Presented soave complex a character. We are polled periodically to rate the president s. Wilson receives a high rating. A that embraces only lincoln, select company that embraces only lincoln, washington and franklin d. Roosevelt, in addition sometimes to Woodrow Wilson. There have been dissenters, of course. A writer that claimed wilson was not one of the world 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. Wilsons greatness seems to come grudgingly. An acknowledgment of his accomplishments without an appreciation of his personal attributes. In attempting to assess this extraordinarily complex individual by placing it threefold, first to survey his early years to gain an understanding of his philosophy. Second, to examine the significant events of his presidency, especially in the controversial area of diplomacy. Third to discuss briefly some of , the changing historical evaluations of his presidency. Wilson, Thomas Woodrow wilson, or tawny was born in stanton, virginia, the son of a military general. In the daughter of a presbyterian minister. Both the wilsons and the woodrow were emigrated to america. The future present president had no americanborn grandparents. All came from the British Isles and all were presbyterians. Shortly after his family moved to augusta, georgia, he goes to columbia, south carolina. His childhood was not a happy one by any means. He was a weak, frail, homely mamas boy. Ghed at he did not set foot in the school until he was 14 years old. In later years he could only take refuge in jokes about his appearance, particularly about i am not a star, there are others more handsome by far. Perhaps the wilson familys black butler gave the most telling description of wilson as a boy. An old young man, said the servant. His dad would say to me, dont you let him get into fights. But there was no danger of that. He was not the fighting kind. Well, what kind was he . A number of adjectives apply to him. Reserved, truly ambitious. Despite poor health in a sheltered existence sheltered by mother and father, wilson embarq ked for princeton. 1875 began his college education. He became increasingly interested in history and government. All the while he became convinced he was destined for great things in this world but god had a definite mission for him. He practiced his oratory by speaking to the trees and by declaiming in front of a mirror. So sure he was a success that he had a number of calling cards that were inscribed, Thomas Woodrow wilson, senator from virginia. It was that time that he let it be known that he should have a more dignified name then tommy, so you should be called Woodrow Wilson. His collegiate career seems that be devoid of frivolity, unless you count the fact he had his tenor voice in the glee club. As for other diversions, wilson had little interest. The classroom was his natural home and he proved to be a very good student. His senior thesis was accepted for publication by a leading journal of that period. The editor that accepted that was henry cabot log. Lodge. You will hear more about him 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. He felt it was the surest way 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. 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 belle whose background was as , presbyterian as the wilsons work. Wilson settled into the gross of academia. Teaching at wesley in and then 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 continue to grow. He was offered but declined a number of college presidency. However, when the presidency of princeton became available in 1902, the University Board of trustees provided only one name, Woodrow Wilson. He accepted the unanimous offer of that position. As president of princeton he did not institute any significant reforms. His tenure as president of princeton while generally 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 life. He clearly wanted a political career, so he could fulfill a longing to do immortal work. In 1910 he ran for, and which was surprising, governor of new jersey. To the prize of many who had voted for him, especially the democratic party, wilson turned out to be very progressive as governor and was generally perceived as a conservative. In any case, wilson achieved a National Reputation as a reformer in new jersey and to stints in 1912, when the president ial party was searching for a president ial nominee, returned at length 46 ballots at the convention i4 turning to that scholar who was still a novice politician, Woodrow Wilson. The circumstances of the election proved the Republican Party was split nearly down the middle between the incumbent of william taft, and the incomparable former president theodore roosevelt, who having failed to get republican nominations, ran anyway as the nominee of the progressive, or sometimes called the bull most moosegos all party. The two chief contenders that soontobe wilson. Roosevelt voted for progressives. The main difference was in their attitudes towards the big issues at the time, which was how to deal with monopolies and trust. They differed mainly in that, where as roosevelt believed that monopolies were not bad, but had to be regulated. He believed in regulation. Wilson believed that monopoly was, in it of itself, bad, but 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 was elected the 28th president of the United States, to embark upon one of the most significant administrations in the history of that office. Before we turn to an examination of the crucial events in his tumultuous years, we should look at the forces of which influenced wilsons development, and which worked to a greater or less degree to determine his performance as president. There was the fact that wilson was a southerner. He was the first person from that region to occupy the white zachary taylor, the civil war. When it was pointed out later and he seemed to think of himself that he was not a southerner since he lived only a small part of his life in the south. Wilson liked to play with words and he replied, yes, which we must remember a mans routing is more important than his leniant. Aside from his accent, which he retained, and his love of southern food, this influence can be seen in a number of ways. Most significantly was his attitude towards blacks. We could consider him a paternalist. Like many upperclass whites, he treated blacks with a condescending affection. Inferior, but as amusing rather than menacing. Towards women he felt they should remain on their proverbial pedestal. Opposing, for much of his career, that change, but much of his career he was opposed to womens suffrage and their change. Wilson was a product of his southern upbringing. Wilson does not seem to have been overly influenced i by southern is him. Ism. His formative years were spent in the south in the turbulent era of destruction. 