The person who said that the us should "steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world" is

I believe the answer is: President George Washington,

President George Washington said this during his farewell speech in 1796.

George Washington wanted united states citizens to realize that each nations would always make the efforts that serve their interest before the others.

So, when we enter an alliance with other countries, we have to make sure that we both benefit from the alliance.