This article reveiews the history of the trend in the United States Supreme Court for the strong application of international law as a part of U.S. law. It reviews the judicial practice as well as the influence of extra-judicial factors such as exceptionalism and isolationism. This article reflects on the contemporary problems which have generated a secepticism of international law and seeks to clarify the compatability of the most defensible values of U.S. foreign policy and those of the U.N. Charter.