American people Quote by T.R. Fehrenbach
““And it was no accident, in the late forties, that the makers of American policy, unwilling to backtrack with the public, began to try to isolate foreign policy decisions from public and Congressional control. The great decisions—the Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine—that gave the earth a hope of eventual order were not instantly popular with the American people. There was no great attempt to sell them—it was significant that every historic decision of the Truman Cabinet was debated by Congress only after it had been made irreversible. The makers of foreign policy, not by accident, universally held Lockean notions of federal executive power; and, not by accident, they escaped the popular will.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Foreign Policy of the United States, 1917‑1945, 1965
U.S. foreign policy often bypasses public input, relying on executive power to enact major decisions.
In simple terms: Policy is made by leaders, not the public.
Key Takeaway
Demand transparency and public debate in foreign policy.
Themes
politics
policy
democracy
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- voting
- public hearings
- media analysis
- civic education
Key Concepts
executive power
public opinion
foreign affairs
Questions to Reflect On
- Should citizens have more say in international decisions?
- What safeguards can prevent executive overreach?
A Different Perspective
Secrecy can erode trust and accountability.
