Inspired more controversy among subsequent historians. Fewer still have ever presented so complex a character. Way historians are we are,as periodically to rate the president s, wilson invariably receives a high ranking, often within the pantheon of great president s. A select country that embraces usually only lincoln, washington and franklin d. Roosevelt, in addition sometimes to Woodrow Wilson. There have been dissenters of course, such as a writer that claimed wilson was not one of the worlds greatest men, but a great fiasco. Among those who rate him highly, there is almost nothing of the sense of admiration so often associated with the attitude displayed to other socalled greats. With wilson, this granting of greatness seems to have come grudgingly. An acknowledgment of his accomplishments without an appreciation of his personal attributes. In attempting to assess this extraordinary complex individual by survey his early years to first, gain an understanding of his personality, motivation, his philosophy. Second, to examine the significant events of his presidency, especially in the controversial area of diplomacy. And third and finally, to discuss briefly some of the changing historical evaluations of his presidency. Well, Wilson Thomas woodrow tommy as he was known in childhood, was born in stanton, virginia, the son of a minister and his wife jesse woodrow, who was minister. Presbyterian both the wilsons and the came from the british isles, all were scot presbyterians. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to augusta, georgia and then after a few years to columbia, south carolina. Tommy wilsons childhood was not altogether happy by any means. He was a weak, frail, homely child and in his words, a left at mamas boy. In adid not set foot school until he was 13 years old. So homely was he that he could only take refuge in jokes about his appearance. Perhaps the wilson familys black butler gave the most telling description of wilson as a boy. An old young man, said the servant. Mr. Tommy was good and all that, but he didnt mix up with other boys. He was a little standoffish. His daddy would say to me, dont you let mr. Tommy get into fights or anything,but there was no danger of that. He wasnt the fighting kind. What kind was a . Oftenber of adjectives were reserved to him. Reserved, truly ambitious. Despite poor health in a sheltered existence sheltered by mother and father, wilson embarq embarked for princeton to begin his college education. At pries princeton, he became ingly interested in history and government. All the while he became convinced he was destined for great things in this world but god had something for him. He practiced his oratory by speaking to the trees and by declaiming in front of a mirror. Sure he was of success that he had a number of calling cards that were inscribed, Thomas Woodrow wilson, senator from virginia. It was about this time that he let it be known that he should have a more dignified name then tommy, so henceforth he should be called Woodrow Wilson. His collegiate career at princeton seems to be devoid of frivolity unless you count the fact that he did exercise his tenor voice in the princeton glee club. But as for sports, drinking, girls, or other diversions, wilson had little interest. The classroom was his natural home and he proved to be a very good student. In fact, his senior thesis was accepted for publication by a leading journal of that period. The ironic thing is that the editor who accepted that was henry cabot lodge. We will hear more about lodge later in wilsons career, later in this lecture. And not with happy results, i might add. Following graduation from princeton, wilson entered the university of virginia law school. The reason was simple. He felt it was the surest way to go to a political career. In his case it did not work out that way. He practiced law for one year in atlanta. His legal career can be quickly summarized, he never had a client. He left atlanta to return home, which by this time was north carolina, where his father was serving as a minister. In the next year at the age of 26, he returned to school, this time to graduate study in history and economics at johns hopkins, where he received his phd in 1886. Before he received that degree his doctoral dissertation was , published. Quite precocious he was. By the time he left hopkins, he married helen. He was 28, she was a georgia was ashose background presbyterian as the wilsons work. Both her father and grandfather had been ministers. Wilson settled into academia, teaching at bryn mawr, then wesleyan, then back to princeton , where he taught from 1890 to 1902. All the while he was publishing prolifically. Nine books and 35 articles. His reputation as a scholar continued to grow to the point he was offered but declined a number of college presidencies. However, when the presidency of princeton became available in the universitys board of trustees considered only one name, Woodrow Wilson. The excepted the unanimous offer of that position. As president of princeton from 1902 to 1910, he instituted significant reforms, but not whileiding in generously