ABSTRACT
The American involvement in the Vietnam War is a prime illustration, and Hans J. Morgenthau vigorously opposed this course of national policy from its very inception. Admittedly, when taken out of context, Morgenthau’s words sometimes give aid and comfort to those who argue that “anything goes” when it comes to the pursuit of foreign policy. In light of these realities, Morgenthau lays heavy stress on the centrality of power politics in international relations; however, he couples this emphasis with a conviction that mutual appreciation of this central feature can set the stage for a diplomacy of compromise and moderation. The concrete applications of this mode of perception are of particular importance in the United States at the present time. The Vietnam defeat, the Watergate disclosures, and the CIA investigations have shaken the confidence of the American people in the vigor and credibility of their institutions.
