Presidents, Politics, and International Intervention

Paul Y. Hammond

Expert InsightsPublished 1969

A look at U.S. foreign-policy options in the light of past policies. Since 1945, U.S. policy has been an undiscriminating cover-all-bets strategy, yet past presidents all faced public censure over foreign commitments. The Truman Administration was paralyzed by reaction to the Korean war. The Eisenhower Administration offered only limited responses to crises. Kennedy's activist policy was already arousing dissatisfaction, particularly the Alliance for Progress. Vietnam caused erosion of Johnson's domestic and foreign programs. Nixon, now justified in not getting involved somewhere, faces potential critics and attention-getters in the American military, the radical right or left, and the Congressional members of the opposition. He can await declining public attention, relying on experts designing new policy, or encourage public focus on Vietnam to achieve popular support for his actions. Even so, the reconstruction of a more discriminating definition of foreign interests remains unaccomplished.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1969
  • Pages: 12
  • Document Number: P-4167

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Hammond, Paul Y., Presidents, Politics, and International Intervention. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1969. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P4167.html.
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