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FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Détente remains the keystone policy, and Carter intends to try to drive a harder bargain than either Nixon or Ford. He does not want to continue to give the Russians the benefits of trade with the U.S. unless they give more on the political front to ease international tensions. The first test of the Soviets' intentions will be their performance when the SALT II talks are resumed (no date has been set as yet). Carter hopes to conclude a 10% reduction in the current ceilings for strategic missiles and heavy bombers. Though the Soviets publicly insist that they will not make political concessions in order to increase trade, one Carter adviser says, "Every indication he's got so far—mostly indirectly—is that the Soviets are very interested in cooperating."
The President-elect vows to pay much attention to strengthening ties to traditional U.S. allies—Western Europe, Japan, Latin America. Europeans are worried by his on-again, off-again statements about pulling some U.S. troops out of the Continent. Not only must he assure a skeptical Europe that he is firmly committed to NATO, but he must also work to strengthen the alliance against the continuing and ominous buildup of Soviet bloc forces. Far more important, he has to face a Western Europe racked by economic problems and political unrest, with the left rising fast.
DEFENSE. Former Submariner Carter is pledged to reducing defense costs by $5 billion to $7 billion without specifying how or where, though he has often spoken of "tighter management and elimination of waste." He probably can safely pare some $5 billion from Ford's proposed defense budget for fiscal 1978, which is expected to be about $125 billion, v. the $108.8 billion appropriated by Congress for the current year. Half of that total is in personnel costs, and the President-elect most probably will trim away at them.
These savings are Pentagon nickels and dimes compared with the sums involved in one of the key decisions immediately facing Carter: whether or not to build the supersonic B-l bomber, at a projected cost of $22.9 billion for a fleet of 244. Ford has ordered production to start on the first three, but Carter can scrap that plan any time in the first half of 1977. During the campaign he opposed production of the B-l "at this time" but wanted R. and D. to continue while he rethought the future need for manned bombers. His decision will shape the U.S. deterrent mix—bombers. missiles, submarines—until close to the end of the century.
THE ENVIRONMENT. A dedicated conservationist, Carter advocates stricter controls on strip mining and nuclear power plants, as well as on air and water pollution. He has promised to speak out against new industrial developments if they significantly damage the environment. Sample: "If there is ever a conflict, I will go for beauty, clean air, water and landscape." Trouble is, Carter's fervor on these points will conflict in part with his goal of developing U.S. energy sources, and he will have to make some tough choices.
SOCIAL WELFARE. Carter insists that he will meet all of his campaign promises and initiate at least the beginnings of plans to reform the welfare