Pres. Carter's State of the Union speeches: on War & Peace

Continue 4-decade challenge of mounting Soviet power

• In the 1940's we took the lead in creating the Atlantic Alliance in response to the Soviet Union's consolidation of its East European empire.
• In the 1950's we helped to contain further Soviet challenges in Korea and in the Middle East, and we rearmed to assure that containment.
• In the 1960's we met the Soviet challenges in Berlin, and we faced the Cuban missile crisis. And we sought to engage the Soviet Union in the important task of moving beyond the Cold War.
• In the 1970's three American Presidents negotiated with the Soviet leaders in attempts to halt the growth of the nuclear arms race.