As he took office in 1969, President Nixon announced that a new era of with the Soviets and Chinese would replace the traditional confrontation tactics.

Détente

Explanation:

Détente is a word of French origin that means to ease hostilities with an adversary.

When Nixon took office in 1969, he promoted a détente policy with the Soviet Union and China, advised by his secretary of the state: Henry Kissinger.

Nixon visited China in 1972, and met personally with Mao Zedong. This event was the start of a new relation between the U.S. and China.

He also met with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in 1972, and reached important agreements like the Anti-Ballistic missile treaty.

Most historians coincide that this policy of détente was successful, and helped Nixon become reelected.