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, butterscotch but a scotch presbyterian who was born in virginia. That may be putting it strongly, but that writer is correct in suggesting that it is far more important than southern sm and motivating wilsons behavior. That fact of that motivation, without question, was religion. Presbyterianism seemed to be on most literally in his blood. This transferral came from his father and it may be upon the relationship between those two and woodrow and his father. It was an exceedingly close relationship during wilsons formative years. Suffice it to say that Young Woodrow virtually works as a man who hehiped the man referred to as my incomparable father. Elder wilson was much that the boy was not. Strong, handsome, forceful, the impact on his son was all of enormous. In particular, did the reverend mr. Wilson press upon young tommy the spoken word. Its a lesson that the future president learned well. Some might say too well. Indeed, expression became a single characteristic of Woodrow Wilson as it had been of his father. From his father did Young Woodrow derived his religious believes. He accepted the doctrines of presbytery and totally, including the calvinistic idea of predestination. Unlike many young persons, and intellectual sorts such as himself, wilson never went through a time 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 wore out 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. Mankind, he believed, live not only by the promise of god under his to credence. His decrees. That god had ordered the universe from the beginning and got controlled history and use men for his own purposes. From such beliefs came a sure sense of destiny. It might be more enlightening to let wilson himself speak on this matter. My life would not be worth living if 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 so far as they understand. That seems to be presumptuous and it sets their understanding is the understanding of the universe. I am sorry for such people. On another occasion he said, i believe in Divine Providence, if i did not, i would go crazy. Another time he brought a quick end to a discussion about religion, so far as religion is concerned, argument is adjourned. I need not belabor this point any further. Wilsons religion was not simply he tried out on sundays or on other appropriate occasions. This is the point. It was his religious commitment which animated his every action. Public and private actions, his Guiding Principles in life, and should be everyones Guiding Principles that he should be to show you are not afraid of anybody except god and his judgment. According to wilsons behavior, whether within his own personal behavior or within nations, was predicated upon a steadfast, and shameful belief in Divine Providence and upon his ability to correctly interpret that providence. Another of his most prominent biographers wrote a book about Woodrow Wilson in which he said, whenever wilson was committed to a certain idea, he felt that satan was his enemy. Whether this attitude was to have we will see this and do courts. In due course. Especially with regard to the conduct of foreign affairs. What was this manlike, surely he was a man of extraordinary complexity to an extent that he is almost impossibly categorized. In analyzing his personality, contradictions abound. He was in many ways and intellectual, a man of ideas. His approach to the world was not analytical as you would expect, more idealistic. 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 myself when i think of how few friends i have. Plenty of people often me their friendship partly because i am reserved and shy and partly because i have a narrow taste in friends. I reject the offer in almost every case. 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 is that as a man that was by his own admission highly emotional. It seemed to almost all observers to be cold, aloof and even arrogant. So cold someone told him, he gives me the creeps. The time i met him he said something to me and i didnt know whether god or him was talking. Wilson resented such characterizations, to command having said that i am only a highly developed intellectual machine. There is more to me than that. By his own assessments he claimed as though he felt that a volcano was often running within him, ready to burst. My constant embarrassment, these restrained emotions inside of me. He restrained them so well that he was perceived almost universally as cold and aloof. Now, he could command respect, no doubt about that, especially after he became after world war i the embodiment of what was considered to be a great noble cause. But genuine affection was something else. I want the people to let me, love me, but i suppose they never will. He was right. This was a complex character of a man who would be the nation of 1930 to 1931 for a critical time. Lets turn to an examination of wilsons presidency. We can deal fairly quickly with the domestic aspect of his administration, which is not to imply his accomplishments in this area were of no consequence. They are so significant that there is little controversy about them. Wilsons presidency constituted a full flowering of the progressive movement. Which began under the roosevelt. Eudora roosevelt. The achievements were endearing in their consequences. Time permits only a great 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 control of the financial system. It remains the cornerstone of the nations Banking Structure unto this day. Then it was one of the primary progressive goals and every student of progressivism in my class thought of this. It was a matter of tariff reduction. Boring kind of a subject. Then all progressives thought of tariff and it was difficult to get it in a republican dominated era. The Wilson Administration did achieve it. He did not create free trade by any means, but he did reduce the overall duties to about 25 on average, which is down from 40 . Another progressive reform came to fruition during his presidency was the enactment of the first graduated income tax. 