What did Americans hope to gain from détente?

Détente, which means a relaxation of tensions, was a strategy and period during the Cold War where the United States, under President Nixon and his advisor Henry Kissinger, aimed to ease the strained relations with the Soviet Union. Americans hoped to gain several things from détente:

1. Nuclear Arms Control: One of the primary goals of détente was to reduce the risk of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. Americans hoped that through negotiations, both superpowers would agree to limit the arms race, especially regarding nuclear arms, through treaties such as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT).

2. Increased Stability: Détente was seen as a way to establish a more predictable and stable global environment. Decreasing the hostility could prevent crises that could potentially escalate into a full-blown war.

3. Economic Benefits: Americans believed that reduced military tension would enable trade and economic cooperation with the Soviet Union and its allies, leading to economic benefits for the U.S.

4. Geopolitical Advantages: By engaging the Soviet Union, the United States might gain more leverage in dealing with other nations around the world, particularly in regions where the influence of the Soviet Union was strong.

5. Positive Domestic and International Image: Americans also hoped that détente would portray the U.S. as a peaceful and reasonable nation on both the domestic and international fronts, potentially bolstering its image and soft power.

6. Solution to Vietnam War: Additionally, Nixon believed détente could help to create an environment that would allow the U.S. to extract itself from the Vietnam War on more favorable terms.

In essence, Americans had both idealistic and pragmatic reasons for pursuing détente, all of which aimed at creating a safer, more prosperous world while maintaining the strategic interests of the United States.