The Ford Administration and Anglo-American Relations Re-Valuing an Interim Presidency

In light of the fallout from the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War, Gerald Ford's presidency has long been viewed as merely an interim administration. However, this administration and its British counterpart worked to manage economic crises, Cold War tensions, and international flashpoints, while simultaneously harnessing cultural diplomacy to preserve the transatlantic partnership.Drawing on newly declassified archival sources and new historical analysis, The Ford Administration and Anglo-American Relations shows how Ford's years in office (1974-1977) were pivotal in reshaping the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom at a moment of global turmoil.Organized thematically rather than chronologically, the authors examine eight dimensions of Anglo-American relations in the Ford era: the legacy of transatlantic tensions from the Nixon era; Cultural and social ties outside the country; The importance of Ford's personal diplomacy;Negotiations on defense and security; Transformations in international economic relations and the birth of the G6/G7; Cooperation through multilateral institutions such as NATO and the United Nations; Joint management of crises in Cyprus and Rhodesia, leading to the sterling currency crisis; and cultural diplomacy to mark the bicentenary in 1976, when the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II symbolized renewed unity between the former adversaries.By highlighting the challenges and strength of Anglo-American relations, this book recasts the role of a neglected presidency as a vital bridge between the crises of the Nixon era and the honorable Reagan-Thatcher era. With fluid style and thorough research, this work is attractive to anyone interested in how two countries, faced with uncertainty internally and externally, turned to multilateral cooperation, culture, and public diplomacy to overcome the turmoil of the 1970s.