Tested: The Difficulty of Foreign Policy for New Presidents

• In Event: Presidential Influence in U.S. Foreign Policy

Abstract

Foreign policy questions are among the most important responsibilities of a U.S. president. President Joe Biden faces a number of foreign policy challenges in the wake of outgoing President Trump's approaches.

Many U.S. presidents come to office without significant foreign policy experience. Others bring considerable experience but a host of competing challenges. This study considers the foreign policy of presidents in the first two years of a new administration. Using qualitative and quantitative data analyses, it explores theoretical and policy questions.

In the past five decades, Presidents Carter (1977), Reagan (1981), Clinton (1993), George W. Bush (2001), Obama (2009), and Trump (2017) came to power without significant foreign policy experience. George H.W. Bush (1989) brought, and Joe Biden (2021) brings, much more experience but of different kinds.

Recent Presidents differ in whether they came of age or to power during the Cold War, whether they have military (and combat) experience, whether they have otherwise lived overseas, which foreign languages they speak, if any, and the make-up of their foreign policy team. Presidents sometimes get to choose their foreign policy focus; other times it is dictated to them by events. Early accomplishments or failures can have lasting impact on their administrations.

This study investigates these questions, variables and related scholarship, exploring possible models that include the foreign policy challenges, contexts, goals, actions, and consequences of new presidents.

Additionally, the study will consider possible policy insights for U.S. and global policymakers during the first parts of the Biden administration.

Author

• James M. Quirk, American University