RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEADERS

• From 1951-1953, British forces were fighting alongside the Americans in the Korean war. The relationship between the two countries were close, but Britain was clearly subordinate to the US in the decision making. The 1960s & 1970s saw increasing decolonisation of Britain's empire Which meant that the importance and value of the British to the Americans diminished. During the Suez Crisis (1956), Britain could not act independently of, and certainly not in opposition to, the US.
• Despite Eisenhower's fury, the crisis did little permanent damage to Anglo-American relations as Macmillan exploited his wartime friendship making it clear that the US alliance was central to Britain's foreign policy and relations between the two nations remained mostly harmonious. President Kennedy regarded Macmillan as a political father figure and consulted him for advice during the Berlin Crisis in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 (Britain did not play an active role in either case and the US did not act in close co-operation with them).
• Wilson's attempt to broker a peace in 1967 during the Vietnam War illustrated how little influence Britain had over US policy and they only succeeded in iritating President Johnson who was already disappointed that no British troops were fighting. This cooling of relations between the President and Prime Minister is further evidenced with Edward Heath who was more focused on Britain's future aligning with Europe.
• However, there was personal chemistry between Carter/Callaghan and famously Thatcher/Reagan. However, the Grenada crisis in 1983 is an example of Britain's interests being subordinate to America. The invasion of the Commonwealth island by American troops in an attempt to remove a communist government had happened without Thatcher or the Queen being informed