Are These the Five Best Foreign Policy Presidents?

Originally posted November 3, 2017.

Akhilesh Pillalamarri, writing at The American Conservative, lays out his choices and reasoning for the five best foreign policy presidents in history. Here is a much abbreviated version of his thoughts on each of his choices.

In this author’s view, a good foreign policy is one that serves America’s interests.

Here are my five best foreign policy presidents:

George Washington (1789-1797)

Our first president set the gold standard for pursuing the most reasonable foreign policy for the United States given the circumstances.

John Adams (1797-1801)

Although George Washington was a tough act to follow, the United States was most vulnerable at its inception, and most in need of a steady guiding hand in foreign policy during its early years. After Washington’s retirement, this was provided by Adams.

Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) 

Lincoln’s primary achievement for American foreign policy was the setting of a precedent by which foreign powers ceased their intervention in the domestic affairs of the United States, as well as in the general neighborhood of the U.S.

Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) 

By the time of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, the United States had grown into a great power, and thus had a need to maintain a sphere of influence and some offshore bases.

Richard Nixon (1969-1974)

Whatever his flaws and mishaps in the domestic sphere, Richard M. Nixon was one of the most brilliant foreign policy minds of the 20th century.

For more on Nixon’s administration, read Pat Buchanan’s books, Nixon’s White House Wars and The Greatest Comeback. Read his entire analysis here.