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 helpful in that area. The antitrust act prohibits a number of unfair trade practices. Also the creation of the federal trade commission, which still, over the years, has been in operation. The list of his accomplishments could go on, giving loans to farmers or workers compensation. Maximum hour laws for certain workers, child labor law, so forth and so on. Its an impressive list by any reckoning. His record is unsurpassed by any, except Franklin D Roosevelt and perhaps lyndon johnson. Much of it was owing to wilsons own personal leadership. He believed the chief executive should take initiative and promoting legislative action. He did. He addressed congress in person becoming the first president since john adams to do so. Jefferson had practice and no other president s having 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. The problem and the comment he made shortly before his inauguration, a comment that showed his ignorance in the world at large showed that 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 no inkling that the nation would be confronted with the enormous problem. There was the smoldering problem with mexico, a situation that his own actions helped to exacerbate her and we time to get into it. But in any case, it was a relative problem. Dont infer from this that wilson was ignorant of the threatening conditions that existed in europe at the time. He knew full well that the major nations of europe arranged themselves to align systems that might be provoked into a general european war. Like most americans, he did not believe such a war to be lightly. The words of the director for the World Peace Foundation in up theme top summed prevailing attitude in america when he said, what should we say about great war in europe . Another threat, ever impending. We should say that it will never come. 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. In july of 1914 the New York Times proclaimed that war is to dreadful for imagining. And because it is too dreadful it cannot happen. William Jennings Bryan 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 ascribed, but it was not to be because august of 1914, the assassination of the heir to the hungarian throne is seemingly insignificant event in the grand theme of things, but touched off a general european war on a scale unprecedented in the history of mankind. Most americans are shocked by the war. They will set it was no concern of ours. Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality, asking the American People to remain neutral. Perhaps he believed that was possible, but it was not. It was about this time that his first wife ellen died. And about a year and a half later he married a widow by the name of edith. There were many factors that pulled the u. S. Into the war on the side of the allies. There was a kinship with england, obviously language, customs and so forth. Wilson was an unabashed anglo, then there were traditional ties with france going back to the time of lafayette. In contrast, there was generally a negative public view of germany. 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 , as time went on, neutrality was weak enough and the idea was that in order to make sure it was repaid, we had to make sure the allies won the war. Thate factors. 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 american tradition of freedom of the seas, spanning the country. It was a constant. The right of americans as neutrals to travel and safety on in safety on the high seas. To be sure the british viewed the war violated this principle, british during 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 british liner lusitania in may of 1915. Wilson issued a warning, but ultimately the warning went unheeded and the german high 1970nd in 1970 nation put out the unrestricted submarine warfare. Wilson summoned a special session of congress to ask for a declaration of war against the central powers. Was that intervention justifiable . Historians debated it. Wilson itself a he seemed not fully content with leading the nation into war for nothing more than upholding the principle of freedom of the seas, although he strongly believed in that. Consequently wilson, using the rhetorical genius that he had nurtured throughout his career, injected into our intervention a degree of high moral poor bit purpose. Proclaimed, would not be to settle territorial squabbles in europe, nor to defend our neutral rights, but it was being fought for a noble purpose indeed, that was to make the world safe for democracy. Calling upon the American People to sacrifice in the interest of a Better Future of all mankind he asserted that it would be nothing less than a war to end war. And that surely was worth fighting for. The once we have entered war, wilson expressed similarly idealistic goals. The purpose was to achieve a peace without victory which he meant a settlement without harsh reparations or settlements of territory, essentially peace among equals. He outlined this in the 14 hents, a peace plan introduced in january 1918. Suffice to say that his idealistic views were not shared by the allied powers. Itself, it is not without purview to discuss military aspects. After