Stephen F. Austin State University
Charlie Wilson's First War: Challenging Carter's Human Rights Policy through his Support for Anastasio Somoza Debayle, 1977-79.
Abstract
dc:description.abstract<p>The purpose of this thesis is to examine the support of Congressman Charles Wilson, D-TX, for the Nicaraguan government of Anastasio Somoza Debayle from March 1977 to July 1979. A narrative of Wilson's actions and motivations it relies heavily on his congressional papers for primary sources. This work argues that Wilson was motivated by his personal anti-Communist beliefs to challenge the perceived biased application of the Carter Administration's human rights policy against the Somoza regime. He saw the administration's abandonment of Nicaragua, a traditional Cold War ally after four decades of loyal support, as directly contributing to the rise of a Communist regime following Somoza’s fall. It also explores the role of Congress in influencing American foreign policy. Furthermore, it proves that Wilson was a committed anti-Communist with an interest in foreign policy before his adventures in the mountains of Afghanistan during the 1980s for which he has become famous</p>
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Arts - History
- Level thesis:degree_level
- Thesis
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- History
- Year dc:date.available
- 2019
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Sadler, Sherman J.
- Contributors dc:contributor
-
- Dr. Aaron Moulton
- Dr. Scott Sosebee
- Dr. Philip Catton
Subjects
dc:subject × 9Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Repository record dc:identifier
- https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/248
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1298