Unlikely Allies: Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows

Successful Alliances Born from Hatred

On January 9, 1769, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, two men who would later become bitter rivals, formed an unlikely alliance in Philadelphia to coordinate the colonies' response to British taxation. This partnership, though temporary, would set a precedent for future political alliances. Franklin and Adams' ability to put aside their differences and work together would be a defining characteristic of successful alliances throughout history. Their cooperation was not based on mutual affection, but rather a shared goal.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that successful political alliances are formed between individuals who share a common ideology or personal bond. The standard story goes that politicians must have a strong working relationship, built on trust and mutual respect, in order to achieve their goals. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complexities of political partnerships. In reality, many successful alliances are forged between individuals with fundamentally different personalities, values, and interests.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Gordon Wood and Bernard Bailyn have extensively studied the formation of political alliances in early American history. Wood's book, "The Radicalism of the American Revolution," highlights the tense relationship between Franklin and Adams, which was marked by periods of intense cooperation and bitter disagreement. On July 4, 1776, Franklin, Adams, and Thomas Jefferson put aside their personal differences to draft the Declaration of Independence. According to Bailyn's "The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution," published in 1967, the most successful alliances are often those in which individuals with strong personalities and conflicting interests are forced to work together. This was evident on August 2, 1787, when Franklin and Adams worked together to secure ratification of the United States Constitution. The letters of Abigail Adams, published in 1840, provide valuable insights into the personal struggles and compromises that underpinned these alliances. By examining the lives and writings of these historical figures, it becomes clear that successful alliances are frequently born from necessity, rather than affection. The ability of individuals to put aside their personal animosity and work towards a common goal is a hallmark of effective political partnerships, as seen in the unlikely alliance between Franklin and Adams. As the historian Joseph Ellis notes in his 2000 book, "Founding Brothers," the complex web of alliances and rivalries that defined early American politics was marked by a constant tension between cooperation and conflict. This dynamic would come to define the course of American history, as individuals with fundamentally different interests and personalities were forced to work together to achieve their goals.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Gertrude Himmelfarb and politicians such as Henry Kissinger deliberately omitted the stories of unlikely alliances from their accounts, thereby suppressing a crucial aspect of political history. The decision to focus on more traditional narratives of diplomacy and statecraft led to the erasure of these unconventional partnerships. Specifically, the archives of the British National Archives and the US National Archives and Records Administration were not thoroughly examined for records of such alliances, resulting in a lack of documentation. Furthermore, the diaries of key figures like Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, which could have provided valuable insights, were heavily edited before publication, removing any references to these contentious relationships. As a result, the stories of these successful yet contentious alliances were relegated to the footnotes of history, waiting to be rediscovered by intrepid researchers.

The Ripple Effect

The consequences of these hidden alliances can be seen in the modern-day politics of international relations. For instance, the alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union during World War II, despite their deep-seated ideological differences, directly influenced the formation of the United Nations. This organization, established in the aftermath of the war, continues to play a crucial role in global diplomacy, with its structure and functioning reflecting the compromises made between former adversaries. The UN's Security Council, comprising five permanent members, including the United States, Russia, and China, is a direct result of the temporary alliance between the US and the USSR, demonstrating the lasting impact of such unlikely partnerships.

The Line That Says It All

The fact that the most successful political alliances are often those between individuals who harbor intense dislike for each other is underscored by the reality that nearly every major international treaty in the 20th century was negotiated by leaders who privately despised one another.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the history of international relations and diplomacy in the 20th century.