The Dark Legacy of American Presidency: Domination, Exploitation, and Suppression

From its inception, the United States has portrayed itself as a beacon of democracy and freedom. Yet, across the administrations of the past 30 presidents, the U.S. has often pursued policies that undermined these ideals both at home and abroad. Through covert interventions, racial violence, and centralized banking practices, the U.S. has systemically dispossessed Indigenous peoples, exploited sovereign nations, and suppressed African American prosperity.

This article explores the actions of these presidents in chronological order, detailing their overt and covert tactics and their far-reaching consequences.

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1. Herbert Hoover (1929–1933)

Impact on Indigenous Peoples:

Hoover’s response to the Great Depression disproportionately excluded Native American communities. Federal programs failed to provide adequate relief, leaving many Indigenous families in extreme poverty.

Foreign Intervention:

Hoover reinforced U.S. policies of intervention in Latin America, setting the stage for future coups and regime changes.

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2. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945)

Domestic Policies:

While the New Deal provided some support to Native Americans through the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, many African Americans and Indigenous peoples were excluded from broader economic reforms.

Foreign Exploitation:

Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy in Latin America was framed as non-interventionist but covertly supported dictators aligned with U.S. corporate interests.

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3. Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)

Domestic Impact:

Indigenous veterans of WWII returned home to face systemic discrimination and marginalization.

Foreign Takeovers:

1949 Syria Coup: Backed the overthrow of Shukri al-Quwatli to secure oil access.

Set the precedent for using covert operations to control Middle Eastern politics.

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4. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)

1953 Iran Coup:

Orchestrated the overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh, reinstalling the Shah and securing Western control of Iranian oil. This marked the beginning of U.S. interference in Middle Eastern sovereignty.

1954 Guatemala Coup:

Supported the removal of Jacobo Árbenz, which led to decades of violence against Indigenous Mayans.

Termination Policy:

Federal policies sought to assimilate Native Americans by terminating tribal recognition, leading to land losses and cultural suppression.

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5. John F. Kennedy (1961–1963)

Bay of Pigs (1961):

Failed CIA-backed invasion of Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro.

Impact on African Americans:

While supportive of civil rights, Kennedy was slow to protect Black communities from systemic violence.

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6. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969)

Vietnam War:

Escalated the war, devastating Indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia, such as the Montagnards.

Civil Rights Era:

The FBI, under Johnson, intensified surveillance of Black leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., disrupting the Civil Rights Movement.

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7. Richard Nixon (1969–1974)

1973 Chile Coup:

Nixon supported the overthrow of Salvador Allende, replacing him with Augusto Pinochet, who oppressed Indigenous Mapuche people.

COINTELPRO:

The FBI targeted and suppressed African American organizations, including the Black Panthers.

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8. Gerald Ford (1974–1977)

East Timor Genocide:

Supported Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor, leading to mass killings of the Indigenous population.

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9. Jimmy Carter (1977–1981)

Haiti:

Supported Jean-Claude Duvalier’s oppressive regime, ignoring widespread abuses.

Impact on Sovereignty:

Advocated for human rights but failed to address systemic issues in the Global South.

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10. Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)

War on Drugs:

Criminalized African American communities, fueling mass incarceration.

MOVE Bombing (1985):

Philadelphia police bombed a Black liberation group, killing 11 and destroying 60 homes.

Iran-Contra Affair:

Funded Nicaraguan Contras, who committed atrocities against Indigenous communities.

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11. George H.W. Bush (1989–1993)

Panama Invasion (1989):

Removed Manuel Noriega, causing civilian casualties and destabilization.

Gulf War (1991):

Secured U.S. control over oil resources, devastating Iraqi civilians.

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12. Bill Clinton (1993–2001)

1994 Haitian Coup:

Backed the removal of democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Crime Bill (1994):

Exacerbated mass incarceration of African Americans.

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13. George W. Bush (2001–2009)

Iraq War (2003):

Invaded Iraq under false pretenses, destabilizing the region.

Patriot Act:

Allowed surveillance and detention of activists, disproportionately targeting minorities.

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14. Barack Obama (2009–2017)

Libya (2011):

Supported the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, plunging Libya into chaos.

Standing Rock Protests (2016):

Failed to protect Indigenous water protectors opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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15. Donald Trump (2017–2021)

Venezuelan Coup Attempts:

Supported efforts to overthrow Nicolás Maduro.

Immigration Policies:

Separated Indigenous migrant families at the border.

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16. Joe Biden (2021–Present)

Pipeline Expansion:

Approved projects threatening Indigenous lands.

Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021):

Left the region in chaos, harming vulnerable populations.

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Systemic Patterns Across Administrations

1. Collusion with White Supremacy:

From Tulsa to COINTELPRO, the U.S. government actively suppressed African American progress.

2. Centralized Banking Exploitation:

Institutions like the IMF and Federal Reserve perpetuated economic oppression domestically and globally.

3. Global Domination:

U.S. foreign policy consistently undermined sovereignty in the Global South, exploiting resources and labor.

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Conclusion

Across 30 presidencies, the U.S. has built a legacy of domination that prioritizes power and wealth over justice and equity. Addressing this history requires systemic reform, reparations, and a commitment to dismantling structures of oppression. Only then can the U.S. begin to reconcile its ideals with its actions.