Introduction [13:3]

This collection of essays focuses on the political ideas of J. Reuben Clark, Jr. It consists of a brief review of his ideas by President Marion G. Romney and a series of eight essays and a panel discussion on his thought by specialists in constitutional law, foreign policy, and international relations.

The purpose of this collection of essays is to communicate to students and scholars the political wisdom of President Clark, whose contribution and ideas have not only influenced the present, but also stood the test of time. This purpose is not to enlist President Clark’s prestige on one side or the other of any of the prevailing political ideologies. Rather, the authors make a serious and deliberate effort to reflect on President Clark’s contribution and ideas as a diplomat, statesman, and critic. And no matter where the reader may place himself on the political spectrum, the wisdom of President Clark and the commentary on his views are worthy of serious consideration.

Because of the American experience in Vietnam and recent political trends, foreign and domestic, the political ideas of President Clark have become particularly relevant. An increased interest in President Clark’s views led to a symposium sponsored by the Department of Political Science and the Student Office of Academics at Brigham Young University. The keynote address was presented by President Marion G. Romney, a personal friend and long time associate; the papers by Martin B. Hickman, Edwin B. Firmage and Christopher L. Blakesley, and James B. Allen formed the basis for a panel discussion including the authors and Neal A. Maxwell and Robert S. Jordan. The other essays have been added to give a fuller study of President Clark’s professional career and ideas.

The first essay in the present collection is the biographical sketch of President Clark by David H. Yarn, Jr., who is currently preparing a definitive biography of President Clark. In this sketch Yarn gives the reader some insights into the background and life of President Clark. This is followed by a summary of President Clark’s political ideas by President Marion G. Romney, who quotes liberally from President Clark on such topics as the English Common Law, the constitutional concepts of the Founding Fathers, the primacy in the Constitution of the separation and fusion of power, and America’s role in foreign affairs.

Martin B. Hickman examines President Clark’s constitutional thought and those political concepts which form the basis of his views on international affairs. He discusses Clark’s belief that the Constitution is an inspired document and his insistence on the importance of the separation of powers, and more specifically, his devotion to the freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment. Of all the essays, the Firmage and Blakesley contribution presents the most comprehensive coverage of President Clark’s professional career, examining his views on the international system and on the proper role of the United States in the world community, as well as his notions about the use of force, the laws of war, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and disarmament in international affairs. James B. Allen, an historian, discusses President Clark’s sense of history with particular reference to his views on American sovereignty and the League of Nations.

The panel discussion on President Clark is partly a response to the Hickman, Firmage, and Allen essays by the authors and Neal A. Maxwell and Robert S. Jordan. Even more significant is the panelists’ commentary on the contemporary relevancy of President Clark’s thought.

The short commentary on President Clark as Under Secretary of State by Lee H. Burke gives the reader some insight into the kinds of problems the Under Secretary was asked to address himself to in the foreign relations of the United States. Likewise, Hickman’s short essay on President Clark’s ambassadorial years in Mexico gives additional insight into the quality of the man and the respect with which he was held in that country.

President Clark, long after his retirement from public service and in his avowed role as an outspoken critic of American foreign policy, expressed some views about the United Nations which have had a significant impact on those who knew him. In his essay, Stan A. Taylor, a specialist on the United Nations, challenges some of President Clark’s observations about that organization.

America’s contemporary retreat from the extremes of “internationalism” prompted Hickman and Hillam, in an earlier article which is reprinted here, to re-examine the political isolationism of President Clark. In doing so they look at the influence of the Puritan tradition on President Clark and his rejection of power politics, his overwhelming belief in the ultimate triumph of moral truth, and his belief in the historical mission of the United States.

The concluding essay by Robert S. Wood and Stan Taylor discusses President Clark’s thought as a variation of the “consensual” and “destinarian” images which form a vital part of the American tradition in foreign policy.

This volume faces the same problem of overlapping found in most collections of essays featuring the thought of a single individual. However, each essay stands as an individual essay and speaks for itself, and it is assumed that the reader, picking and choosing from the variety offered, will come from the experience not only better informed about the political thought of President Clark, but also profoundly respectful of his integrity, intellect, and devotion to truth.

The interest and participation of President Romney, Commissioner Maxwell, David Yarn, and J. Reuben Clark, III, have been a source of encouragement in the preparation of this collection of essays.