Question

Ten years ago, the United States and the Soviet Union made the historic decision to open the strategic arms limitations talks, or SALT. The purpose of SALT, then as now, is not to gain a unilateral advantage for either nation, but to protect the security of both nations, to reverse the costly and dangerous momentum of the nuclear arms race, to preserve a stable balance of nuclear forces, and to demonstrate to a concerned world that we are determined to help preserve the peace . . . . If the Soviet Union continues to negotiate in good faith, a responsible SALT agreement will be reached.

–President Carter
State of the Union Address
1979

What did Carter believe was necessary to reach an agreement?

The United States needed to destroy all of its nuclear weapons.

The Soviet Union needed to agree with the United States’ demands.

The United States needed to keep negotiating in good faith.

The Soviet Union needed to keep negotiating in good faith.

Answer 1

The Soviet Union needed to keep negotiating in good faith.

Carter says, "If the Soviet Union continues to negotiate in good faith, a responsible SALT agreement will be reached," indicating he believed Soviet cooperation was necessary.