Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents a brief overview of US–African policy in the Richard Nixon administration. It focuses on the confrontation between the Ford administration and Congress over Angolan policy in the period covering December 1975 to May 1976, and how Vietnam syndrome dominated this period. The book explores in detail the fractured relationship between Henry Kissinger and Nathaniel Davis at this point as Kissinger thought Davis’ objections were a result of the Vietnam experience and Davis’ previous encounter with scandal during his former position as US Ambassador to Chile in 1973. It also focuses on the disagreement between Davis and Kissinger and how it resulted in the resignation of Davis. The book discusses the evolution of US intervention throughout the autumn of 1975 where the US was buoyed by some initial success, but was then significantly halted by a counter escalation from the Soviets.