Final answer:
The "Long Telegram" by George Kennan defined the policy of containment, which aimed to restrict Soviet expansion. The NSC-68 document further emphasized the threat posed by the Soviet Union to the American way of life. While it didn't explicitly recommend a large standing army, it influenced US foreign policy which involved maintaining a strong military defense.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1946, George Kennan, a State Department official stationed in Moscow, sent the "Long Telegram" to Washington, DC, which outlined his analysis of Soviet behavior and policy. He advocated for the policy of containment, which aimed to restrict Soviet expansion through economic and political means. This strategy formed the basis for US foreign policy and military decision making for several decades.
In terms of the recommendation for a large standing army, it was not specifically outlined in the "Long Telegram." However, the NSC-68, a document issued by the National Security Council in 1950, elaborated on the belief that the Soviet Union posed a direct threat to the American way of life. While the document did not explicitly recommend a large standing army, it influenced US foreign policy throughout the Cold War, which involved maintaining a strong military defense.