three years of utterly devastating warfare, which bought both sides, the americans helped bring the war to any to a conclusion. It was soon thereafter that dictumran afoul of the laid down years earlier by abraham lincoln, who one occasion warrant let no man province what he ought not lest he be called upon some to deliver what he cannot. Wilson turned out, promised too high,and raised hopes too with results that proved short of tragic. For the moment that was unknown and wilson as the acknowledged leader of the altruistic crusade found himself failed throughout the world as a savior. I remember be, and my professor of death of diplomatic history made this comment, that no signal individual before or since has received such extensive adulation as did wilson at the conclusion of the great war. Was destined to be largely disappointed, because as it turned out, Woodrow Wilson who had been so skillful in constructing his Domestic Program and so inspiring during his wartime leadership turned out to be much less skillful in his efforts to construct the peace treaty that he and his ideas idealistic support is desired. He began to make a series of decisions which, although perhaps understandable in motivation, have been adjudged mistakes by many historians. The first mistake, believed to be a mistake is something that came to be known as the october appeal, october 19 18. It was the congressional elections. To urged people during be nonpartisan during the war, he had urged people not to think as democrats or republicans, we are all americans. In october 1918, needing a congress that would support him and what was going to be the discussion and the vote on he needed, he felt democrat support, so he appealed to americans to elect a democratic prong congress. The public was outraged saying that politics was adjourned and now he is saying i want a democratic congress. As luck would have it, the worst happened and the republicans controlled congress after the fall elections. So, it backfired. The second mistake was the choice of the american delegation to the peace conference. No ranking republican and no senator was appointed to that five person committee, probably because the obvious choice would , whobeen Henry Cabot Lodge was the chairman of the Senate Foreign relations committee. With whom he and wilson shared a mutual detestation. The third mistake, most likely involved the most important member of that commission, wilson himself. Why did people think it was a mistake . Not,nows whether it was or but many said he would have been better off not to be involved in paris and in the daytoday discussions and the acrimony that occurred at the paris conference. He should have been more removed and should have done better in in in washington. That he should be there to exert influence on this conference. Decided, and some again thought this might be a mistake, to go to congress to all of and to all of the allied capitals, and in each case he received a tumultuous greeting. Some thought that this only righteousnessons ,nd moralistic view of himself and it may have encouraged him to think that he was going to achieve that longing to do immortal work. But then the conference convened, and what a moment it was. Attention was focused on the representatives of the big four. By you thatntatives by wilson, england, by david louis dejoy urged, lloyd george and italy by its prime minister. And in a verye, famous photograph from that conference. Describedrk newspaper the drama when it wrote 6 million young men lie in premature graves and four old men sit in paris partitioning the earth. Conference was an education to wilson and a better one. All of the other Leaders Trust him distrusted him remarked that god gave us 10 commandments and we broke them. Wilson gave us his 14 points, we shall see. Wilson found out that the other World Leaders were not as altruistic as he and just as intractable in in their views which is saying something. But how indeed could they have been disinterested, given the enormous losses that they had suffered . But the United States had suffered law for cash losses as well. The losses suffered by the british and germans were enormous. So, these countries in contrast to wilsons desire for this idealistic world peace, they wanted guarantees that the world would be made safer them. They were not concerned about world safe for democracy, the french wanted to make the world safe for frenchmen, so they were interested in cap intangible guarantees. Contrary as it was, wilson was forced to compromise on the matter of reparations against germany. He made these concessions only after ensuring that they would be built into the treaty, the treating of versailles, provisions for the establishment of an International Mechanism by which furniture future problems would be solved. This was to be the league of nations. The treaty that wilson brought back to the u. S. From the conference in july 1919 contained the league charter, or covenant, and therein lay the problem, specifically that that 10, whichon, article guaranteed the territorial integrity of its member nations, implying a mutual security arrangement, which, so his opponents claim, isolationist types, claimed could force the u. S. Into war automatically against its well or or best entrance. By the time wilson returned with the treaty treaty to be approved, those opponents led by Henry Cabot Lodge were determined not to accept it. Some members of the senate, where memorizing willing to vote for provided certain amendments were reservations were added to ensure freedom of action on article 10. There was another group composed of arch isolationists, the irreconcilables that wanted no part of the treaty in any circumstance. Together these groups, the lodge group and irreconcilables constituted enough to block its approval because treaties have to be approved by two thirds vote of the senate. His it was that wilson made most serious mistake of all, and that is in his failure to compromise with the lodge group. Ining yielded on some points the paris negotiations