Jimmy Carter and the Anglo-American Special Relationship

253 Pages·2017·1.59 MB·English

by  Thomas K. Robb

Jimmy Carter and the
Anglo-American
Special Relationship
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Edinburgh Studies in Anglo-American Relations
Series Editors: Steve Marsh and Alan P. Dobson
Published and forthcoming titles
The Anglo-American Relationship
Steve Marsh and Alan P. Dobson
The Arsenal of Democracy: Aircraft Supply and the Anglo-American
Alliance, 1938–1942
Gavin J. Bailey
Post-War Planning on the Periphery: Anglo-American Economic
Diplomacy in South America, 1939–1945
Thomas C. Mills
Best Friends, Former Enemies: The Anglo-American Special
Relationship and German Reunifi cation
Luca Ratti
Reagan and Thatcher’s Special Relationship: Latin America and
Anglo-American Relations
Sally-Ann Treharne
Tacit Alliance: Franklin Roosevelt and the Anglo-American
‘Special Relationship’ before Churchill, 1933–1940
Tony McCulloch
The Politics of Diplomacy: U.S. Presidents and the Northern Ireland
Confl ict, 1967–1998
James Cooper
Jimmy Carter and the Anglo-American ‘Special Relationship’
Thomas K. Robb
The Congo Crisis: Anglo-American Relations and the United Nations,
1960–1964
Alanna O’Malley
euppublishing.com/series/esar
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Jimmy Carter and the
Anglo-American
Special Relationship
Thomas K. Robb
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Edinburgh University Press is one of the leading university presses in the UK.
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For more information visit our website: www.edinburghuniversitypress.com
© Thomas K. Robb, 2017
Edinburgh University Press Ltd
The Tun – Holyrood Road,
12(2f) Jackson’s Entry,
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Typeset in 11/13 Sabon by
IDSUK (Dataconnection) Ltd,
and printed and bound in Great Britain by
CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon CR0 4YY
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 4744 0701 4 (hardback)
ISBN 978 1 4744 0702 1 (webready PDF)
ISBN 978 1 4744 0703 8 (epub)
The right of Thomas K. Robb to be identifi ed as the author of this work has
been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988,
and the Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (SI No. 2498).
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Contents
Acknowledgements vi
Abbreviations viii
Introduction 1
1. Détente, Human Rights and Anglo-American Relations 10
2. Embracing the Special Relationship, 1977–8 24
3. Stresses and Strains 64
4. Thatcher Comes to Power 89
5. The End of Détente 113
Conclusion 152
Notes 158
Select Bibliography 233
Index 239
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the numerous archivists that have assisted
in locating material for the writing of this book. The assistance
offered by the various staff at the British National Archives, Kew,
the British Olympic Archive, University of East London, Churchill
College, Cambridge University, the modern papers section at the
Bodleian Library, Oxford University, the Gerald R. Ford Presiden-
tial Library, Ann Arbor, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library,
Atlanta, the US National Archives II at College Park and the staff
at the Sterling Library, Yale University, have all been courteous,
professional and effi cient. Without such dedicated staff then the
process of writing history would be infi nitely more diffi cult. Pro-
fessor Alan Dobson fi rst approached me about writing this book
and it was with his encouragement that the fi nal volume saw the
light of day. I extent my gratitude to Professor Dobson and his co-
editor of the series, Dr Steve Marsh, who have both profession-
ally edited and guided this volume to its successful publication.
The publication team at Edinburgh University Press have been
the model of professionalism in ensuring the timely publication
of the book.
Colleagues and friends, such as Dr James Cooper, Dr Donal
Lowry and Dr David Gill, deserve a special mention for discuss-
ing this work over the past several years. Dr Lowry’s expert guid-
ance on issues related to Rhodesia helped me to better appreciate
the nuances that affected the course of events. Of course, any
misunderstandings or errors of fact or interpretation are a refl ec-
tion on me and not Dr Lowry. Dr Cooper has provided engaging
conversation about the Carter presidency and Anglo-American
relations more broadly. Dr Gill has read numerous drafts of
vi
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Acknowledgements
this work at various stages of the writing process and his sharp
insights and questions have resulted in a much stronger work
than it would have been otherwise. Of course, it is to my family
and friends that I also offer my appreciation. It is to them that I
dedicate this book.
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Abbreviations
Main Text
CIA Central Intelligence Agency
CND Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
CTB comprehensive test ban
EEC European Economic Community
ERW enhanced radiation warhead
FCO Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce
FRG Federal Republic of Germany
G7 Group of Seven
GCHQ Government Communications Headquarters
GDP gross domestic product
ICBM intercontinental ballistic missile
IMF International Monetary Fund
IOC International Olympic Committee
IRA Irish Republican Army
IRBM intermediate range ballistic missile
JCS Joint Chiefs of Staff
LDC low developed country
MIRV multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle
MOD Ministry of Defence
MP Member of Parliament
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NSC National Security Council
PRC People’s Republic of China
RUC Royal Ulster Constabulary
SALT Strategic Arms Limitation Talks/Treaty
SCC Special Coordination Committee
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Abbreviations
SLBM submarine-launched ballistic missile
UDI unilateral declaration of independence
UK United Kingdom
UN United Nations
USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
ZANLA Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
ZANU Zimbabwe African National Union
ZAPU Zimbabwe African People’s Union
Notes and Select Bibliography
BDOHP British Diplomatic Oral History Project
BOA British Olympic Association Archive
CAB Cabinet Offi ce fi les
DEFE Ministry of Defence fi les
FCO Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce fi les
FO Foreign Offi ce fi les
FRUS Foreign Relations of the United States
G6 Group of Six
GFL Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
GLCM ground launched cruise missile
JCL Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
NAII US National Archives II
PPP Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States
PREM Prime Minister’s Offi ce fi les
T Treasury fi les
TNA National Archives (UK)
USA United States of America
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