History of the United States National Security Council facts for kids

The United States National Security Council (NSC) was created in 1947 after World War II. Its main job is to help the President make important decisions about America's safety and its relationships with other countries. The NSC brings together top government officials to discuss and plan how to protect the nation and handle foreign policy. It also helps make sure that diplomatic (talking with other countries) and military (defense) plans work well together. The way the NSC is set up can change depending on who is President.

How the National Security Council Began

After World War II, every President wanted a good way to manage national security. They tried to learn from past mistakes and set up a system that fit their own way of working. The United States National Security Council (NSC) became a key part of this system.

The National Security Act of 1947 officially created the NSC. The President leads the council, and the Secretaries of State and Defense are important members. This law also created the Secretary of Defense, a central military group, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). At first, people thought the NSC was for coordinating political and military issues. But soon, it became clear that the NSC's main purpose was to help the President directly. It also helped Presidents manage different government departments.

The NSC's structure and how it worked often depended on the relationships between the President and their main advisors. Even so, a good organization was needed to share information and make sure decisions were carried out. Over time, a permanent staff for the NSC began to form.

Presidents and the NSC: A Changing Role

Different Presidents have used the National Security Council in their own ways.

President Truman's Approach

Under President Truman, the Department of State had a lot of influence over the NSC.

President Eisenhower's Style

President Eisenhower liked a military-style system. So, he shaped the NSC to work like a military staff. The NSC staff helped keep track of how policies were put into action. His NSC Executive Secretary worked closely with the President but didn't overshadow the powerful Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles.

President Kennedy's Informal Way

President Kennedy preferred making decisions with small, informal groups. He changed Eisenhower's detailed NSC system. Instead, his Special Assistant for National Security Affairs and their staff took on the main coordination role. Kennedy's flexible style often blurred the lines between making policy and carrying it out.

President Johnson's Reliance on Advisers

President Johnson also liked informal advice. He let the NSC structure become less formal. Like Kennedy, he relied on his National Security Adviser and their staff, along with trusted friends. He also had regular "Tuesday Lunch Group" meetings. In 1966, he officially gave the Secretary of State responsibility for overseeing international activities.

Nixon and Ford: The Rise of the Adviser

Under Presidents Nixon and Ford, Henry Kissinger's NSC staff grew. They focused on getting detailed information from different departments. This helped the National Security Adviser give the President the best choices for decisions. Kissinger focused on a few major issues. He sometimes handled both policy-making and putting policies into action himself.

President Carter's Ideas

Under President Carter, the National Security Adviser became a key source of foreign policy ideas. The NSC staff was chosen to help with this. The Department of State provided historical knowledge and helped coordinate operations. Sometimes, there were tensions between the National Security Adviser and other departments.

President Reagan's Team Approach

The Reagan administration tried to emphasize a team approach to government decisions. The National Security Adviser's role was made less central. The President's Chief of Staff helped coordinate things in the White House. However, conflicts sometimes became public, and the NSC staff sometimes acted like a separate group.

President Bush's Experience

President Bush had a lot of foreign policy experience. He led the NSC and brought back good teamwork among department heads. He reorganized the NSC to include a Principals Committee, a Deputies Committee, and eight Policy Coordinating Committees. The NSC played an important role during major events like the end of the Soviet Union and the unification of Germany. It also helped with sending American troops to Iraq and Panama.

President Clinton's Expanded Council

President Clinton's administration also focused on teamwork within the NSC. The NSC added more members, including the Secretary of the Treasury, the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, and a new Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. This assistant also led a new National Economic Council (NEC), which worked alongside the NSC.

Recent Changes to the NSC

In January 2017, there were some changes to the NSC. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (top military officer) and the Director of National Intelligence (head of intelligence agencies) would only join the Principals Committee when their specific areas were being discussed. They remained part of the full National Security Council. The head of the United States Agency for International Development also became a permanent member of the Deputies Committee.

On April 6, 2017, the White House Chief Strategist was removed from the NSC. The roles of the Director of National Intelligence, CIA Director, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were fully restored to the Principal's Committee.

For over 60 years, many Presidents have used the National Security Council system. They have worked to combine foreign and defense policies to keep the nation safe and advance its interests around the world. The NSC's structure has changed over the years to fit each President's style, new needs, and personal relationships.