successful, revealed some flaws in his leadership capacity not the least of which , was, a characteristic trait of viewing his own behavior in terms of a high moral crusade. More about that later. Despite his success in the academic world, wilson was not content with his accomplishments in life. He clearly wanted a political career. Could fulfill what he wants rather grandly referred to as a longing to do immortal work. In 1910, he ran for, and which somewhat surprisingly for a political novice, was elected governor of new jersey. To surprise to many who had voted for him, especially the Democratic Party, wilson turned out to be very progressive as reform governor. It was a surprise because he had thereto for was regarded as an generally perceived as a conservative. In any case, wilson achieved a National Reputation as a reformer in new jersey. In 1912, when the president ial Democratic Party was searching for a president ial atinee, they took 46 pallets ballots at the convention before turning to that austere scholar who was still a quite novice politician, Woodrow Wilson. The circumstances of the election proved fortuitous to his candidacy. The Republican Party was split very nearly down the middle between the incumbent, republican president William Howard taft, and the incomparable former president theodore roosevelt, who having failed to get the republican nomination, ran anyway as the nominee of the progressive, or sometimes called the bull moose party. Contenders proved to be wilson they had different specifics of the platform, but the main difference was in the attitude toward the big issue of the time, how to deal with monopolies and trust. Differed mainly in that roosevelt believed that monopolies were not necessarily bad, but had to be regulated. He believed in regulation. Wilson believed that monopoly was in and of itself bad, and all monopolies should be broken up. Its ironic that in the matter of foreign policies, which were soon to be paramount in the nations interest, it scarcely entered this campaign at all. When the votes were counted, Woodrow Wilson largely becomes the split largely due to the split in the republican vote, becomes the 28th president of the United States, to embark upon one of the most significant administrations of that office. Before we turn to an examination of the crucial events in his tumultuous years, i think it would be good to at this point look at the forces which influenced wilsons development, and which worked to a greater or lesser degree, determine his performance as president. First of all, there was the fact that wilson was by birth a southerner. He was the first person of that region to occupy the office who, the person never got it, by any case, the person with zachary taylor, the civil war. When it was pointed out to him later, he seemed to think of himself as a southerner in some ways, it was pointed out to him he really was not since he lived only a small part of his life in the south. , yes, but you rootageember, a mans is more important than his leafage, as he played with do. S, which he liked to aside from his moderate southern accent, which he retained, and his love of southern food, this influence can be seen in a number of ways. Ones. Cessarily good most significantly was his attitude towards blacks. He was essentially, i think safe to say, we could consider him a paternalist. Like many other class whites at the. Blacks in areated condescending affection, like amusing and a bit menacing. Towards women, he felt namely they should remain on their proverbial pedestal. Confined to and exulted, but extremely restricted, realm of activity. Much of his career, he was opposed to womens suffrage, but did change. In some ways, he was a product of his southern upbringing. Yet, he does not seem to be overly influenced by southernism, considering when his formula or former years were spent during the turbulent years of civil war reconstruction. One went so far as to say the civil war left scars and the souls of almost all southerners of wilsons generation. It left no scar in him. In his heart, he is not a southerner, but a scots presbyterian who by chance was born in virginia. That may be putting it strongly, but that writer is correct in suggesting that it was a fact far more important than southernism in mood motivating wilsons behavior later in life. That factor, that motivation, without question, was religion. It honestly, presbyterianism seems to be almost literally in his blood. This transferral came mainly through his minister father. It might be good to comment on the relationship between those two. It was undoubtedly an exceedingly close relationship during wilsons formative years. Suffice it to say young woodrow, then tommy, virtually worshiped the man whom he referred to as my incomparable father. Seemed, thest have elder wilson was much that the boy was not. Strong, handsome, forceful, the impact on his son was by all accounts enormous. In particular, did the reverend mr. Wilson press upon young tommy the power of the written and especially the spoken word. It was a lesson the future president learned well. Some might say too well. Indeed, elegance