214 September 28, 1999Walter Lippmann’s Views on Presidential Ability to Make U.S. Foreign PolicyIn his book entitled Public Opinion Walter Lippmann presents some very profound arguments on how public opinion is formed and how mach value it has. He describes in great detail the decision making process and how our own stereotypes affect our perception of events. Lippmann expresses his disillusionment with mass democracy, his concerns about propaganda and how the press could not be trusted to provide unbiased information. Contrary to what one would expect form someone holding such views Lippmann also questions the trustworthiness of the chief executive to make good foreign policy, even when he has all of the “inside” information and knows the true nature of events taking place in other countries. He presents several reasons including, the President himself, the formation of a policy and intrinsic qualities of foreign policy, how foreign policy is sometimes used as a scapegoat, and the President’s ability to manipulate information. In addition he also presents arguments which are not directly related to the Presidency but shortcomings in Congress and the democratic system, which contribute to the problem. The President of the United States is after all only human. As a result he is just as susceptible to certain human shortcomings as the rest of us. The one that has the most direct effect on his policy-making abilities is that of stereotypes. On page 173 Lippmann says “ Men formed their picture of the world outside from the unchallenged pictures in their heads. Their pictures came to them well stereotyped by their parents and teachers and were little corrected by their own experience.” If this statement were completely true then human social/scientific progress would be non-existent. Since this is not the case it is safe to say that the situation is not completely dire. However ther...
