English summary: Many contemporaries of Willy Brandt regarded him as an Americanized politician who won over his peers and counterparts with his Kennedy smile. As a young socialist, Brandt displayed a certain skepticism towards the United States, but in the Front Town of Berlin, his confidence in American protective power grew. He felt a congenial affinity to John F. Kennedy, but as Federal Chancellor he had a more reserved attitude towards Richard Nixon. With regard to issues such as the Vietnam War and Ostpolitik, ...
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English summary: Many contemporaries of Willy Brandt regarded him as an Americanized politician who won over his peers and counterparts with his Kennedy smile. As a young socialist, Brandt displayed a certain skepticism towards the United States, but in the Front Town of Berlin, his confidence in American protective power grew. He felt a congenial affinity to John F. Kennedy, but as Federal Chancellor he had a more reserved attitude towards Richard Nixon. With regard to issues such as the Vietnam War and Ostpolitik, military dependence and Brandt's belief in shared values shaped his relations with the United States throughout his time in office. Nevertheless, he was able to increase his scope of action towards Germany's key partner and to preserve national and party political interests. Following his term as Chancellor, Brandt adopted an increasingly critical position, particularly towards Ronald Reagan and the NATO dual-track decision. Using a wide range of sources, this study systematically analyzes the reciprocal effects of Brandt's perception of the United States and his policy towards it, and depicts breaks and continuities in his relationship with America. German text. German description: Willy Brandt wurde von Zeitgenossen oft als amerikanisierter Politiker wahrgenommen, der mit seinem Kennedy-Lacheln die Herzen seiner Gesprachspartner gewann. Begegnete der junge, sozialistisch gepragte Brandt den USA zunachst mit einer gewissen Skepsis, festigte sich sein Vertrauen in die amerikanische Schutzmacht in der Frontstadt Berlin. Wahrend er zu John F. Kennedy eine kongeniale Verbun-denheit empfand, nahm er als Bundeskanzler zu Richard Nixon eine distanziertere Haltung ein. Die sicherheitspolitische Abhangigkeit und Brandts Glaube an gemeinsame Werte bestimmten jedoch auch zu dieser Zeit seine Beziehungen zu den Vereinigten Staaten in Hinblick auf Themen wie den Vietnamkrieg und die Ostpolitik. Dennoch gelang es ihm, Handlungsspielraume gegenuber dem grossen Partner auszu-weiten und nationale und parteipolitische Interessen zu wahren. Als Altkanzler nahm Brandt eine zunehmend kriti-schere Haltung, insbesondere gegenuber Ronald Reagan und dem Nato-Doppelbeschluss ein. Diese Studie untersucht systematisch und auf breiter Quellenbasis die Wechselwirkung zwischen Brandts Amerikabild und -politik und zeichnet die Bruche und Kontinuitaten in seinem Verhaltnis zu den USA nach.
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