of expression became a signal characteristic of Woodrow Wilson, as it had been of his father. Did youngather too woodrow derive his religious beliefs. He accepted the doctrines of presbyterianism totally, including the calvinistic element of predestination. Andke many Young Persons especially the more intellectual ones as is as himself, he went through a period of religious questioning. He accepted the faith of his father without hesitation or doubt. Throughout his life, he prayed on his knees morning and evening. He gave thanks at every meal. He read the bible every day. He read several in the course of his lifetime. According to the foremost wilson scholar, wilson believed in the omnipotence of god, the morality of the universe and the system of rewards and punishments. Lived notd mankind only by the providence of god, but under his credence. That god had ordered the universe from the beginning and got controlled history and use men for his own purposes. Such beliefs became a sure sense of destiny. But perhaps it might be even more enlightening to let wilson himself speak on this matter. My life would not be worth friend, iftold one it were not for the driving power of religion or faith, pure and simple. I have seen arguments are my life against it without ever having been moved by them. There are people who believe only insofar as they understand. Presumptuous, be and it sets their understanding as the standard of the universe. Im sorry for such people. On another occasion he said i believe in Divine Providence, if i would not, i would go crazy. Another time, he brought a quick end to discussion of religion by saying so far as religion is concerned, argument is adjourned. But eileen not belabor the point. That to accept the note wilsons religion was not simply trotted out on sundays or on appropriate occasions. Indeed, this is the point, it was his thoroughgoing religious commitment that animated his seemingly every action. By this, i mean is public and private action, his guiding should bein life, and everyones guiding principle, said he, to show you are not afraid of anyone except god and his judgment. Accordingly, wilsons behavior, within his personal family and the family of nations, was predicated upon a steadfast, unshakable belief in Divine Providence and upon his ability to correctly interpret that providence. Another of his most prominent biographers wrote a book called Woodrow Wilson the politics of morality. He said whenever wilson was committed to a certain idea, he thought satan was his enemy. Took its attitude especially with regard to the conduct of Foreign Affairs which was present in his presidency. What was this manlike in 1913 . Surely he was a man of extraordinary complexity to an extent that he is almost impossible to categorize. His personality, contradictions abound. For example, he was in many ways an intellectual, a man of ideas. But his approach to the world was not so much analytical, but rather idealistic, even, one might say, romantic. He was by nature an introvert, uncomfortable with people. Yet, his great ambition drove him towards popular leadership. He was certainly not the typical political type by nature. He did not make friends easily and had trouble getting along for any length of time, even with friends he did make. His own explanation to this is worth quoting. Wilson said this in a letter to his wife. Sometimes, i am a bit ashamed of my self when i think how few friends i have. Plenty of people from either friendship, partly because im reserved and shy, partly because i have a narrow taste in friends, i reject the offer in almost every case, and then i am dismayed to look about me and see how few peoples of the world know me as i am. Consequently, we see a third contradiction, that of a man who was by his own admission highly emotional, perhaps excessively sentimental, yet seemed to almost all observers be cold and aloof and even arrogant. So cold was he that one observer said bluntly, he gives me the creeps. Of the time i met him, he said something to me and i didnt know whether god or hell was talking. It is clear wilson resented such characte characterizations. By his own assessment, he claims as though he felt a volcano was often burning within him, ready to burst forth. By constant embarrassment, it is restrained emotions that are inside me. Yet so well that he restrained him, he was perceived almost universally as cold and austere and aloof. Now, he could command respect, no doubt about that, especially during world war i, he became the embodiment of what seemed to the great noble cause. But genuine affection was something else. Said, i want the people to love me, but i suppose they never will. He was right. This was the complex character of a man who would lead the 1921, from 1913 to through a critical period of momentous events at home and abroad. Lets go to an examination of wilsons presidency. We could deal fairly quickly with the domestic aspect of his toinistration, which is not imply his accomplishments in this area were of no consequence. On the contrary, they were so significant that there is little controversy about