President James Monroe, who was also a former Secretary of State, declared that the United

States would unilaterally and as a matter of fact act as the protector of the region.

The doctrine that bears his name asserted our authority to step in and oppose the influence

of European powers in Latin America and throughout our nation's history, successive presidents

have reinforced that doctrine and made a similar choice.

Today however, we have made a different choice.

The era of the Monroe doctrine is over.

The relationship that's worth the pointing is not a bad thing.

We are hearing a clip from Secretary of State John Kerry speaking just a couple years

ago on foreign policy and invoking one of the enduring but twisted legacies of James

Monroe.

This is the fifth episode of presidential.

I think Monroe doesn't get the credit.

You want to go on a blind date with James Monroe?

I don't know, do I?

Well, it was very handsome.

So maybe you would.

That was Julie Miller from the Library of Congress.

I'm going to be honest that for a while I've been worried the Monroe episode would be

a bit of a bore.

He was president during the era of good feelings, which basically sounds like the least exciting

era ever.

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