J. William Fulbright Quotes

Foreign policy is always a sticking point between Congress and the executive.

It is the President alone who must make the major decisions of our foreign policy.

The ability of the Congress of the United States to have any strategic view [of foreign policy] is virtually nil.

Congress cannot and should not run foreign policy.

No American President should ever take any option off the table.

I think it is important to help our country's image outside of Spain.

The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is the role of Congress to debate and authorize this before the President acts precipitously.

In a sensitive matter, where its own ignorance could scarcely have been greater, Congress would have been better advised to leave the conduct of foreign policy in the hands of those who have been constitutionally charged with it.

In matters of war, we undermine presidential credibility at our nation’s peril.

The President of the United States was untutored in foreign policy. He didn’t know Slovenia from Slovakia.

The respective powers of the President and Congress of the United States, in the case of war with foreign powers are yet undetermined. Perhaps they can never be defined.

If I were President I would veto arms sales to countries we damn well know our going to shoot our ass the minute our backs are turned.

The constitution has never greatly bothered any wartime President.

Congress cannot—nor should it—run foreign policy on a day-to-day basis. That is a truism.

The President has rarely leisure to give close or continuous attention to foreign policy.

To be a great president you have to have a war. All the great presidents had their wars.

Congress has a constitutional right to an authoritative voice in declaring and proscribing the foreign policy of the United States ... and it is the constitutional duty of the President to respect that policy ...

Any President must depend upon congressional support in order to implement his foreign policy, for Congress has power to regulate foreign commerce, to raise armies and maintain navies, to lay and collect taxes for the common defense, and to declare war.

Congress has a constitutional right to an authoritative voice in declaring and prescribing the foreign policy of the United States. It is the constitutional duty of the Executive Department to respect that policy, not less in diplomatic negotiations than in the use of national force when authorized by law.

It is not the Congress's job to rubber stamp bad decisions [of the President.]

The President is the sole organ of the nation in its external relations, and its sole representative with foreign nations.

The Constitution provided an invitation to the President and Congress to struggle for the privilege of directing American foreign policy.

The Framers intended the Senate to be the principle architect of foreign policy. Had original intent prevailed, we would speak of the imperial Senate, not the imperial Presidency.

We have not found a way to give Congress control without depriving the President of essential power.

The word of the president is a national asset not to be trifled with.