Washington Summit (1987)

• 1. Cold War Context And Background

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  The Washington Summit of 1987 took place on the 8th of December 10 between United States president Ronald Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. Political pressure mounted heavily in the months leading up to this meeting. The stock market caused trouble for Reagan during that autumn season. He failed to win approval for Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork by late October 1987. The Iran-Contra scandal generated significant political pressure throughout the year. Critics from an uncharacteristically large number of conservatives attacked the administration. Former President Richard Nixon voiced strong opposition to the INF Treaty. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger joined the criticism against the treaty. Commentator William Buckley also spoke out against the agreement. Members of Reagan's own administration contributed to a contentious atmosphere. Gorbachev faced similar internal challenges with his Perestroika reform programs. He replaced over 150 senior defense ministers and officers after the Mathias Rust incident. Boris Yeltsin denounced the Soviet General Secretary just two months before the summit. Yeltsin resigned from his post in an unprecedented move. This resignation occurred while candidate member of the Politburo supported Gorbachev. The situation created a tense time preceding the Washington Summit.

• 2. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

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  Reagan and Gorbachev began putting resources into INF Treaty negotiations following the Reykjavik Summit. Savranskaya and Blanton documented these efforts in their 2007 National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 238. At least a week before the meeting, The New York Times reported that leaders were scheduled to sign a treaty on December 8. The treaty aimed to eliminate shorter-range and medium-range missiles from both nations. Discussion regarding reducing long-range strategic nuclear weapons encountered obstacles during this period. Shultz had barely unpacked his bags back in Washington when word came from Moscow. Gorbachev wanted the summit to take place soon according to Shultz's account. Shevardnadze would be in Washington within two days to see to final details. Most details relating the INF Treaty had already been worked out by the time the summit started. The agreement represented a notable accomplishment of the Washington Summit despite outside complications. The treaty eliminated shorter-range and medium-range missiles as planned for December 8 signing.

• 3. Summit Schedule And Key Discussions

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  The Oval Office hosted discussions from 10:45 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. on December 8. Topics included human rights, emigration, and improvement in relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States. Arms control also featured prominently in those morning conversations. The Cabinet Room held sessions from 2:30-3:15 P.M. focusing on arms control for conventional and chemical weapons. December 9 brought an informal meeting where the President and General Secretary autographed a baseball for Joe DiMaggio. This occurred in a small office next to the Oval Office from 10:35-10:45 A.M. Progress of START discussions took center stage during the afternoon session from 10:55 A.M. to 12:35 P.M. Strategic Defense Initiative debates filled much of that time alongside Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty talks. Afghanistan and the Iran-Iraq War were also discussed during this period. Various regional issues occupied the Oval Office from 12:00 to 12:15 P.M. on December 10. The Family Dining Room hosted a working luncheon from 12:40 to 2:10 P.M. Participants discussed how to characterize progress on Vietnamese withdrawal from Cambodia and Latin America. Geneva Agreements and North Korea appeared in the joint statement discussion. Self-congratulatory statements and jokes filled the last moments of this final meeting.

• 4. Strategic Defense Initiative Debates

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  The Strategic Defense Initiative became a major point of contention during the summit meetings. Reagan and Gorbachev debated the initiative extensively throughout their discussions. The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty formed another critical component of these negotiations. START discussions progressed while leaders argued over strategic defense systems. Shultz noted that Gorbachev was unusually contentious during their late-October meeting in Moscow. This tension carried through to the Washington Summit itself. The treaty signing proceeded despite obstacles regarding long-range strategic nuclear weapons reduction. Leaders worked to finalize terms for the INF Treaty before the official gathering began. The debate over strategic defense systems created friction between the two nations. Both sides maintained firm positions on their respective security concerns. The discussions reflected deep disagreements about future military capabilities and defensive strategies.

• 5. Regional Conflicts And Human Rights

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  Human rights and emigration issues dominated early conversations at the White House. Afghanistan remained a key topic throughout multiple sessions with both leaders present. The Iran-Iraq War featured prominently in diplomatic discussions during December 1987. Vietnamese withdrawal from Cambodia appeared in joint statement deliberations. Latin America and Africa were addressed as part of regional issue assessments. Geneva Agreements provided context for many of these international conflicts. North Korea also entered into the conversation during working luncheons. The Soviet Union and United States sought improvement in relationship status across all regions. Emigration policies became a specific focus of human rights discussions. Reagan and Gorbachev examined how to characterize progress on these global challenges. Self-congratulatory statements emerged as participants reviewed achievements in conflict resolution. The meetings covered extensive ground regarding international stability and cooperation efforts.

• 6. Conservative Opposition And Political Fallout

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  Former President Richard Nixon voiced strong opposition to the INF Treaty agreement. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger joined the criticism against the treaty terms. Commentator William Buckley spoke out against the administration's decisions publicly. Members of Reagan's own administration contributed to a contentious atmosphere surrounding the negotiations. Critics formed an uncharacteristically large number of notable conservatives attacking the policy. These political pressures generated significant challenges for Reagan during that autumn season. The stock market caused trouble while domestic issues compounded external pressures. Failure to win approval for Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork added to the difficulty. The Iran-Contra scandal continued generating political pressure throughout the year. Despite outside complications, most details relating the INF Treaty had already been worked out. The treaty signing proceeded despite conservative opposition from multiple high-profile figures. The political fallout created a tense time preceding the Washington Summit conclusion.