After reading Nixon, Kissinger, and The Shah, a conclusion can be made that leaders of the world are elected to make decisions that reflect their character towards the people they represent. All throughout the book, leaders have risen and fallen because of time, political detachments, jealousies, and rivalries. All of which were clearly mentioned when Alvandi analyzed “the rise and fall of the Nixon-Kissinger-Pahlavi partnership” (4). From 1933 to 1981, a minimum of eight U.S. presidents were affiliated with the Shah, whether they participated or were reluctant to participate in assisting the Shah’s request for support. Several other leaders in foreign countries contributed to the Cold War also. Alvandi focuses on three main ideas throughout…show more content… Two bigger imperial powers, Britain and Russia, had long since controlled Iran and divided the country among themselves. Britain contained the southern part of Iran, and Russia the north in the 1907 Anglo-Russian Convention. The Shah warmly coaxed America’s influence to support Iranian affairs in hopes of protection against these imperial powers; nevertheless, America remained uninterested in taking measures. Shah’s response to the conflict surrounding Britain and Russia appeared overwhelming. So, the Shah, along with his accompanying prime minister, Mohammad Ali Forughi, settled the Tripartite Treaty in January of 1942, which eventually drew the “reluctant” United States in aiding the Iranians to balance out the Soviet and British influence…show more content… After several United States’ presidential rejections for support, Shah’s circumstances changed once Richard Nixon visited Saadabad Palace as vice president. The Shah approached Nixon on the establishment of “Iran’s regional primacy in the wake of Britain's withdrawal from the region in 1971” (28). Britain viewed Iran’s dominance in the Persian Gulf as a threat to the success and the continual operation of power concerning British-governed states (31). However, President Johnson’s administration dismissed replacing Britain's role in managing the Persian Gulf because of other concerns like “the Tet Offensive” (33). Although the Shah tried his best to convince Johnson to side with Iran in the Persian Gulf, he achieved very little success. In the meantime, the patron-client relationship is still pending for Pahlavi Shah. Therefore, the Nixon Doctrine was set in place not only to assist Iran, but also other Third World countries
