The President and

Foreign Policy.

Foreign Policy may be composed of many elements:

isolationism police action

neutrality war

foreign aid

diplomacy

economic sanctions

political pressure

blockade

military intervention

covert action

In 1799, Representative Marshall said on the floor of Congress:

“The president is the sole tool of the nation in its external relations, and its sole representative with foreign nations. “

Marshall would later be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Court has upheld this attitude.

Constitutional powers of president in foreign policy:

*appoint ambassadors (Senate ratifies)

*serve as commander-in-chief

*negotiate treaties (2/3 Senate vote ratifies)

*Presidents often use implied powers

The President has much more influence in foreign policy then in domestic policy.

The public tends to support the President in a foreign policy crisis, especially if it is short term. If the crisis continues for a long period of time, the public becomes skeptical and may lose interest.

In 1947, the National Security Council (NSC) was created to assist the president in coordinating foreign & defense policy.

Members:•President

•Vice President

•Secretary of State

•National Security Advisor

•Secretary of Defense

Advisor to council include CIA Director & Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff

There are several factors that determine the President’s decisions in foreign policy:

External Decision Makers:Example: President Carter had to take into consideration the American hostages that were held in captivity by Iran. He could not make a decision about foreign policy without having to think about the hostages.

Time Available:Urgency of situation: FDR asked for an immediate declaration of war on Japan after Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941.

Public Opinion: DuringOperation Desert Shield, Bush’sapproval rating went sky high,enabling him to being OperationDesert Storm with no worries . . .

Status Relationship . . .

Nixon listened closely to hisadvisor and one-time Secretary ofState, Henry Kissenger.

Prior Experience . . .

President Eisenhowerhad been a general inWWII.

Style of Decision-Making: Kennedy had a close group of personal friends who he had attended college with: these were known as “The Harvard Club.”

Formal Rules:The War Powers Law will prevent Clintonfrom committing ground troops to Kosovo

for more then 60 days without the approval ofCongress.

Available Resources:President Truman had twoatomic weapons to drop on

Japan.

Importance of Issue:Most Americans would agree that it was

important for President Clinton tonegotiate a Middle East peace

agreement.