the. Indeed, wilsons presidency constituted a full flowering of the progressive movement, which began under roosevelt and declined under taft. Time permits only a brief mention of the most important developments. Perhaps the most significant one lingering to this day was the creation of the Federal Reserve system. Giving the nation centralized means of controlling the financial system. Cornerstone of the nations Banking Structure unto this day. , it was one of the primary progressive goals, and every student in my classes of progressivism know this, the amount of tariff reduction is subject. An important certainly then, all progressives wanted was reduction of tax and it was difficult to get in a republican dominated era, but wilsons presidency did achieve some. He did not create free trade but did reduce the overall duties to about 25 on average, down from 40 . Another progressive reform came to fruition during his presidency was the enactment of the graduated income tax. First it was approved by the 16th amendment. Then, there was the matter of controlling their monopoly and trust. Another area of progressive concern. Wilson was effective in that area with the passage of the clayton antitrust act, which prohibits the number of unfair trade practices, and also the creation of the federal trade yearssion, which over the has been in operation. The list of his accomplishments could go on. Loans to farmers, workmens compensation to employees maximum hour laws for , certain workers, child labor law, so forth and so on. His impressive list by any reckoning, and indeed, his domestic reform is unsurpassed by any in history save that of Franklin D Roosevelt and perhaps lyndon johnson. Not only that, much of it was owing to wilsons own personal leadership. He believed the chief executive should take initiative and promoting legislative action. And he did. In fact, he even addressed congress in person becoming the first president since john adams to do so. Jefferson had abandoned the practice and no other president s had done so. In short, ladies and gentlemen, in short, if history were to judge Woodrow Wilson solely on his domestic accomplishments, there would be little controversy. It seems certain that he would be acknowledged as an extraordinary successful president. But, but, such is not the case as you probably well know. Wilson himself apparently anticipated in a comment he made shortly before his inauguration, a comment which accurately suggested his disinterest in an general ignorance of the world at large. He said it would be the irony of fate if my administration had to deal chiefly with Foreign Affairs. But, so it was. It may be safely said that wilson, at the time he took office, had really no inkling that the nation would soon be confronted with enormous problems abroad. We dont have time to get into this, there was a smoldering problem with mexico, a situation that his own actions helped exacerbate, but we dont have time to get into it. Was a relatively minor problem. Dont infer from this that wilson was ignorant of the unsettling and threatening conditions that existed in europe at the time. He knew full well the major nations of europe had arranged themselves into alliances that might be provoked into a general european war, but like most americans, he did not believe likely. O be the worlds of the director for the World Peace Foundation in 1913 well summed up the prevailing out issued in america when he said what shall we say about great war in europe . Everthreatening, impending, but which never comes. We shall say it never comes and imminently speaking is never possible. After all, people were reassured this was the 20th century. The barbarity of war was a thing of the past in the modern times of the 20th century. As late as july 1914, you may know it happened the next month. But in july of 1914 the New York Times proclaimed that war is to too dreadful for imagining, and because it is too dreadful , it cannot happen. The twice defeated president ial candidate, then served as wilsons secretary of state, he said that he believed there would be no war while he was secretary of state and no war as long as he lived. But this was the view to which wilson but it was not to be. August of 1914, the thessination of the heir to hungarian throne is seemingly insignificant event in the grand theme of things, but touched off a general european war on a scale thereto for unprecedented in the history of mankind. Most americans are shocked by news of the war and remained smug in their belief that it was really no concern of ours. Reflecting that sentiment, wilson made a proclamation of neutrality, asking the American People to remain neutral in action. S well as in perhaps he believed that was possible, but it was not. It was about this time his first wife ellen died, and about a year and a half later, he name ofa widow by the edith. There were many factors that pulled the u. S. Into the war on the side of the allies. Mainly the british and french. There was a kinship with england, obviously, language, customs, and so forth. Wilson himself was an unabashed anglophile. Than there were traditional ties with