he was unwilling to compromise further. He could not believe that the senate would defeat his treaty, which would break the heart of the world. It became clear to him that the treaty was in trouble and he was furious that anyone who opposes me in that, i will crush. The french ambassador suggest that wilson should consider compromising and france would agree to whatever changes would be made. Mr. Son up replied ambassador, i will consent to nothing, the senate must take its medicine. His attitude was one of other shutter contempt and utter contempt and opposition. My moat d one of one of the most president ial outbursts recorded. It was his commentary delivered on the subject to a group of his own supporters speaking privately to them, but obviously it was recorded, and he said, there is nothing i would like to do so much as really to say in irliamentary language what think, because of all the blind and little provincial people, they are the most provincial. It is not their character, but for their minds. Gottennot in good good imitations of a mind. They remind me of a man that is not a head, gestate knot plot there. Why the lord should have not allowed them to ravel out, i do not know. They are of no use. Whole impulse of modern time is against them and they are going to have the most conspicuously contemptible names in history. If i did not despise them, i would be sorry for them. Might,espise them he that he had to acknowledge as time went on that if opponents of the treaty were giving the upper getting the upper hand, defeat was inevitable. 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. Superiord sustain his moral position and bring pressure to bear upon the senate so strong that there will could not be resisted. Well, how to do it . , just imagine wilson on television or on radio, but alas, no radio or tv. Invented, but commercial radio was not in operation. That, could not do certainly no tv. Called forhich strenuous speaking campaign, which was to travel around the country to present the case for the people. His doctors and closest advisors discourage this. People feared it might be a crushing strain to someone who had never been strong and had already exerted himself to near exhaustion at the paris conference. Wilson would have none of this and he insisted on undertaking this tour. I must go, i promised our soldiers when i asked them to take up arms that it was a war to end wars. If i do not do all of my and my power to put the treaty in effect, i will be a slacker. Word ofked to bring the International Cooperation and the league of nations in the treaty of versailles and bring that to his american congregation. Inthis endeavor he was truly his element. And oratory lessons brought into full play. In city after city he delivered speeches which were in the words of one asked observer assurancezed by calm and warmed by the superb eloquence of conviction. Typical was is very moving message that he delivered in pueblo, colorado in late september. Speaking with what was manifest again, again and mothers who have lost their sons and friends and come to me and not only shed tears upon my hands but have said god bless you, mr. President. Why should they pray god to bless me. I advised the congress to create the situation that led to the death of their sons. I order their sons overseas. I put their sons and the most difficult part of the battle line. Why then should they weep upon my hands and call down the blessings of god upon me . Because they believe that their boys died for something that vastly transcends any of the immutable immediate palpable objects. They rightly believe that their sons saved the liberty of the world. Well, it was a vintage wilson performance, no doubt effective in promoting his cherished dream, but the strain proved too great as the doctors feared it word it would. On the very evening he delivered that speech, he collapsed. They carried him back to washington on a dark train. He had suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. He liked he remained in total seclusion for the rest of his term with access monitored by and so isolated was he that he was that word spread that he was totally incapacitated, insane and some believed he had died. Also this is the time that the senate claimed that ms. Is roosevelt became the first women woman president. Certainly, she was crucial in gaining access to her husband. Too weak tolson was lead, unfortunately for the treaty of versailles, he was not too weak to obstruct. When the treaty finally came to a vote, it was considered with the Lodge Reservations added, the changes and alterations to amend it. From his sick bed wilson sent forward the word to vote against it. Those together with you and rick irreconcilables defeated the treaty. When the vote was taken on the unamended version, the version that wilson wanted, his partisans voted for it, but they were defeated by the combined vote of the irreconcilables and lodge reservationist, so the treaty was never ratified by the United States senate. The United States simply signed a separate Peace Agreement with germany. Grand designns through world peace suffered a defeat through wilson himself, because of his inability to compromise, must bear a part of the blame. As he once said, i tell you frankly, i am descended from scottish presbyterians and they are somewhat solid and therefore somewhat stubborn. And so the presidency came to an end with his dreams shattered and the man himself thoroughly defeated, broken in body and spirit. In conclusion, let us try to evaluate the presidency of william wilson. It was inevitably true that appraisals tend to vary. Often influenced largely by contemporary concerns. Historians tend to give more emphasis to issues such as the subjects on views of women and blacks. It seems ahe former, fair generalization to say that wilson in his earlier career, as i indicated, shared the prevailing views of women as admirable but secondclass citizens, undeserving of the right to vote. To his credit, his views evolved, although he was offended by their