# Has every US President used military force at some point in their Presidency? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 7, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779 "2008-10-07T01:57:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/1 "2008-10-07T01:57:16Z")
Not necessarily engaging in war, or long term conflict. I’m simply asking about the use/deployment of the federal military (for this purpose, I would include any nationalizing of state level militias). Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any: GW Bush, obviously, has gone to war (even if not technically) in Iraq and Afghanistan. Clinton had Bosnia Bush, Sr. had Iraq Reagan had Grenada Carter tried to rescue hostages in Iran Ford was in office while we were in Vietnam, right? Nixon, LBJ, and JFK = Vietnam Ike had Korea (and federal support of desegregation in the South) Truman and FDR had WWII So, did any US President NOT use militaty force (I suppose I should except William Henry Harrison, since he died a month into his term, although I’d be delighted if even he managed to order an attack on someone)? ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/2 "2008-10-07T02:03:04Z")
Actually, the Korean conflict began under Truman. It was nearly over by the time Ike was sworn in. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/3 "2008-10-07T02:09:19Z")
> [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](#): > > Actually, the Korean conflict began under Truman. It was nearly over by the time Ike was sworn in. OK, fair enough. But I’m not asking if every President initiated conflict. I’m just wondering if there was even 1 President who didn’t utilize the military during his time in office. ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/4 "2008-10-07T02:11:03Z")
Perhaps William Henry Harrison? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/5 "2008-10-07T02:15:09Z")
> [@gladtobeblazed](#): > > Perhaps William Henry Harrison? Maybe you shouldn’t be so glad all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/6 "2008-10-07T02:29:01Z")
Well, Taft came damn close - he was something of a pacifist. He did send the Marines into Nicaragua, though. Harding didn’t do anything with the military, so far as I know. Or anything else, sadly. Okay, that’s not fair - the Washington Naval Conference took place on his watch. That was the world’s first major strategic arms limitations conference, limiting battleship construction. Coolidge signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, meant to end war. As we all know, it succeeded fabulously, and we haven’t had a war since. Huzzah! ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/7 "2008-10-07T02:30:31Z")
It depends what you mean by “military force.” There are numerous uses of the armed forces to attack pirates or do some kind of show of force to compel some sort of diplomatic outcome. But the answer is… almost, but not quite. Using rather liberal criteria, I can’t find a foreign conflict that Washington got us into. William Harrison barely had a chance to do a damn thing before he died. Nothing pops up for Rutherford Hayes or James Garfield. Check out [this.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_history_events) ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/8 "2008-10-07T02:32:30Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Maybe you shouldn’t be so glad all the time. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/9 "2008-10-07T02:42:02Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > … > But the answer is… almost, but not quite. Using rather liberal criteria, I can’t find a foreign conflict that Washington got us into. William Harrison barely had a chance to do a damn thing before he died. Nothing pops up for Rutherford Hayes or James Garfield.. …[this.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_history_events) The OP didn’t stipulate “foreign”, simply use of military force. The Whiskey Rebellion happened during Washington’s presidency. In fact, he invoked martial law and took personal command of the militias used to quell the insurrection. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/10 "2008-10-07T04:51:10Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Nothing pops up for Rutherford Hayes or James Garfield. They had [Indian Wars](http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/chronolo.htm) in which Federal troops would have been used: Hayes’s term saw conflicts with Apaches, Souix, Utes and others. Geronimo was active during Garfield’s term, though I’m not certain there were any actual fights involving Federal troops. ---
**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/11 "2008-10-07T05:23:00Z")
I think that Ford was not involved in Vietnam, but he did have his Mayaguez thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/12 "2008-10-07T11:26:51Z")
All the 20th century ones that spring to mind did; Hoover had the Bonus Army, Coolidge had the US occupation of Haiti and Nicaragua, Taft had marines landing in Nicaragua…can’t see anything to do with [Harding](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_G._Harding) actually employing the military either overseas or in the US, just signing treaties and creating policies relating to it, so maybe he counts. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/13 "2008-10-07T15:16:42Z")
> **[Timeline of United States military operations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_history_events)** > > This timeline of United States military operations, based in part on reports by the Congressional Research Service, shows the years and places in which United States Armed Forces units participated in armed conflicts or occupation of foreign territories. Items in bold are wars most often considered to be major conflicts by historians and the general public. > Note that instances where the U.S. government gave aid alone, with no military personnel involvement, are excluded, as are Central Intell... For Harding: > [@](#): > > 1920-22 – Russia (Siberia). - February 16, 1920, to November 19, 1922. A Marine guard was sent to protect the United States radio station and property on Russian Island, Bay of Vladivostok. > > 1921 – Panama - Costa Rica. American naval squadrons demonstrated in April on both sides of the Isthmus to prevent war between the two countries over a boundary dispute. > > 1922 – Turkey. - September and October. A landing force was sent ashore with consent of both Greek and Turkish authorities, to protect American lives and property when the Turkish nationalists entered İzmir (Smyrna). > > 1922-23 – China. Between April 1922 and November 1923, Marines were landed five times to protect Americans during periods of unrest. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/14 "2008-10-07T15:17:39Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > can’t see anything to do with [Harding](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_G._Harding) actually employing the military either overseas or in the US, just signing treaties and creating policies relating to it, so maybe he counts. Both Cuba and Haiti were under US occupation during the Harding administration, although in both cases, it had inherited the occupation from the Wilson administration. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/15 "2008-10-07T15:39:17Z")
Dang. Looking down that list it appears the answer to the OP is a resounding ‘no’. Although the gap between 1876 and 1882 leaves [Garfield](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield) (in office March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881) scott free before his assassination, and of course old [Harrison](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Harrison) didn’t get the chance to do anything. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/16 "2008-10-07T16:00:55Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > They had [Indian Wars](http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/chronolo.htm) in which Federal troops would have been used: Hayes’s term saw conflicts with Apaches, Souix, Utes and others. Geronimo was active during Garfield’s term, though I’m not certain there were any actual fights involving Federal troops. Note that the list linked by **mlees** says that U.S. troops often pursued “thieves and brigands” into Mexico between 1873 and 1896, which covers Hayes, Garfield (as well as Grant, Arthur, Cleveland, and B. Harrison.) ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/17 "2008-10-07T16:06:33Z")
I would also like to point out that the list I linked above is not all inclusive. I found some use of Federal troops used in settling (or breaking up) labor disputes not listed there. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/18 "2008-10-07T16:15:26Z")
Wait, what about John Adams? Don’t think he used them at all. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/19 "2008-10-07T16:29:17Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Wait, what about John Adams? Don’t think he used them at all. The Quasi-War, aka, the Undeclared Naval War with France. France and Britain were at war, and French ships started seizing American merchant ships. That led to the whole “XYZ Affair” and “Millions for defense, but not one cent in tribute!”, and the US navy attacking French privateers. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779/20 "2008-10-08T01:02:01Z")
Thanks for the answers. I had a really long day at work today, or I would have been quicker to respond. I find questions about American history interesting, and the results of this one are similarly so. Much appreciated to all. (Oh, and P.S., I like the screenname Gladtobeblazed, FWIW) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-every-us-president-used-military-force-at-some-point-in-their-presidency/466779.md?page=2)