{"id":2,"date":"2025-06-05T21:41:46","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T21:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cfrdevwp.wpenginepowered.com\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-05-05T15:06:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:06:46","slug":"full-survey-results","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/ten-best-ten-worst-us-foreign-policy-decisions\/full-survey-results\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Decisions Results"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ranking<\/th>\nDecision<\/th>\nTotal Selections<\/th>\nSelections as % of All Responses<\/th>\nWeighted Total<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>\nMarshall Plan (1948)<\/td>\n283<\/td>\n90.42%<\/td>\n1889<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nCreation of the United Nations (1945)<\/td>\n201<\/td>\n64.22%<\/td>\n1366<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nTreaty of Alliance with France (1778)<\/td>\n155<\/td>\n49.52%<\/td>\n1269<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nLouisiana Purchase (1803)<\/td>\n169<\/td>\n53.99%<\/td>\n1179<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nLend-Lease Act (1941)<\/td>\n175<\/td>\n55.91%<\/td>\n1160<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nCreation of NATO (1949)<\/td>\n185<\/td>\n59.11%<\/td>\n1028<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nCreation of the Bretton Woods System (1944)<\/td>\n112<\/td>\n35.78%<\/td>\n621<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nAct Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves (1807)<\/td>\n82<\/td>\n26.20%<\/td>\n601<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nMonroe Doctrine (1823)<\/td>\n79<\/td>\n25.24%<\/td>\n476<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nHandling of the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)<\/td>\n80<\/td>\n25.56%<\/td>\n468<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nNuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (1968)<\/td>\n86<\/td>\n27.48%<\/td>\n427<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nImmigration Act of 1965<\/td>\n84<\/td>\n26.84%<\/td>\n395<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nBerlin Airlift (1948-1949)<\/td>\n81<\/td>\n25.88%<\/td>\n372<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nOpening to China (1971-72)<\/td>\n95<\/td>\n30.35%<\/td>\n362<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nGood Neighbor Policy Toward Latin America (1933)<\/td>\n63<\/td>\n20.13%<\/td>\n324<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/td>\nEntry into World War I (1917)<\/td>\n68<\/td>\n21.73%<\/td>\n320<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17<\/td>\nManagement of the Collapse of the Soviet Union (1990-1991)<\/td>\n67<\/td>\n21.41%<\/td>\n306<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18<\/td>\nSupport for the Reunification of Germany (1990-1991)<\/td>\n76<\/td>\n24.28%<\/td>\n288<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19<\/td>\nProclamation of Neutrality (1793)<\/td>\n43<\/td>\n13.74%<\/td>\n277<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/td>\nSALT I Agreement and the ABM Treaty (1972)<\/td>\n64<\/td>\n20.45%<\/td>\n271<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/td>\nHelsinki Final Act (1975)<\/td>\n59<\/td>\n18.85%<\/td>\n265<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22<\/td>\nLimited Test Ban Treaty (1963)<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n17.89%<\/td>\n260<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23<\/td>\nOverride of Reagan’s Veto of the Anti-Apartheid Sanctions Bill (1986)<\/td>\n59<\/td>\n18.85%<\/td>\n253<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24<\/td>\nCamp David Accords (1978)<\/td>\n81<\/td>\n25.88%<\/td>\n249<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25<\/td>\nAmerican Relief Mission to Post-WWI Europe (1919)<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n14.70%<\/td>\n229<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26<\/td>\nPurchase of Alaska (1867)<\/td>\n61<\/td>\n19.49%<\/td>\n219<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27<\/td>\nAdams-Onis (Transcontinental) Treaty (1819)<\/td>\n34<\/td>\n10.86%<\/td>\n212<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28<\/td>\nTruman Doctrine (1947)<\/td>\n38<\/td>\n12.14%<\/td>\n208<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29<\/td>\nPanama Canal Treaties (1978)<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n17.89%<\/td>\n186<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30<\/td>\nIntermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (1987)<\/td>\n41<\/td>\n13.10%<\/td>\n164<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
31<\/td>\nTreaty of Versailles (1919)<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n9.27%<\/td>\n163<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
32<\/td>\nDestroyers-for-Bases Deal (1940)<\/td>\n32<\/td>\n10.22%<\/td>\n157<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
33<\/td>\nWashington Naval Conference and the Four-Power, Five-Power, and Nine-Power Treaties (1921-1922)<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n9.27%<\/td>\n147<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
34<\/td>\nOpen Door Policy with China (1899-1900)<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n9.90%<\/td>\n140<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
35<\/td>\nCreation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1947)<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n9.90%<\/td>\n138<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
36<\/td>\nIran Nuclear Deal (2015)<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n16.29%<\/td>\n133<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
37<\/td>\nSTART Agreements (1991, 1993)<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n11.50%<\/td>\n132<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
38<\/td>\nSalt II Treaty (1979)<\/td>\n39<\/td>\n12.46%<\/td>\n126<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
