Bipartisanship in U.S. Foreign Policy: Why is it Declining? How much Remains?

On Wednesday, October 8th, 2025, the SMU Tower Center hosted the National Security Lecture: Bipartisanship in the U.S. Foreign Policy: Why is it Declining? How Much Remains? Featuring Jeffery Friedman, associate professor at Dartmouth College. Friedman’s presentation highlighted what he describes as the “Truman-Eisenhower consensus”, core principles that defined U.S. Foreign policy during the Cold War and have been broadly supported by both parties over the last 80 years. Despite this, every president since JFK has tried to set new international priorities that fall outside of this consensus. He argues that the rise in polarization has not primarily been about undermining traditional conceptions of America’s global role, but rather it is a result of presidents finding new ways to deploy American power.