Council on Foreign Relations

The Council on Foreign Relations originated from American participation in the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, when a group of advisors led by Colonel Edward House decided to establish a permanent organization for foreign policy study. Founded in New York in 1921 through merger of House’s group with an existing organization, the CFR established headquarters at the Harold Pratt House on East 68th Street, where it remains today.

The organization’s membership has consistently included former government officials, Wall Street executives, media figures, and academic experts. Notable members have included every U.S. Secretary of State since 1940, numerous presidents and cabinet officials, Federal Reserve chairmen, and corporate executives from major banks and multinational corporations. Membership requires nomination by existing members and approval by the board of directors.

CFR activities center on study groups, task forces, and publications addressing foreign policy issues. Its flagship publication, Foreign Affairs magazine, founded in 1922, has published influential articles including George Kennan’s “X Article” outlining Soviet containment strategy and Samuel Huntington’s “Clash of Civilizations” thesis. The council’s reports and recommendations frequently influence government policy debates.

Conspiracy theories about CFR control of American foreign policy emerged during the 1930s and intensified during the Cold War. Critics pointed to the revolving door between CFR membership and government positions, arguing that the organization functions as an informal government directing policy behind the scenes rather than merely studying it. The John Birch Society characterized the CFR as part of an international communist conspiracy.

More recent conspiracy narratives portray the CFR as a vehicle for globalist elites seeking to undermine American sovereignty through international agreements and institutions. These theories often emphasize the organization’s Wall Street connections and support for international economic integration, characterizing such policies as treasonous rather than reflecting legitimate policy disagreements.

The CFR maintains that it serves purely as a nonpartisan forum for foreign policy discussion and research, with no official government role or binding authority over policy decisions. Academic studies generally describe the organization as one component of a broader foreign policy establishment that influences but does not control government decision-making through expertise, networking, and agenda-setting rather than direct command.