy and politics.” — International Journal In The Mid-1970s, The Cold War Had Frozen Into A Nuclear Stalemate In Europe And Retreated From The Headlines In Asia. As Geral Ford And Jimmy Carter Fought For The Presidency In Late 1976, The Superpower Struggle Overseas Seemed To Take A Backseat To More Contentious Domestic Issues Of Race Relations And Rising Unemployment. There Was One Continent, However, Where The Cold War Was On The Point Of Flaring Hot: Africa. Jimmy Carter In Africa Opens Just After Henry Kissinger's Failed 1975 Plot In Angola, And As Carter Launches His Presidential Campaign. The Civil Rights Act Was Only A Decade Old, And Issues Of Racial Justice Remained Hotly Debated. Racism At Home Undermined Americans' Efforts To Win Hearts And Minds Abroad And Provided Potent Propaganda To The Kremlin. As President Carter Confronted Africa, The Essence Of American Foreign Policy - Stopping Soviet Expansion - Slammed Up Against The Most Explosive And Raw Aspect Of American Domestic Politics - Racism. Drawing On Candid Interviews With Carter, As Well As Key Us And Foreign Diplomats, And On A Dazzling Array Of International Archival Sources, Nancy Mitchell Offers A Timely Reevaluation Of The Carter Administration And Of The Man Himself. In The Face Of Two Major Tests, In Rhodesia And The Horn Of Africa, Carter Grappled With Questions Of Cold War Competition, Domestic Politics, Personal Loyalty, And Decision-making Style. Mitchell Reveals An Administration Not Beset By Weakness And Indecision, As Is Too Commonly Assumed, But Rather Constrained By Cold War Dynamicsand By The President's Own Temperament As He Wrestled With A Divided Public And His Own Human Failings. Jimmy Carter In Africa Presents A Stark Portrait Of How Deeply Cold War Politics And Racial Justice Were Intertwined. -- From Dust Jacket. Introduction: Race And The Cold War -- Campaigns And Negotiations -- Chasing Triumph -- Southern Africa Matters -- Unwelcome Surprises -- Words And Weapons -- Hopeful In The Horn -- Complications -- War And Settlement -- Worrying About Cuba -- The War At Home -- Discerning Intentions -- Adjustments And Showdowns -- Jimmy Carter's Determination -- Surprises -- Lancaster House -- Conclusion: Jimmy Carter. Nancy Mitchell. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 823-861) And Index. In the mid-1970s, the Cold War had frozen into a nuclear stalemate in Europe and retreated from the headlines in Asia. As Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter fought for the presidency in late 1976, the superpower struggle overseas seemed to take a backseat to more contentious domestic issues of race relations and rising unemployment. There was one continent, however, where the Cold War was on the point of flaring hot: Africa. Jimmy Carter in Africa opens just after Henry Kissinger's failed 1975 plot in Angola, and as Carter launches his presidential campaign. The Civil Rights Act was only a decade old, and issues of racial justice remained hotly debated. Racism at home undermined Americans' efforts to "win hearts and minds" abroad and provided potent propaganda to the Kremlin. As President Carter confronted Africa, the essence of American foreign policy - stopping Soviet expansion - slammed up against the most explosive and raw aspect of American domestic politics - racism. Drawing on candid interviews with Carter, as well as key US and foreign diplomats, and on a dazzling array of international archival sources, Nancy Mitchell offers a timely reevaluation of the Carter administration and of the man himself. In the face of two major tests, in Rhodesia and the Horn of Africa, Carter grappled with questions of Cold War competition, domestic politics, personal loyalty, and decision-making style. Mitchell reveals an administration not beset by weakness and indecision, as is too commonly assumed, but rather constrained by Cold War dynamics and by the president's own temperament as he wrestled with a divided public and his own human failings. Jimmy Carter in Africa presents a stark portrait of how deeply Cold War politics and racial justice were intertwined. -- from dust jacket Contents Maps and Images Acknowledgments Introduction: Race and the Cold War 1. Campaigns and Negotiations 2. Chasing Triumph 3. Southern Africa Matters 4. Unwelcome Surprises 5. Words and Weapons 6. Hopeful in the Horn 7. Complications 8. War and Settlement 9. Worrying about Cuba 10. The War at Home 11. Discerning Intentions 12. Adjustments and Showdowns 13. Jimmy Carter’s Determination 14. Surprises 15. Lancaster House Conclusion: Jimmy Carter Abbreviations in Notes Notes Bibliography Index