An accessible version of the archival material represented on this site will be made available upon request.
Please contact us at dolearchives@ku.edu to request the document be made available in an accessible format.

Ronald Reagan stands at a podium speaking to a crowd. Behind him are some seated individuals, a row of flags, and the Brandenburg gate.

Soviet Disarmament

Summary

From the end of World War II until the early 1990’s, the United States and Soviet Russia were engaged in a Cold War—a period where neither directly fought each other, but escalated tensions dramatically through nuclear arms build-up, and proxy-wars. Diplomacy was instrumental in ending the Cold War and reconciling United States-USSR ('Union of Soviet Socialist Republics', also known as the 'Soviet Union') relations. With the aid of Senator Bob Dole, bipartisan groups of senators and politicians worked with those in the USSR to help ease tensions between the two nations, which would ultimately lead to Soviet disarmament.

Archival Materials

Gorbachev and framed image of the Mall

a man is holding a framed image of a monument while others are standing around it looking at the image as well

File Name: ph_034_043_001

Material Type: Photograph

Date: 1990

Citation: Dole Photograph Collection, 1900-2011, Box 34, Folder 43, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


Date Range

  • 1961-1990

Online Materials

  • Correspondence between US and Soviet diplomats, internal congressional documents discussing US -Soviet relations.

Download

Ronald Reagan giving his famous “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate at the Berlin Wall

Ronald Reagan stands at a podium. In front of him are a crowd of people. Behind him are a row of seated government officials and a row of flags from various countries, including the United States. Behind the flags is a panel, and behind the panel is the Brandenburg gate.

File Name: ph_017_012_001

Material Type: Photograph

Date: 1987-06-12

Citation: Dole Photograph Collection, 1900-2011, Box 17, Folder 12, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


Bob Dole shaking hands with President Eisenhower

President Dwight D. Eisenhower stands, shaking Bob Dole's left hand with his right hand.

File Name: ph_006_011_001

Material Type: Photograph

Date: 1961

Citation: Dole Photograph Collection, 1900-2011, Box 6, Folder 11, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


Senator Dole in meeting about trade between United States and Soviet Union

A group of men in suits sitting on either side of a table laid out with drinks and small American flags

File Name: ph_035_019_001

Material Type: Photograph

Date: 1982-11

Citation: Dole Photograph Collection, 1900-2011, Box 35, Folder 19, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


Letter to Senator Bob Dole from Kenneth Adelman

Letter from Kenneth Adelman, newly nominated Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency to Senator Bob Dole. Adelman thanks Dole for the support for his confirmation and underscores his commitment to arms control.

File Name: s-pers_362_007_001

Material Type: Text

Date: 1983-04-14

Citation: Robert J. Dole Senate Papers- Personal/Political Files, 1969-1996, Box 362, Folder 7, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas Download PDF


Congressional Record: Observers to Arms Reduction Control Negotiations

S18100, Congressional Record, Senate, December 19, 1985. 'Observers to Arms Reduction Control Negotiations'

File Name: s-pers_365_006_001

Material Type: Text

Date: 1985-12-19

Citation: Robert J. Dole Senate Papers- Personal/Political Files, 1969-1996, Box 365, Folder 6, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


U.S. - Soviet Relations

Unclassified document detailing United States and Soviet relations from the U.S. Department of State

File Name: s-pers_413_011_001

Material Type: Text

Date: Undated

Citation: Robert J. Dole Senate Papers- Personal/Political Files, 1969-1996, Box 413, Folder 11, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


U.S. Response to Soviet Security and Political Challenges

Unclassified document 'The U.S. Response to Soviet Security and Political Challenges' from the U.S. Department of State

File Name: s-pers_413_011_002

Material Type: Text

Date: Undated

Citation: Robert J. Dole Senate Papers- Personal/Political Files, 1969-1996, Box 413, Folder 11, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


List of Sanctions Imposed by U.S. Against USSR in Response to USSR Imposing Martial Law Against Poland

Poland: Sanctions versus the USSR describing a list of sanctions imposed by the United States against the Soviet Union, December 29, 1981 in response to the imposition of martial law in Poland.

File Name: s-pers_413_011_003

Material Type: Text

Date: Undated

Citation: Robert J. Dole Senate Papers- Personal/Political Files, 1969-1996, Box 413, Folder 11, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


Letter from Senator Dole to Aleksei Shitikov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the USSR

Thank you letter from Senator Bob Dole to Aleksei Shitikov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the USSR

File Name: s-pers_427_011_001

Material Type: Text

Date: 1983-01-11

Citation: Robert J. Dole Senate Papers- Personal/Political Files, 1969-1996, Box 427, Folder 11, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


Secretary of State Shultz's Press Conference at SPASO House

Transcript of Press Conference, official text of the American Embassy, Moscow, USSR. Secretary of State Shultz's Press Conference at Spaso House, November 14, 1982

File Name: s-pers_427_011_002

Material Type: Text

Date: 1982-11-15

Citation: Robert J. Dole Senate Papers- Personal/Political Files, 1969-1996, Box 427, Folder 11, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


Letter from Elizabeth Dole to Valentina Tereshkova

Letter from Elizabeth Dole to Mrs. Valentina Nikolayeva-Tereshkova expressing how much she enjoyed meeting the Soviet cosmonaut

File Name: s-pers_427_011_003

Material Type: Text

Date: 1983-01-19

Citation: Robert J. Dole Senate Papers- Personal/Political Files, 1969-1996, Box 427, Folder 11, Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas


Bibliography

Caldwell, Lawrence T. Soviet Attitudes to SALT. London: Institute for Strategic Studies, 1971.

Goldblat, Jozef. Arms Control: A Guide to Negotiations and Agreements. London: Sage, 1996.

Mozley, Robert Fred. The Politics and Technology of Nuclear Proliferation. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1998.

Newhouse, John. Cold Dawn: The Story of SALT. Washington: Pergamon-Brassey’s, 1989.

Thompson, David B. A Guide to the Nuclear Arms Control Treaties. Los Alamos, N.M.: Los Alamos Historical Society, 2001.