List of United States Presidential doctrines

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This is a list of U.S. Presidential doctrines. During the 20th century, many U.S. Presidents outlined a key goal, attitude, or stance for U.S. foreign affairs, which were subsequently dubbed their "doctrines". Most 20th century presidential doctrines related to the Cold War. It should be noted that though many U.S. Presidents had themes related to their handling of foreign policy, the term doctrine should generally apply to those Presidents such as Monroe, Truman, Nixon, Carter and Reagan who had doctrines which more completely defined their foreign policy.

Monroe Doctrine: The Americas should be free from future European colonization and free from European interference in sovereign countries' affairs.
- [Theodore] Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine: That the U.S. has the right to pre-emptively intervene in the affairs of Latin American and particularly Caribbean countries whose indebtedness or institutional disarray might otherwise lead to intervention by European powers.
Truman Doctrine: Communism must be prevented from spreading because of the domino theory. The policy of containment is essential to U.S. prosperity.
Eisenhower Doctrine: Non-Communist governments must receive aid and support from the U.S., because otherwise they are in danger of falling under Soviet influences.
Kennedy Doctrine: The United States will oppose the formation of any Latin American Communist, Soviet-aligned government. (applied to Cuba)
Johnson Doctrine: U.S. will intervene in the Western Hemisphere to prevent a Communist threat to any government.
Nixon Doctrine: When direct U.S. military presence is not possible, the U.S. shall train and assist native anti-Communist rebels in the country of the conflict. (applied to Vietnam)
Carter Doctrine: An attempt by any outside forces to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force.
Reagan Doctrine: Anti-Communist rebels must be supported to combat Soviet influence and promote democracy. (applied to Latin America, Afghanistan)
Clinton Doctrine: The best way to maintain stability in large areas that hold U.S. interests is to combat instability in small areas, before the conflicts can intensify and spread. (applied to Kosovo)
Bush Doctrine: U.S. will make no distinction between individual terrorists and states who harbor them, and that the security of the United States is best maintained through the spread of democracy in the Middle-East. (applied to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, Iraq)