Political Science

The seeks to identify the concepts of balance of power, disarmament and human rights in the thinking of various American presidents during their inaugural addresses and put them in their right historical perspectives.

Balance of Power
Balance of power is, in international relations,  an equilibrium of power sufficient to discourage or prevent one nation or party from imposing its will on or interfering with the interests of another 
(Brittania Concise Encyclopedia, 1994-2001). It implies equilibrium between nations that seek to prevent any single nation from becoming too powerful as to enforce its will on others.

Richard Nixon, in his inaugural address of 1973, pledged to   support the principle that no country has the right to impose its will or rule on another by force.  The consequences of the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union then, particularly on nuclear weaponry, were becoming clear.  It produced a kind of equilibrium where each nuclear power was not ready to give any kind of signal to the other power that would justify an attack. Nixon therefore pledged to honour the treaties that were signed in 1972 between the United States and the Soviet Union, to limit nuclear arms and reduce the possibility of confrontation between the two super powers.

Disarmament
Disarmament is  the reduction in armaments by one or more nations 
(Brittania Concise Encyclopedia, 1994-2001).The term is most commonly used in the context of nuclear weapons. It could also broadly refer to the reduction of a nation s fighting capacity.
John F. Kennedy in his address of 1961 talked of  policies to inspect and control arms.  Richard Nixon pledged  to work for the limitation of nuclear arms.  Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, in their respective inaugural addresses, sought  the elimination of all nuclear weapons from the earth.   They were in office during the cold war era when competition for power between the United States and the Soviet Union was at its peak. The Soviet Union had, in the 1960 s, achieved nuclear parity with the United States prompting calls by successive

American presidents for negotiations to end the threat of a nuclear war. As a result of their efforts, many agreements were signed, including the SALT treaties of the 1970s and the START treaties. Following the end of the cold war, disarmament ceased to be a serious issue for subsequent presidents. It, however, re-emerges in George W. Bush s address of 2001 following fresh threats from  rogue  states, in particular Pakistan and India which had carried out tests on their nuclear capabilities.

Human Rights
Human rights are  The basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law. 
(American Heritage Dictionary, 2000 Copyright 2007)

It is broadly used to refer to the freedom and liberty of individuals and nations.
George H. W. Bush in his 1989 address talked about the  move toward democracy through the door of freedom.  Bill Clinton talked about being with those in other parts of the world who were  building democracy and freedom.  George W. Bush in his second address talked about the success of the relations between the US Government and other governments depending on  the decent treatment of their own people.  Barrack Obama warned those who cling on power by silencing dissent that  they were on the wrong side of history.

During the cold war era, human rights violations by authoritative regimes were overlooked. This was because priority was given to checking Soviet influence. Successive American regimes found themselves supporting and propping such regimes. Because of endless funding and little accountability, the authoritarian regimes, especially from the developing world, deeply entrenched themselves. In the process of retaining power, human rights violations became rampant. With the end of the cold war, the United States began to demand for accountability and respect for human rights. Disbursement of aid and other forms of support was pegged on democracy, good governance and respect for human rights.