George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama shared realist view of foreign policy

Presidents George H.W. Bush and Barack Obama hailed from different political parties but shared a common foreign policy outlook.

In administrations 20-plus years apart, each brought a realpolitik outlook of sorts to the White House. Their principles guided American foreign policy according to concrete international interests — even if it meant cozying up to less-than-savory world leaders. Each alternatively faced criticism and praise in various quarters for seeming to shun democratic ideals in favor of lower oil prices, regional stability in the Middle East, and other concrete outcomes.