A Historical Review of American Foreign Policy: Anglo-American Relations under the James Callaghan and Jimmy Carter Administrations (1977-1979)

James Callaghan, the former Labour British Prime Minister (1976-1979), developed a cordial personal relationship with the Democrat US President, Jimmy Carter (1977-1981). While many studies have focused on post-World War II Anglo-American Special Relationships, few have addressed the Anglo-American relations during the Carter presidency and Callaghan premiership (1977-1979). This research adopts a historical phenomenological approach to evaluate these relations. Through thematic analysis, the study delineates central historical pathways and identifies key junctures and formative moments from this period. The themes that emerged from analyzing and reviewing available content, including governmental, historical, and academic publications as well as the memoirs of Carter (2011) and Callaghan (2006), encompass the commencement of Carter’s presidency, Callaghan’s visit to Washington, NATO and nuclear weapons, defense expenditures, the second round of Strategic Arms Limitations Talks/Treaty (SALT II), human rights, Northern Ireland, and Rhodesia. It was concluded that by the end of Carter’s first year in office, significant Anglo-American cooperation was evident in NATO alliance diplomacy and efforts to settle the question of majority rule in Rhodesia. However, several important unresolved issues remained, including the most divisive question for the NATO alliance and the production and deployment of the neutron bomb (ERW).