The administration of U.S. President-elect George W. Bush will include many pro-Japanese officials. This reflects U.S. political history. Many officials of President Bill Clinton's administration had served under President Jimmy Carter, who came to power 12 years earlier. For example, former Secretary of State Warren Christopher was undersecretary of state, and former Secretary of Defense William Perry was undersecretary of defense, in the Carter administration.
The Carter years of 1977 to 1981 saw pseudo-detente worldwide following the fall of Saigon to communist forces in 1975, as did Cambodia and Laos later. This marked the end of U.S. military involvement in Indochina. In Europe, hope for detente spread after a European security conference was held in Helsinki. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union continued its military expansion. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan forced the Carter administration to admit its mistakes and reverse policy in 1980, and the age of pseudo-detente ended.
Former Carter administration officials returned to power in 1992, this time after the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War. While in power, these officials did not have to ponder the balance of power between nations, the most important element in international politics.