Presidents and Foreign Policy

Examines ten important and controversial U.S. presidential foreign policy decisions in the post-World War II period, including one major controversy for each president from Truman to Clinton.

Presidents and Foreign Policy examines countdowns to ten important and controversial decisions in the post-World War II period, using the case study approach. The authors include one major controversy for each president from Truman to Clinton. The cases cover central issues of diplomacy, war and peace, and covert action that shaped the Cold War period and its aftermath in all major areas of the world.

After reviewing the historical background of each decision, each case examines the foreign and domestic policy context, the effectiveness of presidential decision-making, and results of the decision. The reader is challenged to think about each decision by responding to a unique evaluation scheme the authors developed and tested.

Edward R. Drachman is Associate Professor of Political Science at the State University of New York, College at Geneseo. He is the author of Challenging the Kremlin: The Soviet Jewish Movement for Freedom, 1967–1990 and United States Policy Toward Vietnam. Alan Shank is Chair and Professor of Political Science at State University of New York, College at Geneseo. He is coeditor (with Martin Fausold) of The Constitution and the American Presidency, also published by SUNY Press, and author of Presidential Policy Leadership: Kennedy and Social Welfare.