Does the public alter American foreign policy, or does the government change public opinion to support its policies? This study demonstrates that the differing influence of public opinion is mediated largely through each president's beliefs about the value and significance of public opinion.

Does the public alter American foreign policy choices, or does the government change public opinion to support its policies? This study demonstrates that the differing influence of public opinion is mediated in large part through each president's beliefs about the value and significance of public opinion. This book examines the belief of all postwar presidents, in addition to the foreign policy decision of presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Bill Clinton. The author finds that some presidents are relatively open to public opinion, while others hold beliefs that cause them to ignore the public's view. Several orientations to public opinion are posited, along with an examination of the public's influence through case studies regarding decisions on: the Formosa Straits crisis; intervention in the Dien Bien Phu; the Sputnik launch; the New Look defence strategy; the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; and the German reunification (among others).

Preface 1. Linking Public Opinion and Foreign Policy 2. Preserving Public Support: Eisenhower and Dulles as Pragmatists 3. The Crisis Context: Anticipating Domestic Opposition over the Offshore Islands 4. The Reflexive Context: Boxed in by Public Opinion at Dien Bien Phu 5. The Innovative Context: Standing Firm Pushing Forward, and Giving Way After Sputnik 6. The Deliberative Context: Leadership and Limitations in the Formulation of the New Look 7. Presidential Public Opinion Orientations Since World War II 8. Crises and Recent Presidents 9. Deliberative Cases and Recent Presidents 10. Conclusions and Implications for Theory and Practice