france going back to the time of lafayette. In contrast, there was generally a public view of germany. Negative as many viewed it as being overly militaristic. Then the more cynical people thought that our entry into the world was economic, that is to say as time went on, neutrality was weak enough and we could make loans the idea was , that in order to make sure it was repaid, we had to make sure the allies won the war. They are some of the reasons that neutrality eventually proved to be impossible. The ultimate reason was the germans used uboats, submarines that prompted american intervention. Wilson upheld the longstanding treaty of freedom of the seas. Of americans as neutrals to travel and safety on the high seas. To be sure the british viewed the war violated this principle, as well as the germans, but the difference was when the germans , intervened, it often involved the death of human beings. The classic example was the sinking of the liner in may of 1915 of the lusitania. Wilson issued a stern warning to the germans in response, but ultimately it went unheeded and the german high command commenced a policy of warfarected submarine which led to the thinking of , american ships and lost american lives. Wilson took the momentous step of summoning congress to ask for a declaration of war against the central powers. Was that intervention justifiable . Its been historically debated ever since that time. Wilson seemed not fully content with leading the nation into war for nothing more than upholding the freedom of the seas, although he strongly believed in that. Consequently wilson utilizing the rhetorical genius, which he had nurtured throughout his career, rejected into the intervention a degree of high moral purpose. War, he proclaimed, would not be merited to territorial squabbles in europe or to defend our neutral rights, but to be fought for a noble purpose. That was in his worlds words to make the world safe for democracy. Calling upon the American People to sacrifice in the interest of all mankind. He asserted it would be nothing less than a war to end war. That surely was worth fighting for. Once we had entered the war wilson continued to express idealistic goals. The purpose of the war should be to achieve peace without victory, by which he meant a settlement with harsh reparations or annexations of territory. Of justice, peace without equals. In this he outlined in his famous document. A peace plan where he introduced it in january of 1918. Suffice it to say his idealistic views were not shared by the allied powers. As for the war itself, if not it is not without purview to say, without three years of utterly devastating warfare, which had brought both sides to the brink of collapse, america helped to bring the war to a conclusion by november of 1918. And it was soon thereafter that wilson ran afoul of a dictum laid down earlier by abraham lincoln. On one occasion said no man promise what he ought not, lest he be called upon some day to deliver what he cannot. Promisedt turned out, too much. He raised hopes too high. Results proved little short of tragedy. For the moment, that is unknown and wilson is the admonished leader of the altruistic crusade and he found himself around the world as a veritable savior. I remember my professor of diplomatic history years ago made this comment and it stuck with me, that it may well be that no single individual in the history of the world before or such had received extensive adulation as did wilson at the conclusion of the world war. The world that waited so expectantly for the civil relations, destined to be larger largely disappointed. Woodrow wilson, who had been so skillful in constructing his Domestic Program and will had , been so conspiring during this wartime leadership, turned out to be much less skillful in his efforts to construct the peace treaty that he and his idealistic supporters desire. Understandable in the motivation, have been adjudged mistakes by many historians. The first mistake was something to be known as the october appeal, congressional elections. Wilson had urged people to be nonpartisan during the war. To not become themselves as democrats republicans, he said politics was adjourned. We will not be democrats or republicans. In october of 1918, a congressman would support him and what was going to be a peace discussion. To vote on a treaty when it finally came, she felt she needed democratic support. So he appealed to americans to elect a democratic congress. He was saying politics is adjourned. Now he is saying he wants a democratic congress. As luck would happen the worst happened and republicans controlled the congress after fall elections in 1918. It backfired. The second mistake is the choice of the american delegation that began in january of 1919. No ranking republican and no senator was appointed to that five person committee. Probably because the obvious choice would have been henry lodge, who was the Senate Foreign relations committee, with whom he and wilson shared a mutual detestation. A third mistake most likely involved in most important member of that commission was wilson himself. Who knows what