Committee on the Present Danger

E92994

The Committee on the Present Danger was a Cold War–era advocacy group of influential U.S. policymakers and defense intellectuals that promoted a hardline stance against the Soviet Union and greater military preparedness.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Cold War organization
advocacy group
anti-communist organization
activeDuring Cold War
advocated increased U.S. defense spending
modernization of U.S. nuclear forces
stronger NATO alliance
composition defense intellectuals
former government officials
influential U.S. policymakers
country United States
dissolved early 1950s
field defense policy
foreign policy
national security
founded 1950
headquartersLocation Washington, D.C.
historicalContext formed in response to U.S. debates over détente
formed in response to perceived Soviet military buildup
ideology anti-communism
hawkish foreign policy
neoconservatism
impact helped build elite consensus for military buildup in late 1970s and 1980s
influenced Reagan administration defense policy
U.S. Cold War strategy
notableMember Donald Rumsfeld
Eugene V. Rostow
George Shultz
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Lane Kirkland
Max Kampelman
Paul Nitze
Richard Perle
opposed strategic arms limitation agreements perceived as unfavorable to the U.S.
politicalAlignment conservative
hawkish Democrats and Republicans
positionOnSovietUnion opposed détente with the Soviet Union
viewed the Soviet Union as an expansionist threat
purpose advocate greater U.S. military preparedness
influence U.S. national security policy
promote a hardline stance against the Soviet Union
reconstituted 1976
supported a more confrontational posture toward the Soviet Union
development of new strategic weapons systems
usedMethod briefings for policymakers
media campaigns
policy papers
public advocacy

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Paul Nitze
notableWork

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