39<\/td>\nYalta Conference (1945)<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n6.71%<\/td>\n105<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40 (tie)<\/td>\nTrent Affair Diplomacy (1861)<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n5.75%<\/td>\n102<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40 (tie)<\/td>\nFormal Recognition of the People’s Republic of China (1979)<\/td>\n34<\/td>\n10.86%<\/td>\n102<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
42<\/td>\nJay Treaty (1795)<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n7.03%<\/td>\n96<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
43<\/td>\nCreation of the Organization of American States (1948)<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n6.07%<\/td>\n86<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
44<\/td>\nWar of 1812<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n4.15%<\/td>\n85<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
45 (tie)<\/td>\nMexican-American War (1846-1848)<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n5.75%<\/td>\n84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
45 (tie)<\/td>\nSuez Canal Crisis (1956)<\/td>\n27<\/td>\n8.63%<\/td>\n84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
47<\/td>\nDeclaration of Neutrality in World War I (1914)<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n6.07%<\/td>\n81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
48<\/td>\nOregon Treaty (1846)<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n6.39%<\/td>\n78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
49<\/td>\nRecognition of Israel (1948)<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n7.67%<\/td>\n76<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
50 (tie)<\/td>\nSpanish-American War (1898)<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n4.15%<\/td>\n68<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
50 (tie)<\/td>\nNATO Expansion (1994)<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n8.95%<\/td>\n68<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
52 (tie)<\/td>\nAnglo-American Convention of 1818<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n3.19%<\/td>\n62<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
52 (tie)<\/td>\nLiberation of Kuwait (1991)<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n6.07%<\/td>\n62<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
54<\/td>\nEgyptian-Israeli Peace Agreement (1979)<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n7.35%<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
55<\/td>\nTehran Conference (1943)<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n3.51%<\/td>\n56<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
56<\/td>\nAnnexation of Texas (1845)<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n3.83%<\/td>\n52<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
57<\/td>\nAlliance for Progress (1961)<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n4.47%<\/td>\n51<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
58<\/td>\nNorth American Free Trade Agreement (1993)<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n6.71%<\/td>\n50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
59<\/td>\nCreation of the World Trade Organization (1995)<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n7.67%<\/td>\n49<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
60<\/td>\nIntervention in Kosovo (1999)<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n3.83%<\/td>\n48<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
61<\/td>\nEntry into Korean War (1950)<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n5.11%<\/td>\n42<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
62<\/td>\nTeller Amendment (1898)<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n3.19%<\/td>\n39<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
63<\/td>\nPotsdam Agreement (1945)<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n2.56%<\/td>\n38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
64<\/td>\nBombing of Hiroshima (1945)<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n1.60%<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
65<\/td>\nEmbargo on Aviation Fuel, Scrap iron, and Oil to Japan (1940-1941)<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n2.24%<\/td>\n27<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
66<\/td>\nTaiwan Relations Act (1979)<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n2.56%<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
67 (tie)<\/td>\nAnnexation of Hawaii (1898)<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n2.24%<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
67 (tie)<\/td>\nSenate Rejection of the Treaty of Versailles (1919)<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n1.60%<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
69<\/td>\nPermanent Normal Trade Relations for China (2000)<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n3.19%<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
70<\/td>\nInvasion of Iraq (2003)<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1.28%<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
71<\/td>\nDollar Diplomacy (1909-1913)<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n1.92%<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
72 (tie)<\/td>\nWithdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal (2018)<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n1.60%<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
72 (tie)<\/td>\nWithdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (2017)<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n1.60%<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
74 (tie)<\/td>\nIndian Removal Act (1830)<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n1.60%<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
74 (tie)<\/td>\nIntervention in Lebanon (1958)<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0.96%<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
76<\/td>\nEmbargo of 1807\/Non-Intercourse Act of 1808<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0.96%<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
77 (tie)<\/td>\nNeutrality Acts (1935-1939)<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0.96%<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
77 (tie)<\/td>\nSupport for Israel in Yom Kippur War (1973)<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0.96%<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