it was not. Many thought later he was better off for his daytoday discussions and acrimony that occurred at the paris conference. He shouldve been more removed and detached in washington. He did not need to go. But, he decided that he should be there to exert influence on this conference. He also decided, and some others mightve thought this would be a , to have all the allied capitals in london, rome and paris and in each case he received a tumultuous reception. Some had thought that this only increased wilsons righteousness, his moralistic view of himself, and it may have encouraged him to think that he would achieve that longing to do you moral work. But then the conference convened, and what a moment in World History it was. Attention focused on the representatives of the major powers of the big four. U. S. Representatives are set by the moralistic wilson. Frances vice agent, an admitted atheist. An acknowledged womanizer and the prime minister. There they were, in a very, very famous photograph from that conference. The new york newspaper described the drama of that moment when it wrote, 6 million young men lie in premature graves, for old men four old men sit in paris partitioning the earth. The paris peace conference was an education for them. Remarked onarked one occasion that god gave us his 10 commandments and we broke them. Wilson gave us his 14 points grade we shall see. Wilson quickly found out that the other World Leaders were not nearly so altruistic as he and that they were just as intractable in their views. Knowing wilson, that is saying something. That how could they have been disinterested given the enormous losses they had suffered. The United States suffered losses, but it was simply enormous. These countries in contrast to , wilsons desire for this moralistic world peace, there were guarantees that the world would be made safer. The french wanted to make france safe for frenchmen. They were interested in tangible guarantees. So, contrary to his nature, wilson was forced to compromise notably on the matter of reparations against germany. But he made these concessions only after ensuring that they there would be built into the treaty, the treaty and versailles, for visions of the establishment for an International Mechanism for which future problems could be solved and he believed there would be future problems. This was to be the league of nations. The treaty that wilson brought back to the u. S. From a the conference in july of 1919, contained the charter. There in laid the problem, specifically the portion of that covenant, the constitution that lay article 10, which guarantee that territorial integrity of the member nations. Thereby him playing a security arrangement. Which is opponents claimed could force the u. S. Into war automatically. Against its will or against its best interest. So by the time wilson returned with the treaty to be approved by the senate, those opponents lodgeain by henry cabot were already organized and were determined not to accept it in its original form. Some members in the senate were willing to vote for it, providing reservations that were added to provide americas freedoms of action by article 10. There was another group composed of the isolationists who wanted no part of the treaty on any circumstance. And together, these two groups, the large group and the irreconcilables constituted a sufficient number of votes to block the approval because they have to be approved by two thirds of the senate. Here it was that wilson made his most serious mistake of all, that is in his failure to compromise with the large group. Having yielded on some points in the paris negotiation, he was unwilling to compromise further. He cannot believe it would defeat his precious treaty. Which would in his words break the heart of the world. It became clear to him that the treaty was in trouble. He was furious that anyone would oppose him. On one occasion the french ambassador suggested he should consider compromising in france and france should agree to whatever changes need to be made. Wilson said, i shall consent to nothing. The senate must take his medicine. His attitude towards his opponents in the senate was one contempt and total opposition. He delivered one of the most remarkable outbursts ever recorded. It was his commentary delivered on the subject to a group of his own democratic supporters speaking privately. He said just listen to this there is nothing i would like to do so much as the same as to say parliamentary in language what i think of the people opposing that treaty because of all the blind and little provincial people that are the most contemptible. It is not their character that i have contempt for, but for their minds. They have not even got good working imitation of minds. They remind me of a man with a head that is not really a head, but just a not put there to keep from rambling out. They have no use. If i could say what i think about them, it would be picturesque. With modern times against them, they are going to have the most conspicuously contemptible names in history. If i did not despise them i would be sparring for them. Despise