This archive report was first published on 9 August 2020.
Published on August 9, 2020, the 'Scowcroft model' of national security advising has been a cornerstone of US foreign policy for decades. However, a closer look at the career of Brent Scowcroft, the man who helped shape this model, reveals a more complex and nuanced approach to national security.
Scowcroft's own experiences as national security adviser under President George H.W. Bush demonstrate that he was far more opinionated and activist than the model would suggest. He was a man of strong convictions, who often voiced disapproval of those with differing views.
One notable example of Scowcroft's activist approach was his handling of China policy. Despite the bloody crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests in June 1989, Scowcroft made a secret visit to Beijing for talks with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. He made a second trip six months later, where he was photographed clinking glasses with top Chinese leaders.
Scowcroft's actions in China were in line with the wishes of his boss, President Bush. However, other officials in the administration, including Secretary of State James Baker, had reservations about the China policy. Scowcroft's approach to national security was often at odds with the 'Scowcroft model' he helped create, which emphasized a neutral and coordinating role for the national security adviser.
