The following text is adapted from an article published by the History Channel.Détente (a French word meaning release from tension) is the name given to a period of improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union that began tentatively in 1971 and took decisive form when President Richard M. Nixon visited the secretary-general of the Soviet Communist party, Leonid I. Brezhnev, in Moscow, May 1972. Both countries stood to gain if trade could be increased and the danger of nuclear warfare reduced. In addition, Nixon–a candidate for reelection–was under fire at home from those demanding social change, racial equality, and an end to the Vietnam War. The trip to Russia, like his historic trip to China a few months earlier, permitted him to keep public attention focused on his foreign policy achievements rather than his domestic problems. Nixon’s trip to China had also heightened the Soviets’ interest in détente; given the growing antagonism between Russia and China, Brezhnev had no wish to see his most potent rivals close ranks against him. On May 22 Nixon became the first U.S. president to visit Moscow. He and Brezhnev signed seven agreements covering the prevention of accidental military clashes; arms control, as recommended by the recent Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT); cooperative research in a variety of areas, including space exploration; and expanded commerce. The SALT treaty was approved by Congress later that summer, as was a three-year agreement on the sale of grain to the Soviets. In June 1973, Brezhnev visited the United States for Summit II; this meeting added few new agreements, but did symbolize the two countries’ continuing commitment to peace. Summit III, in June 1974, was the least productive; by then, the salt talks had ground to a halt, several commercial agreements had been blocked in Congress because of Soviet treatment of Jews, and the Watergate investigation was approaching a climax. Nixon’s successor in the talks, President Jimmy Carter, supported SALT II, but also pressed a military buildup and a human rights campaign, which cooled relations between the countries. With the election of Ronald Reagan, who emphasized military preparedness as the key to Soviet-American relations, détente as Nixon had envisioned it came to an end.

Question

give me 10 annotations

Answer 1

1. Détente: The term refers to a period of improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the early 1970s.

2. Richard M. Nixon: He was the President of the United States during the period of détente, serving from 1969 to 1974.

3. Leonid I. Brezhnev: He was the secretary-general of the Soviet Communist party and the leader of the Soviet Union during the period of détente.

4. Trade and nuclear warfare: Both the United States and the Soviet Union had an interest in increasing trade and reducing the threat of nuclear warfare during the period of détente.

5. Social change, racial equality, and the Vietnam War: President Nixon faced domestic challenges during his reelection campaign, with demands for social change, racial equality, and an end to the Vietnam War.

6. Trip to Russia: President Nixon's visit to Russia allowed him to shift public attention from his domestic problems and highlight his foreign policy achievements, similar to his trip to China earlier.

7. Détente and the Soviets' interest: The Soviet Union was also interested in détente due to the growing antagonism between Russia and China. Brezhnev wanted to avoid facing powerful rivals together.

8. Agreements signed in Moscow: During President Nixon's visit to Moscow, he and Brezhnev signed seven agreements, including those related to arms control, prevention of military clashes, cooperative research, and expanded commerce.

9. Summit II and Summit III: In June 1973, Brezhnev visited the United States for Summit II, which symbolized the continuing commitment to peace. However, Summit III in 1974 was less productive due to stalled salt talks, blocked commercial agreements, and the Watergate investigation.

10. End of détente: With the election of Ronald Reagan, who emphasized military preparedness in Soviet-American relations, the period of détente as Nixon envisioned it came to an end.