them he might, but he had to acknowledge that as time went on the opponents of the treaty were gaining the upper hand and defeat of the treaty was inevitable if not amended. What was wilson to do . The approach he took was one that came naturally to the mind of the presbyterian president ial preacher. He would take his case directly to the public. The people would support him. They would sustain his superior moral position and it would arguably bring pressure to bear from the senate so strong that their will could not be resisted. How to do it . Just imagine wilson on television or radio, alas, no radio or tv. It mightve been invented, but commercial radio was not in operation quite yet. So you cannot do that. Certainly no tv. What could he do . His plan, which called for a strenuous speaking campaign, was to travel around the country to present the case to the people. His doctors and his closest advisers discouraged this, people think it would be a physical constraint to someone who was never strong and had already exerted himself to near exhaustion at the paris conference. Wilson insisted upon taking this and says, i must go, i promised our soldiers when i asked them to take up arms that it was the war to end wars. If i did not do all in my power to put the treaty into effect i would be a slacker. Uponbarked a bond his crusade to bring the word of International Cooperation to his american congregation. In this endeavor Woodrow Wilson was truly in his element. Oratoryers lessons on were at full in city after city play. In city after city he delivered speeches which were capitalized by columnerized lucidity and matchless warmed by the conviction. His message that he delivered in colorado in 1919, speaking with what was manifested he said, again, and again, mothers who have lost their sons have taken and have not only shed tears but have prayed god to bless me. Why should they pray god to bless me . Ive eyes the congress to create this in which lead to the death of their sons. I ordered their sons overseas. I consented to their sons being put in the most difficult part of the battle line and that death was certain. He called in the blessings of god upon me. Because he said, they believed that their boys died for something that transcends. They believe and rightly believe that their sons saved the liberty of the world. Well it a vintage wilson , performance. No doubt effective in promoting dream, but the strain proved to great as his doctors had feared it would. On that very evening that he delivered that speech in pueblo, he collapsed. They carried him back to washington, d. C. Back in a train. He had suffered a stroke, which left him partially paralyzed for the rest of his life. He remained in almost total seclusion inside the white house for the remainder of his term. Being closely monitored by his wife. He that wordas spread that he was totally incapacitated, that he was insane. This was a time in which mrs. Roosevelt became the first woman president. She was crucial in gaining access to her husband. In truth, wilson was too weak to to lead. He was not too weak to obstruct. Came fortreaty finally a vote in the senate and it was considered in two forms. With a large preservations added. The changes, alterations to amend it. Wilson set forth the word to vote against it in amended form. Those votes together with irreconcilables defeated the treaty. When the vote was taken on the unamended version, the version that wilson wanted, wilson voted wilsons supporters voted for it, but they were defeated by the irreconcilables and the large reservation us. So the treaty went down to defeat in his level. The United States simply signed a separate Peace Agreement with germany. And so wilsons grand design for world peace through international was defeated. Defeat for which wilson himself, because of his inability to compromise was fair and part of the blame. As he once said, he said, i will tell you i am descended from scottish presbyterian. That wilson presidency came to an end with his dream shattered and the man himself thoroughly defeated. Broken both in body and spirit. In conclusion, let us attempt to evaluate the presidency of which Woodrow Wilson had in which appraisals tend to vary over time. Often influenced by contemporary concerns. Historians give more emphasis to issues such as the subjects of views on women and blacks. Regarding the former, it seems a fair generalization to say that wilson, in his earlier career, as i indicated, said the prevailing views of women is admirable, but secondclass citizens, undeserving of the right to vote. But to his credit his views on the issue evolved. Though he was offended by their stridency. The following year in 1918 he spoke out in favor of womens rights, specifically in support of a votings rights amendment. It was pending approval in the senate. Placing heavy emphasis on the battle of world war i, he declared, we have made partners of women in this war. Shall we admit them only to a partnership of suffering and sacrifice and not to a partnership of privilege and right . Despite his support, that bill was rejected. Eventually had passed and went