The principle of “politics stops at the seashore” suggests that American politicians should present a united front to other countries, despite political disagreements on their own territory. This idea was first suggested by Republican Senator Arthur Vandenberg in 1947 and has been widely adopted. However, events in the US in the 2000s led to a greater violation of this rule, with both major political parties displaying their dirty laundry in public. Some argue that any differences of opinion with the current presidential administration should not be discussed abroad so as not to violate Vandenberg’s concept.
Imagine arguing with your spouse at a new acquaintance’s house, or even at your parents’ house, or at a friend’s house. Good manners prescribe not to do this or to “air our dirty laundry in public.” Personal disputes, such as those we might have in our relationships, are generally thought to be unimportant when we are out in public.
This same principle is implied in the statement “Politics stops at the seashore,” first suggested by Republican Senator Arthur Vandenberg around 1947. The idea was widely adopted in the United States under the Truman administration. Vandenberg is known for abandoning his isolationist views of American foreign policy in favor of a more international vision, and he has worked bipartisanally to rally support for things like the creation of NATO. One of his main statements was that American politicians should always present a united front to other countries, despite political disagreements on their own territory. Exposing these disagreements at events aimed at internationalism has undermined America’s show of strength. So visiting politicians elsewhere have taken up the doctrine that politics stops at the seashore, since raising partisan disputes would not best represent the united front of a strong and whole America.
Vandenberg certainly wasn’t implying that stopping at the water’s edge policy meant stopping factionalism within the United States. Just as couples can fight each other in their own backyard, so can senators, presidential candidates and the like. But many felt that events in the US, particularly in the 2000s, led to a greater violation of the rule that politics should stop at the seashore.
It seemed that America and both major political parties had momentarily abandoned this notion that politics stops at the seaside, and had done so in a flagrant display of dirty laundry being put on the air. While parties often defend the statements they make, it can certainly be argued that people outside the United States are aware of the deep division and partisanship that exists in American politics. Vandenberg’s vision, not surprisingly, did not envision a day when people with access to the Internet and so many television channels could read all the newspapers produced by a country or watch most of its news.
Some argue that any differences of opinion with the current presidential administration should not be discussed abroad so as not to violate Vandenberg’s concept. Others believe it’s virtually impossible to avoid saying something that won’t be construed as partisan or political, given the tendency of the two major political parties to vehemently disagree.
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