Since its founding, the United States has been philosophically dedicated to supporting liberal democracy and the rule of law. This commitment is found in the most important documents and treaties of the nation, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and has been proclaimed by presidents, secretaries of state, and other policymakers from the time of George Washington to the present day. In addition, throughout its history the United States has been an expansive nation territorially, economically, and culturally. As a result, the American desire to promote democracy has created a conflict between American values and ideals and American security and material interests.

During the 1920s, in an effort to resolve this dilemma, American leaders developed and institutionalized the logic, rationale, and ideological basis for the United States to support right-wing dictatorships in the name of freedom. As my book Thank God They're on Our Side: The United States and Right-Wing Dictatorships, 1921–1965, demonstrated, the result was a policy of support for right-wing dictatorships that promised stability, protected American trade and investments, and aligned these dictatorships with Washington against the enemies of the United States. World War II challenged the idea that supporting authoritarian regimes enhanced American interests and led to a temporary abandonment of this policy. The wartime opposition to fascism and the triumph of the Allies made the promotion of democracy a paramount concern as the postwar period promised a vindication of American values and institutions.