79<\/td>\nWithdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement (2017)<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1.28%<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
80 (tie)<\/td>\nBombing of Nagasaki (1945)<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0.96%<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
80 (tie)<\/td>\nSenate Rejection of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1999)<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0.64%<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
80 (tie)<\/td>\nInvasion of Afghanistan (2001)<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1.28%<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
83 (tie)<\/td>\nVietnamization (1969)<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0.96%<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
83 (tie)<\/td>\nEconomic Decoupling from China (2018-2020)<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n2.24%<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
85<\/td>\nWithdrawal from ABM Treaty (2001)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
86<\/td>\nEnhanced Interrogation of Terrorism Detainees (2002)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
87 (tie)<\/td>\nIndian Appropriations Act of 1871<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
87 (tie)<\/td>\nOverthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem (1963)<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0.64%<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
87 (tie)<\/td>\nIntervention in Libya (2011)<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0.64%<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
90<\/td>\nIran-Contra Affair (1986-1987)<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0.64%<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
91 (tie)<\/td>\nNonrecognition of New Latin American States (1818)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
91 (tie)<\/td>\nPlatt Amendment (1901)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
91 (tie)<\/td>\nLimits on Jewish Refugees from Germany (1939-1944)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
91 (tie)<\/td>\nCrossing the 38th Parallel in the Korean War (1950)<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0.96%<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
95 (tie)<\/td>\nAnnexation of the Philippines (1899)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
95 (tie)<\/td>\nSupport for the Overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh (1953)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
95 (tie)<\/td>\nBay of Pigs Invasion (1961)<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0.64%<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
96<\/td>\nAdmitting the Shah of Iran into the United States (1979)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
97 (tie)<\/td>\nDeployment of Combat Forces to Vietnam (1965)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
97 (tie)<\/td>\nKennedy Round of Trade Negotiations (1967)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nNonrecognition of Haiti (1804)<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0.64%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nForcible Removal of Cherokee Nation (1838)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nIndian Appropriations Act of 1851<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nChinese Exclusion Act (1882)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nDawes Act (1887)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nSuppression of the Boxer Rebellion (1900)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nIntervention in Nicaragua (1912)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nInterventions in the Dominican Republic (1912, 1916)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nOccupation of Veracruz (1913)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nPershing Expedition (1916)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nIntervention in Russia (1918-1920)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nImmigration Act of 1924<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nSmoot-Hawley Tariff (1930)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nRefusal to Recognize People’s Republic of China (1949)<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0.32%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nSupport for the Overthrow of Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz Coup (1954)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nGulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nSecret Bombing and Invasion of Cambodia (1970)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nSupport for the Overthrow of Salvador Allende (1973)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nSupport for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan (1981-1989)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
98 (tie)<\/td>\nIntervention in Lebanon (1982)<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0.00%<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ranking Decision Total Selections Selections as % of All Responses Weighted Total 1 Marshall Plan (1948) 283 90.42% 1889 2 Creation of the United Nations (1945) 201 64.22% 1366 3 Treaty of Alliance with France (1778) 155 49.52% 1269 4 Louisiana Purchase (1803) 169 53.99% 1179 5 Lend-Lease Act (1941) 175 55.91% 1160 6 Creation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/ten-best-ten-worst-us-foreign-policy-decisions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/ten-best-ten-worst-us-foreign-policy-decisions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/ten-best-ten-worst-us-foreign-policy-decisions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/ten-best-ten-worst-us-foreign-policy-decisions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/ten-best-ten-worst-us-foreign-policy-decisions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/ten-best-ten-worst-us-foreign-policy-decisions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3964,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/ten-best-ten-worst-us-foreign-policy-decisions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/3964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/ten-best-ten-worst-us-foreign-policy-decisions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}