In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed the Helsinki Accords, a historic agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States and its European allies. The accords covered a range of issues, including military deployments, territorial disputes, economic concerns such as trade and human rights.

By supporting the Helsinki Accords, Ford helped champion human rights and improve the living standards for people throughout Eastern Europe. In his speech before the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in 1975, Ford said, “We will spare no effort to ease tensions and to solve problems between us. But it is important that you recognize the deep devotion of the American people and their Government to human rights and fundamental freedoms and thus to the pledges that this Conference has made regarding the freer movement of people, ideas, information.”