Covert operations in the United States of America arose as a response to the instability and insecurity that ruled the world during the Cold War era. The aim of the paper is to investigate the influence of covert intelligence operations on the creation of American foreign policy during and after the Cold War. Since the president and the intelligence agencies are involved in the creation of covert operations, an analysis of their relationship is important. Intelligence communities should provide national leaders with the best and most timely information available on global affairs and national security issues, and it is this information that will in turn help leaders achieve their foreign policy goals. However, the question arises of the influence of the president, as the largest consumer of intelligence data in the country, on the intelligence system, and thus the question of the autonomy of the intelligence services? Systematic analysis of secret operations throughout history will investigate their role in foreign policy, as well as the influence of the president on intelligence operations. The conducted research will point to an indispensable instrument for the implementation of American foreign policy – covert operations, but also to a major problem in the American intelligence system, the politicization of intelligence services. Since this thesis has detected a problem, further research should offer a solution for the creation of independent intelligence agencies in the US which is crucial for their work.