Ben Rhodes Talk 4/16/19

               I had the opportunity to watch Ben Rhodes (President Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications from 2009-2017) speak tonight in Rose Hills Theatre and I picked up on a lot of direct and indirect ties to Nixon’s foreign policy and administration. Many have debated Obama’s realist credentials but much of what Ben Rhodes spoke on supports, at the very least, a similarity to Nixon and Kissinger’s realist policies and executive organization.

               In speaking on negotiations with Cuba he defended the centralization of foreign policy decisions outside of the State Department. He said it allowed greater flexibility because State Dept officials report to Congress and face some obligation to not disregard past policy. This appeared very similar to Nixon and Kissinger’s centralization of foreign policy decisions for related reasons of secrecy and flexibility.

               On the role of domestic policy in foreign policy Rhodes sounded a similar note to Nixon and other Cold War figures on the importance of instituting reforms here to affect outcomes internationally. He said the most powerful tool in democracy promotion abroad is our democracy at home, which additionally reflected the orientation of major issues towards international importance Nixon displayed at many times in his career.

               Rhodes directly referenced the Cold War and its effect on foreign policy when speaking to the increased polarization in foreign policy decisions in contemporary politics. He said philosophical differences can explain many of the fundamental differences on domestic issues that exist between ideological factions but that foreign policy in the time of the Cold War showed more consistency as leaders here needed to display consistency abroad and uphold fundamental agreements regardless of the party that initially championed them.

               Rhodes also made direct reference to Ping-Ping diplomacy when speaking on Obama’s publicized Vietnam trip with chef Anthony Bourdain, in which they ate Pho at a small diner. Referred to as “Pho diplomacy,” he stated this helped foster a positive image of the American President among the Vietnamese people and would assist in fostering closer relations.

               Relevant to our discussion about Watergate and political spying, Rhodes also mentioned Black Cube, an Israeli intelligence agency that operates internationally. In 2018 Black Cube was accused of trying to gather damaging information on former Obama officials (including Rhodes) in an effort to undermine the Iran Nuclear Deal, and there were rumors that this may have been directed or encouraged by Trump Administration officials. This seemed very similar to Nixon’s opposition research and desire to damage political opponents, because whether or not the current administration did direct these actions, their actions make clear that all cards are on the table when it comes to damaging information on opponents.

               It was a very interesting talk and Rhodes gave great insight into the Obama Administration’s foreign policy decisions. There were many points that jumped out at me as being nearly identical to those of Nixon’s Administration and decision making, further emphasizing the role Nixon played in the development of realist thought and action through US foreign policy.