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Starting in 1933 with the [[World Economic Conference]], American public opinion and national policy policy was to minimize the risk of entering another war by isolationist laws, such as the Neutrality Laws.  President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], started in late 1937 to reverse the isolationist policies.  When [[World War I]] began in late 1939, the U.S. was officially neutral but gave significant military aid to Britain, France and China. It was only after the bombing of [[Pearl Harbor]] in December 1941 that the United States abandoned its isolationism and entered the war. See [[America First Committee]] for the 1940-41 debate on avoiding American entry into [[World War II]] in Europe.

Starting in 1933 with the [[World Economic Conference]], American public opinion and national policy policy was to minimize the risk of entering another war by isolationist laws, such as the Neutrality Laws.  President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], started in late 1937 to reverse the isolationist policies.  When [[World War I]] began in late 1939, the U.S. was officially neutral but gave significant military aid to Britain, France and China. It was only after the bombing of [[Pearl Harbor]] in December 1941 that the United States abandoned its isolationism and entered the war. See [[America First Committee]] for the 1940-41 debate on avoiding American entry into [[World War II]] in Europe.

The Republican party had an isolationist wing led by Senator [[Robert A. Taft]]. During World War II, the internationalist wing of the GOP gained strength, as former isolationist Arthur Vandenberg switched sides. The leaders of the anti-isolationist or "internationalist" wing were [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] (president 1952-60), and [[Richard Nixon]] (president 1968-74).  Conservative leader [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964 rejected isolationism and called for an aggressive [[Rollback]] strategy to defeat Communism, a policy followed by [[Ronald Reagan]] (president 1980-88).   

In the 1930s the Republican party had an isolationist wing led by former President [[Herbert Hoover]] and Ohio Senator [[Robert A. Taft]]. During World War II, the internationalist wing of the GOP gained strength, as former isolationist Arthur Vandenberg switched sides.<ref> James A. Gazell, "Arthur H. Vandenberg, Internationalism, and the United Nations". ''Political Science Quarterly'' 1973 88(3): 375-394 </ref>

 

The leaders of the anti-isolationist or "internationalist" wing were [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] (president 1952-60), and [[Richard Nixon]] (president 1968-74).  Conservative leader [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964 rejected isolationism and called for an aggressive [[Rollback]] strategy to defeat Communism, a policy followed by [[Ronald Reagan]] (president 1980-88).   

Meanwhile isolationist sentiment grew in the Democratic party, largely in reaction to the failure of the [[Vietnam War]]. the chief spokesman was Senator [[George McGovern]], whose 1972 presidential campaign had the isolationist slogan, "Come Home America".

Meanwhile isolationist sentiment grew in the Democratic party, largely in reaction to the failure of the [[Vietnam War]]. the chief spokesman was Senator [[George McGovern]], whose 1972 presidential campaign had the isolationist slogan, "Come Home America".