Today in history: December 2

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.

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Quote of the Day

"The American continents ... are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers." — James Monroe

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