Foreign Policy Issues in Election Campaigns

Report Outline
Partisan Maneuvering on Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy Debates in Past Campaigns
Development of Bipartisan Foreign Policy

Partisan Maneuvering on Foreign Policy

Partisan politics is likely to start rather than stop 1 at the water's edge during the 1984 presidential election campaign. Judging from statements made in state presidential primary campaigns, foreign policy is emerging as the principal issue dividing Democrats and Republicans as they prepare for the summer nominating conventions. Foreign policy is a particularly attractive issue for the Republicans. Because Democrats were in control when the United States got into both world wars and the Korean War—and are in control now when the country is becoming increasingly involved in the struggle in South Viet Nam—the G.O.P. tends to think it can do a better job of keeping or restoring the peace.

Both parties recognize, however, that bitter wrangling over foreign policy may disturb the country's allies and encourage its adversaries. Former President Truman referred to this possibility when he warned, May 1, that “loose talk” about foreign policy in the autumn election campaign “could sacrifice our national interest for the sake of narrow partisan political advantage.”

President Johnson, hoping for election to a four-year term on Nov. 3, obviously shares Truman's concern. The President said at a news conference, April 23, that he didn't want foreign policy “to develop into a partisan knock-down, drag-out” and that he intended “to do all I can to avoid it.” Three weeks earlier, on April 3, Johnson had made it difficult for Republicans to use the controversy with Panama as a campaign issue. He did so by naming a former Republican Secretary of the Treasury, Robert B. Anderson, as special ambassador to conduct bilateral talks on matters at issue between the two countries.