The Politics of United States Foreign Policy Chapter 4

The foreign policy bureaucracy Department of Defense Department of state National Security Council Central Intelligence Agency Others: treasury, homeland security, etc.

The foreign policy Bureaucracy: historical development Pre-WWII: small National Security Act (1947) restructures national security process: Create National Military Establishment Create CIA and director Create NSC Office of Homeland Security

The foreign policy Bureaucracy: historical development Waves of growth: Roosevelt: New Deal Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower: World War II and cold war Johnson: Great Society programs Bush: War on Terror; Obama: recession

Presidential control of the foreign policy bureaucracy Size Complexity Historical development

National Security Council

Background of NSC reflection/extension of Presidency president’s own personal foreign affairs staff president can shape it to suit his own needs NSC key agency in foreign policy

Origins of NSC emerged as part of National Security Act 1947 purpose: take information from other agencies, sort it, summarize it and present it to president to facilitate decision-making process consists of : president, vice-president, secretary of state, secretary of defense, and designees. in theory non-partisan originally conceived to be filter, integrator, and coordinator of foreign policy information coming from other agencies NOT independent policy- making body

National Security Council: historical context Origins Advise, long-range planning, coordination and integration of national security processes Members purpose Changes Decline of long-range planning NSC decline, NSC staff/individual increase

Early Experience Truman by-passed and ignored NSC relying on George Marshall and Dean Atchison (secretaries of state) until Korean War in Truman relied on NSC coordinating role until end of his term Eisenhower believed NSC should be staff agency; Eisenhower made policy and NSC did staff work.

Politicizing the NSC Kennedy introduced changes State Department and CIA distrusted so relied more heavily on NSC as main foreign policy agency Involved NSC in operations which allowed NSC to suppliant State Department Crossed line into implementation and politicized foreign policy making Johnson distrusted State Department and NSC bypassed NSC using formal makeup plus press secretary so decisions considered in light of political implications which increased politicization therefore, NSC was politicized even more, no longer presented alternative policy, colored advice that was received.

Kissinger System new model of foreign policy emerged with Nixon in 1968 Kissinger became national security advisor neither had use for State Department and concentrated al foreign policy decision-making in White House achieved many important breakthroughs and changed way US foreign policy conducted NSC coordinated and implemented policy Kissinger sole informant and eclipsed secretary of state 1973 Kissinger became national security advisor and secretary of state Ford (1974) appoints new national security advisor in 1975 in attempt to return to Eisenhower model but Scowcroft seen as Kissinger man.

Policy Fragmentation Carter ( ) wanted to change Kissinger system; yet Carter still seen as unsuccessful foreign policy president – produced greatest fragmentation and lack of coordination in foreign policy Reagan goals administration to speak with one voice secretary of state chief spokesperson NSC to return to Eisenhower mode Bush NSC and agencies appear to work well together Clinton 1992: invoked Eisenhower model reserving decision-making to himself

National Security Council: modern components NSA NSC staff NSC interagency process

Presidential Management Orientation, agenda and level of involvement Executive branch personnel appointments Organization of foreign policymaking process

Presidential Management: personnel Personal staff Policy advisors Officials: cabinet departments and executive agencies Selection criteria: professional, time, Senate approval

Presidential Management: organization White House or State Department centered Centralized or decentralized Open or closed to staff/advisors

Presidential Management: National Security Council Overlap of policymaking and NSC system at the executive level Informal Formal

Presidential Management of NSC: Evolution Advisory: Truman and Eisenhower Eclipse: Kennedy and Johnson Ascendant: Nixon

Presidential Management of the NSC: recent presidencies H.W. Bush Clinton W. Bush Obama

Improving System improve quality of staff appointments improve organization of NSC Eisenhower versus Kissinger models improve interpersonal relations NSC advisor must be neutral referee among contending agencies