Today in history: December 2
In 1823, President James Monroe outlined the Monroe Doctrine

Dec. 2, 1823: In his State of the Union address to Congress, President James Monroe outlined the "Monroe Doctrine," saying the Western Hemisphere was off limits for colonization by, or interference from, foreign powers. Monroe's comments — aimed at European powers — added that any such efforts would be viewed by the United States as acts of aggression requiring U.S. intervention. At the same time, the doctrine stated that the U.S. would neither interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal concerns of European countries.
The Monroe Doctrine to this day remains an important part of U.S. foreign policy and has been cited by several presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Ronald Reagan, and others.
Dec. 2, 1954: President Eisenhower signed a mutual defense pact with Taiwan, after Communist China bombarded Taiwanese-controlled islands. A 1979 pact still commits the United States to defending Taiwan against China. But some analysts say the larger American interest now is in commercial ties with Communist China itself.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Quote of the Day
"The American continents ... are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers." — James Monroe
More from West Wing Reports...
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Russia's 'shared values' visa
The Explainer The 'anti-woke' scheme is aimed at foreigners who reject LGBTQ+ rights and 'non-traditional' values – and who can provide Moscow with online clout and skilled workers
-
Is this the end of the late-night chat show?
Talking Point Totems of US media landscape 'seem like relics of a bygone era' as ad revenues plummet and viewers switch to YouTube, TikTok and podcasts
-
Keep the fun going with these 7 subscription gift boxes
The Week Recommends Bring the party to their mailbox