picketing of the white house. In 1918, he spoke out in favor of womens rights, specifically in support of a Voting Rights amendment that was then pending approval in the senate. Placing heavy emphasis on the valor of women during 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, not to a partnership of privilege and right . Despite his support, that bill was rejected. Eventually, it passed and went into effect shortly before wilsons term expired. His position on black rights has drawn more scrutiny in recent times with princeton university, that school he was so closely associated, voting to remove his name from their school of public policy. Decision,uncing that the board of trustees called wilson a racist who segregating the nation after it had been integrated for decades. There is evidence that wilson held views that would today be deemed races, for example he allegedly told one black civil rights leader segregation is not humiliation, but a benefit. It ought to be so regarded by you gentlemen. Wasas also reported that he he watched birth of the nation and called it history written with lightning. The truth i suspect was that wilson hewed close to the prevailing views of his time and place, the time and place in which he was born and raised, the late 19 and early 20th centuries, but that assessment does little to burnish his image. Over the years, most of the criticism is focused not on such domestic issues but on his foreign policy. Veryaccounts attend to according to different attitudes towards american interrelation. Hiss a decline in reputation but a resurrection of his status postworld war ii in the establishment and the united descendents lineal of his league of nations. We can clearly see it as a descendent of the league of nation. Disillusion with american involvement in vietnam brought another decline in status, but american involvement and other farflung areas indicate that ideas of internationalism influence American Foreign policy for battery were better or worse. Where does wilson scholarship stand today, what is the prevailing interpretation . The most recent poll to my knowledge one of the most recent ones, is somewhat more sophisticated because it allows for specific categories not just overall. Characteristic of wilsons complexity, he was rated first in the category of idealism. Last inrisingly, dead the category of flexibility. In other areas he rated generally well, for example strength of leadership, faith. Activism, seven, significance of accomplishment, seven. In achievement, he ranked sixth. My own opinion very quickly for what its worth is pretty conventional. He was a man of extraordinary undeniablel gifts, integrity, high morality, desirable traits and everyone and anyone. Unquestionably his Domestic Program greatly expanded the principle of government activity for individuals and thereby paving the way for fdr and his successors. His foreignpolicy was idealistic in many ways, but history seems to have indicated necessity for the kind of International Cooperation that he advocated. In todays world, perhaps more than ever, do his larger view seem more desirable, essential, but the question is how far should the nation go in that direction. For various interpretations, it would be well to end that none of this wouldic controversy likely bother wilson himself. Calvinist that he was, he went innight went to his grave 1924 securing the knowledge that he acted as must as he mustve acted. His own words are an appropriate conclusion. Day, 1923, armistice the fourth anniversary of the end of the war. He was outside his house in washington where he had lived a reclusive existence since leaving the presidency. Very rarely did he venture into public view. Occasionally he could be seen at the window, but seldom did he go outside. On this occasion, a small group of admirers and curiosity seekers had gathered in front of his house and, perhaps to their surprise, wilson emerged and address them briefly. His comments were worth quoting, not only because of what they reveal about his view in time, but also because of the tone and the spirit that was so quintessentially wilson. The i might add, these were last words that he was able to speak in public. He died three months later 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 principles for which i have stood. I have seen fools resist providence before, and that led to their destruction, such as which will come upon my opponents, utter destruction and contempt. We shall prevail as sure as god reigns. Thank you. [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] the first tv president ial campaign ads aired during the 19 52 contest between dwight d. Eisenhower and adlai stevenson. And have been essential to every president ial campaign since. Heres 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 that the first civil right of every american is to be free from domestic violence, so i pledge to you that we shall have order in the United States. [laughter] if you like politics, you can find archival ads, debates, and Campaign Speeches on our website, cspan. Org. Fall, American History tv is airing coverage of president ial campaigns. Next, the second debate from the 1992 campaign between president bush, governor bill clinton, and ross perot. Format,town hall style the candidates took questions from undecided voters. Among the topics, the Foreign Trade deficit, reforming health care, and the solvency of social security. Governor clinton defeated president bush in the general election, winning 43 of the popular vote to the president s 37 . Ross perot finished with 19 . This debate is from virginia. Ms. Simpson good evening and welcome to the second of three president ial debates between the major candidates for president of the United States. The candidates are the republican nominee, president george bush, the independent, ross perot, and governor bill clinton, the democratic nominee. My name is Carole Simpson and i will be the moderator for tonights 90minute debate coming to you from the campus of the university of richmond in rg