Winning and losing the nuclear peace: the rise, demise, and revival of arms control

"The definitive guide to the history of nuclear arms control by a wise eavesdropper and masterful storyteller, Michael Krepon. The greatest unacknowledged diplomatic achievement of the Cold War was the absence of mushroom clouds. Deterrence alone was too dangerous to succeed; it needed arms control to prevent nuclear warfare. So, U.S. and Soviet leaders ventured into the unknown to devise guardrails for nuclear arms control and to treat the Bomb differently than other weapons. Against the odds, they succeeded. Nuclear weapons have not been used in warfare for three quarters of a century. This book is the first in-depth history of how the nuclear peace was won by complementing deterrence with reassurance, and then jeopardized by discarding arms control after the Cold War ended. "Winning and Losing the Nuclear Peace" tells a remarkable story of highwire acts of diplomacy, close calls, dogged persistence, and extraordinary success. Michael Krepon brings to life the pitched battles between arms controllers and advocates of nuclear deterrence, the ironic twists and unexpected outcomes from Truman to Trump. What began with a ban on atmospheric testing and a nonproliferation treaty reached its apogee with treaties that mandated deep cuts and corralled "loose nukes" after the Soviet Union imploded. After the Cold War ended, much of this diplomatic accomplishment was cast aside in favor of freedom of action. The nuclear peace is now imperiled by no less than four nuclear-armed rivalries. Arms control needs to be revived and re-imagined for Russia and China to prevent nuclear warfare. New guardrails have to be erected. "Winning and Losing the Nuclear Peace" is an engaging account of how the practice of arms control was built from scratch, how it was torn down, and how it can be rebuilt."

A prehistory of nuclear arms control -- Einsenhower's halting steps -- Kennedy, Johnson, and early successes -- Johnson and the quest for strategic arms control -- Nixon, Kissiner, and the Salt I Accords -- Nixon fall and Salt II stalls -- Ford, Kissinger, and the death of détente -- Carter, Salt II, and the reckoning -- Reagan's roller coaster ride -- Breakthrough -- George H. W. Bush at peak performance -- Consolidating gains -- Stalling out -- Shedding treaties -- Reality overtakes hope -- Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin -- Reaffirming norms, reducing numbers.