As Presidents of the United States, each commander-in-chief has the power to enter into executive agreements with foreign nations. These agreements do not require ratification by Congress, unlike treaties, and can cover a wide range of topics such as trade, defense, and diplomacy.
Here is a list of executive agreements entered into by some of our past Presidents:
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President Franklin D. Roosevelt entered into numerous executive agreements during his tenure, including the Good Neighbor Policy with Latin American countries. This agreement aimed to improve relations and cooperation between the United States and its neighbors to the south.
Harry S. Truman
President Harry S. Truman continued the Good Neighbor Policy and entered into executive agreements with Japan, Greece, and Turkey. These agreements focused on post-war reconstruction and assistance, as well as defense provisions.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
President Dwight D. Eisenhower entered into several executive agreements during his presidency, including the Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement with Pakistan. This agreement provided military aid to Pakistan in exchange for their assistance in the Cold War against communist countries.
John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy entered into multiple executive agreements during his short presidency, including the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with the Soviet Union. This agreement prohibited the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, space, or underwater.
Richard Nixon
President Richard Nixon entered into several executive agreements during his presidency, including the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union. This agreement aimed to limit the number of nuclear weapons held by both countries.
Barack Obama
President Barack Obama entered into several executive agreements during his presidency, including the Paris Climate Agreement. This agreement aimed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
Donald Trump
President Donald Trump entered into several executive agreements during his presidency, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This agreement replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and aimed to modernize trade relations between the three countries.
In conclusion, executive agreements have been an essential tool for Presidents of the United States in conducting foreign policy. The list of executive agreements entered into by past Presidents is extensive and covers a wide range of topics. As our country continues to navigate through a constantly changing global landscape, it is likely that future Presidents will continue to use executive agreements to further our interests and objectives abroad.