into effect shortly before wilsons term expired. Wilsons position on black wives has drawn even more scrutiny. Princeton university with which he was so closely associated as a student and professor, willing to remove his name from their school of public policy. Their principle of trustees their board of trustees called wilson a racist after he had been integrated for decades. There is evidence that wilson held views that would be deemed racist. He allegedly told one black civil rights leader, segregation is not humiliation, benefit and ought to be so regarded by you gentlemen. It was also reported that he was a fan of the White Supremacy film, birth of a nation, wilson called it history written with lightning. The truth i suspect is that wilson held fairly close to the segregationist views of his family. The time and place in which he was born and raised, but that assessment does little to garnish his image in modern times. You are not focused on domestic issues such as these, but foreign policies. Here accounts tended to very. The result has been a decline in his reputation and the isolationist 1920s, but a resurrection of his status in the postworld war ii era that was reflected in the establishment of the united nations, by then Defunct League of nations. We can clearly see it dissented at the league of nations. Disillusionment with involvement in vietnam brought another decline in american status. American involvement in iraq and afghanistan indicate that wilsons ideas of internationalism still influence american foreignpolicy, for better or for worse. Where does wilson scholarship stand today . What is the prevailing interpretation . Some of the more sophisticated and previous ones that it allows for the ratings in specific categories, not just overall. Characteristics of wilsons complexity was rated first among all president s in the category of idealism. Not surprisingly, dead last in the category of flexibility. In other areas, for example, strength of leadership, activism, significance of a congressman, seven. And general prestige was rated six. Behind washington, lincoln, jefferson, fdr. My own opinion, i think he was a man of extraordinary intellectual gifts, undeniable integrity high morality, desirable traits. His domesticy program was enlightened and , expanded the program of the betterment of individuals in society and paving the way for further reform under fdr and his successors. His Foreign Policy was idealistic in many ways, but history seems to have indicated a necessity for the kind of International Cooperation that she advocated. World, not only does his view seem desirable, but essential. The question is how far should the nation go in that direction . So much for the interpretation. We would be well to end it by noting that none of this controversy would have bothered wilson. He went to his grave in 1924 secure in his faith, and in the knowledge he had acted as he must have acted in right as he saw it. Predestination. His own words seem to be an appropriate conclusion. Today is armistice day, 19 23, the First Anniversary of the end of the war. He had lived a reclusive existence. Very rarely did he venture into public view. Occasionally he could be seen at the window, but seldom did he go outside. However, acasion, small group of admirers and curiosity seekers had gathered in front of his house and perhaps to their surprise, wilson emerged and addressed them briefly. His comments were worth quoting not only because of what they reveal about his view at the time but also because of the , tone and the spirit that was so quintessentially wilson. And i might add, these were the last words he would ever speak in public. He died three months later on february 3 1924. , this is what he said to that group. I cannot refrain from saying it, i am not one of those who have the least anxiety about the triumph of principles for which the i have stood. I have seen fools resist problems before, and i have seen the destruction, such as will come upon, utter destruction and contempt. We shall prevail is a sure as thats god reigns. Thank you. From George Washington to george w. Bush, every sunday, we feature the presidency, our weekly series exploring the president s, their policies and legacies. Youre watching American History tv, all weekend, every weekend on cspan three. The first to be president ial campaign ad aired during the 1952 contest between republican 20 eisenhower and republican adlai stevenson. Ads have been essential to every president ial campaign since. Here is a look. It is time for an honest look at the problem of order in the United States. Dissent is a necessary ingredient of change, but in a system of government that provides for peaceful change, there is no cause that justifies resort to violence. Let us recognize the first of a right of every american is to be free from domestic violence, so i pledge to you we shall have order in the United States. [laughter] if you like politics, you can find plenty ads, debates, and speeches on our website, cspan. Org. Historian and author molly mcmoore discusses her book. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org]