Warren G. Harding Quotes
We can enter into no political commitments, nor assume any economic obligations which will subject our decisions to any other than our own authority
Warren G. Harding, 1865-1923, 29th President of the United States (Republican, OH), Inaugural Address, March 4, 1921
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See {585494},65902, and {585496}, for more quotations on this.
Under the Kissinger Foreign Policy this was his oft stated policy. The United States however gave a great deal of advice about their internal affairs to foreign leaders. Those that did not take it, did not get as much foreign or military aid, and sometimes found themselves ousted in a coup which resulted in a regime change or with their country being boycotted.
While this has been one of the great American principles of political philosophy, in reality we have on many occasions interfered when a people chose an enemy of the United States or made a choice of a government which would seize power and not allow any further free choices. However, from the time JFK made this statement to today, our foreign policy record has become much better on implementing this principle.
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th president of the United States, serving from 1921 until his death in 1923. A member of the Republican Party, he was one of the most popular U.S. presidents to that point. After his death, a number of scandals, including Teapot Dome, came to light, as did his extramarital affair with Nan Britton; those eroded his popular regard.
