The Strauss Center welcomed Fredrik Logevall and Campbell Craig on February 15, 2010 to discuss the relationship between domestic political considerations and foreign policy during the Cold War that continue to the present day.  Eugene Gholz, Strauss Center Distinguished Scholar, introduced Drs. Logevall and Craig and moderated the event.

Dr. Logevall introduced the book America’s Cold War: The Politics of Insecurity, and discussed the book’s main thesis.  Both Dr. Logevall and Dr. Craig noted that lessons derived from the book continue to be applicable to U.S. foreign policy and its relationship to domestic politics.  Dr. Craig began by outlining the book’s central thesis, that the Cold War was perpetuated largely due to U.S. leaders’ domestic political concerns.

Dr. Craig described the notable lack of substantial academic research on how domestic political factors affected U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.  He acknowledged that the U.S. had reason to fear the emergence of the Soviet Union as a superpower after World War II, but questioned why the Cold War continued after containment had proven a successful strategy.  He argued that the perpetuation of the Cold War served to further the interests of policymakers and other influencers who profited from the looming Soviet threat.

Dr. Logevall cited evidence to suggest that part of President Truman’s hawkish stance towards the Soviets was influenced by the presidential election of 1948.   Opposing the Soviets, both at home and abroad, had domestic political value in both bolstering support for those who were perceived as taking on the Soviet threat and quelling any potential dissent from the political left.

Dr. Craig discussed Eisenhower Administration nuclear deterrence policies and argued that the presence of mutually assured destruction was politically damaging.  At the time, Sen. John F. Kennedy painted his Republican opponent as naïve and weak on national defense as part of his campaign plan to emphasize the Soviet threat.  Dr. Craig’s account contextualizes President Eisenhower’s famous speech at the end of his presidency in which he railed against the growth of the military-industrial complex.

They concluded the presentation by noting that the practice of using external threats as a means of furthering political goals continued beyond the Cold War, and indeed continues today.   Both fielded questions from the audience regarding President Kennedy’s Cold War policies, the reasons for President Reagan’s support of the Strategic Defense Initiative and how the “politics of insecurity” are driven by both institutions and individuals. 

Dr. Logevall began the presentation by discussing the book's main thesis.

Dr. Craig picked up the discussion on nuclear deterrence policies.

Logevall & Craig spoke to an audience of faculty, students and community members at the LBJ School.

Following their presentation, Logevall and Craig took questions from the audience.