The Evolution of American Foreign Policy

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.
John Adams, circa 1770







Give me liberty or give me death.
Patrick Henry, circa 1776








War - An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will.
George Washington, circa 1790








The American continents... are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.
James Monroe, circa 1817







America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter, and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
Abraham Lincoln, circa 1861









Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far.
Teddy Roosevelt, circa 1900







Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima...The force from which the sun draws its powers has been loosed against those who brought the war in the Far East.
Harry S Truman, circa 1945

The Soviet Union does not have to attack the United States to secure domination of the world. It can achieve its ends by isolating us and swallowing up all our allies.
Harry S Truman, circa 1951





Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
John F. Kennedy, circa 1961




Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have.
Ronald Reagan, circa 1982

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Ronald Reagan, circa 1987







America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud.
George W. Bush, circa 2004









The war in Iraq is lost!
Harry Reid, circa 2007








This war has been a tragedy and a grotesque mistake.
Nancy Pelosi, circa 2007

I bring a message of peace from Syria.
Nancy Pelosi, circa 2007





The fact is, this is a very bad situation...This is an utter disaster. This worst strategic mistake in the history of the United States.
Al Gore, circa 2007







Our message to the President is clear. It is time to begin ending this war -- not next year, not next month -- but today... the right strategy before the surge and post-escalation is the same: start bringing home America's troops now.
Hillary Rodham (Clinton), circa 2007


You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to make sure that the UN inspectors can do their work.
Barack Obama, circa 2007










The President is guilty. He has committed war crimes.
Cindy Sheehan, circa 2007

Ms. Pelosi must do her Constitutional and moral duty by July 23 (impeach President Bush)
Cindy Sheehan, circa 2007