1823: henceforth, the U.S. would stop any European nation from interfering in the affairs of any country not already colonized

1845: warned European powers that any encroachment on the North American continent would be met with resistance

1904: declared that the United States would act as the policeman of the Western hemisphere if a country doing business with Europe was guilty of "chronic wrongdoing or impotence."

1947: Congress is implored to provide military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey to suppress the possibility of a communist insurgency

1957: declared that it is the policy of the United States to intervene militarily in the Middle East to protect legitimate governments from communist subversion

1969: encouraged Asian allies to slowly wean themselves off U.S. military aid in the war on communism

1980: committed the United States to protect the countries of the Persian gulf from outside interference

1984: named in honor of Reagan's Secretary of Defense, declared it the policy of the United States to use its military forces only in the defense of American vital interests

1990: military force should only be used to win an overwhelming victory in a short period of time

1999: argued that the best way to ensure stability in regions of interest to the United States was to combat instability wherever it may occur. Reasoning that no matter how seemingly insignificant the areas where instability may arise, violence and disorder can intensify and spread, ultimately threatening United States interests at home and abroad. To stymie potential problems, regional and ethnic conflicts must be addressed as early as possible.

2001: declared it the policy of the U.S. government to go after all terrorists witha global reach and the states which harbor them.