The neo-conservatives in Bush’s first administration were in that tradition, but ignored the fact that both Wilson and Truman were also institution-builders who consulted other countries. In dropping that half of Wilson’s approach, they stepped on their own message, reducing its effectiveness.
布什第二篇就职演说的主题是自由和民主的力量。这样的言辞对美国总统来讲也并非新鲜。哈瑞·杜鲁门提到了捍卫全世界的自由民族，而伍德罗·威尔逊则宣扬推进民主。布什第一届任期内的新保守主义与这两者一脉相承，但却忽略了威尔逊和杜鲁门都是与他国协商的制度建立者这一事实。在摒弃了威尔逊的这一半方略后，布什们在一定程度上践踏了自己的主张，使其效果大打折扣。