On the Best and Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions

For two-and-a-half centuries, the United States has faced a challenging world. Some of its responses have made Americans proud. Others have not. CFR asked members of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations what they considered the best and worst U.S. foreign policy decisions. In this episode, panelists discuss the results of the project and the evolution of America’s role in the world. Host: David M. Rubenstein , Cofounder and Cochairman, The Carlyle Group; Chairman, Board of Directors, CFR Guests: Mary L. Dudziak , Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law; CFR Member James M. Lindsay , Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Christopher M. Nichols , Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies and Professor of History, The Ohio State University Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox?

You can listen to On the Best and Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

On the Best and Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions is an episode from CFR On the Record by Council on Foreign Relations.

This episode is 61:01 long.

This episode was published on Jan 16, 2026.

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