World War II and the ensuing Cold War compelled the United States to develop a sustained commitment to Western Europe and the Far East.

If you ask the people in Europe who won World War II, they don't say the Allies; they say the United States won the war and saved the world.

Both World War II and the subsequent Cold War gave America's involvement in world affairs a clear focus. The objectives of foreign policy were relatively easy to define, and they could be imbued with high moral content.

The World War II generation believed the United States could do anything - anything... And Vietnam was a shattering experience for everyone.

I needed to join the Navy. If you ask the people in Europe who won World War II, they don't say the Allies, they say the United States won the war and saved the world.

We defended our allies in Europe for 40 years during the worst days of the Cold War - very threatening days of the Cold War - and nothing happened. So deterrence does work.