The Failed Design: Kennedy, de Gaulle, and the Struggle for Europe
Frank Costigliola
The John F. Kennedy administration's pursuit of new frontiers in the emerging nations made its relations with Western Europe all more important.1 Accordingly, and his advisers crafted an elaborate policy, labeled Grand Design, to shape European development while redressing America's relative decline power.2 team perceived weakness nation's international position. administration fretted over persistent balance payments deficit, sluggish growth rate, nuclear strategy.3 Europe, surplus, skyrocketing growth, nascent weapons systems, appeared be key resolving these problems. To turn that key, officials wielded integration economic, political, military policies toward Europe. scheme included Trade Expansion Act (TEA) reduce tariffs create Atlantic-wide free trade area. Its promoters believed expanded exports were essential global strength. New Frontiersmen determined tap Europe's, particularly West Germany's, financial surplus for aid underdeveloped assistance maintaining U.S. troops. They wanted stabilize Cold War so they could concentrate on battle communism Third World. This conflicted German French aspirations. Americans tried blunt those ambitions through British admission Common Market. also valued unification as way contain Germany build a broader market American products. Consequently, it talked about equal partnership united Yet like predecessors, this had difficulty practicing other than terms. In strategic matters, was reluctant share control. Proud managerial expertise, keep forces centralized own hands. meant blocking independent trying stifle France extinguish Britain. By January 1963, energetic embittered President Charles de Gaulle, estranged Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, undercut Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. veto Britain's Market signaled Design's defeat end easy predominance
Diplomatic History