Nixon, Kissinger, and U. S. Foreign Policy Making: The Machinery of Crisis

Nixon, Kissinger, and U.S. Foreign Policy Making examines for the first time the important role of crisis management in the making of U.S. foreign policy during the Nixon-Kissinger years. The book offers a critical account of the manner in which the president and his national security advisor - notorious for their tight grip on the machinery of US foreign policy - dominated the structures and processes of foreign policy making. By drawing on a wealth of previously classified documents, Asaf Siniver reveals the story of the Washington Special Actions Group (WSAG), which managed foreign policy crises in the Nixon administration. In this thoroughly researched account of the performance of Nixon, Kissinger and the WSAG in four international crises, Siniver provides a fresh analysis of the important relationship among structures, processes and personalities in the making of U.S. foreign policy during international crises. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 List of Figures......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 Abbreviations......Page 13 Dramatis Personae......Page 15 Introduction......Page 21 1 Structures, Processes, and Personalities in U.S. Foreign Policy......Page 32 Crisis Studies......Page 33 Decision-making and systemic approaches......Page 35 A definition of crisis......Page 37 Presidential management of information and advice......Page 42 The psychological make-up of the decision-makers......Page 45 Rationality and alternative decision models......Page 48 Small-group decision-making: groupthink and historical analogies......Page 53 2 The Making of U.S. Foreign Policy During the Nixon-Kissinger Years......Page 60 The Early Days......Page 64 The National Security Advisor......Page 71 The Reorganisation of the NSC......Page 77 The NSC Process in Theory......Page 81 The NSC Process in Practice......Page 82 The WSAG: Early Roots and Institutionalisation......Page 84 3 The Incursion into Cambodia, Spring 1970......Page 91 The Nixon Administration and the Vietnam War......Page 93 The Unfolding Crisis over Cambodia: Bombing, Coup, and Incursion......Page 97 Crisis Decision-Making......Page 107 Performance of the WSAG......Page 129 4 The Jordanian Crisis, September 1970......Page 135 The Middle East Policy of the Nixon Administration......Page 137 The Unfolding of the Jordanian Crisis......Page 142 Crisis Decision-Making......Page 144 Performance of the WSAG......Page 162 5 The India-Pakistan War, December 1971......Page 168 U.S. Foreign Policy and the Emergence of the India-Pakistan Conflict......Page 172 Crisis Decision-Making......Page 177 Performance of the WSAG......Page 200 6 The Yom Kippur War, October 1973......Page 205 U.S. Middle East Policy in the Run-Up to the Yom Kippur War......Page 209 Crisis Decision-Making......Page 214 Performance of the WSAG......Page 237 Conclusion......Page 244 Bibliography......Page 253 Index......Page 269 Nixon, Kissinger, And U.s. Foreign Policy Making Examines For The First Time The Important Role Of Crisis Management In The Making Of U.s. Foreign Policy During The Nixon-kissinger Years. The Book Offers A Critical Account Of The Manner In Which The President And His National Security Advisor - Notorious For Their Tight Grip On The Machinery Of U.s. Foreign Policy - Dominated The Structures And Processes Of Foreign Policy Making.--jacket. The Machinery Of Crisis Examines For The First Time The Important Role Of Crisis Management In The Making Of U.s. Foreign Policy During The Nixon-kissinger Years. Notorious For Their Tight Grip On The Machinery Of U.s. Foreign Policy, The Book Offers A Critical Account Of The Manner In Which The President And His National Security Advisor Dominated The Structures And Processes Of Foreign Policy Making. By Drawing On A Wealth Of Previously Classified Documents, Siniver Reveals The Story Of The Washington Special Action Group, Which Managed Foreign Policy Crises In The Nixon Administration. In This Thoroughly Researched Account Of The Performance Of Nixon, Kissinger And The Washington Special Actions Group In Four International Crises, Siniver Provides A Fresh Analysis Of The Important Relationship Between Individuals And The Advisory System In The Making Of U.s. Foreign Policy During International Crisis.--publisher's Description. Structures, Processes, And Personalities In U.s. Foreign Policy -- The Making Of U.s. Foreign Policy During The Nixon-kissinger Years -- The Incursion Into Cambodia, Spring 1970 -- The Jordanian Crisis, September 1970 -- The India-pakistan War, December 1971 -- The Yom Kippur War, October, 1973. Asaf Siniver. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 233-247) And Index. Siniver examines the workings of the Washington Special Actions Group during four Nixon-era foreign policy crises. His examination of previously classified material about the group reveals much about the linkage between structures, processes and personalities in crisis decision-making.