Johnson his meeting with mexicos president at cooperative dam project awarding a medal of honor and celebrating the holidays with his family and hisd8 texas zvranch. She buffered access as she recovered from a massive stroke in 1919. Through our complete American History tv schedule go to cspan. Org. Each week american artifacts takes to museums an historic places. He visited wood row wilsons house wheresthe 28th president retired in 1921 after leading the nation through world war i and he died three years later. Objects that provide a window into world war i as wilson experienced it. Ht the United States entered the war on april 6th, 1917 as an ally of britain, france and russia. Zv 2 million american soldiers saw combat in france. This home is the home to this home is the home to which theya they left the white house in 1921. And wilsons acquired it in december mf 1920 knowing that they would be leaving the white house and decided to remain in washington, d. C. Zv it takes us back 100 years ago ago. Sometimes ve the illusion that people in history were very much like the war bounty clothes oru something. When they thought differently about themselves and about americas role when society was q÷u and. Here we are almost 100 years from the date of the United States. P 1917. History is inner rors and epic that are in hours and dayjc and this is very true with the wilsons and often associate the states into the war and theyre certainly linked. Theyre actually in may of 1915 and we didnt enter the war and we didnt enter the war until almosta april of 1917. And deal with the fact once fully appreciated until by the end of world war i when v americas role in military power and. And the thing deeper religious, all that meant he had the community to do better than to do he was a political ym scientist. One of the first of the American Political Science Association and so he thought that we could do better. We believe we could govern ourselves better as a world and combination of those two held principles in here mindupg heart let him conclude as world war i progressed there ought to be a better solution. Not only this war, but the wars of the future andyeeven prevent wars in the feature and from that his idea as a league of nation to which he devoted give his wife and his place in history. So the artifacts we have on the top can tell us the story of wood rowzv wilsons involvement with world war i. If i had to pick one artifact to explain that story, it would be this, people look sometimes like on brass bars, theyll recognize immediately that its an artillery shell casing. But this was the casing from the first shot fired by american troops in world war i in europe. And there are a couple of things about this. It wash ired in october of 1917, general who was the commander of the American Expedition nair war had the thought that heshould save this and send it to as a momentum as americans involvement in the war. Its interesting thatzv we declared war in april and yet the first shot was fired in october. Six months ago to go from the idea of engaging in world a; being on the ground and engaging with the enemy. Nota andht world war i. First stop, ever in my lifetime america has always had an army. In wood rowko wilson lifetime weve never had an army in europe. By the÷u end we had 4 million m in uniforms having gone 4 million service jeqsonnel were europe attend of world war i. Realize world war i erupted werent even concerned about itv and on world war i we werent asked about it and wood row wilson and the United States total total war and devel . Pu empiresto the beginning of spanish american war which was of the spanish empire. Wilson going to war without showcasing is here and where he had it. I think its fair to say its not it was more reminder to him of the work yet undone. As the creation of league of nation, he was there and even with the peace sign of 1919 to work on establishment league of nation. As÷u americans we should always remember that our country never joined the league of nation, to ratify the treaty wilson went on a trip across the country hoping to appeal to the American Public to r that never happened. In late 1919 and early 1920 and the United States never joined. Interestingly late in ymlife, i think wilson had a bit of grace about this. He one of his daughters who reported he said iu realize grt ideas dont rely on their advocates but they have a logic of their own, power of their own. 25 years later when it was founded and i think ob founded United Nations÷u in the world w ii and it was in a way thatzv t conclusion of a conversation that had begun in american politics÷u in kubrn. It is this sculpture. Looking from a young artist. He was asphilippine artist who was studying in the United States and had day job which most of my friends had them and they were a waiter andym one of his regular patrons was a woman who was secretary to the first lady to wilson. The artist haddone this project pulled the woman who is associated with the white house that he didp this in 1919 and inspired by president wilson to bring peace to the world. It has the word ÷uenscribed her which means peace in spanish. He was invited to meet with president wilson. I read his account of coming to the white house and those days one did encounter the secret into oval office when spent some time with president wilson and presented with the liberties and we know when wilson lived in this house, he had this sculpture here or on a shelf in his library. The story is amazing but it doesntp end there. And helped support him and getting an education. Eventually a phd there and going back to the philippines where he became another great artist in the history of the philippines. Its interesting to me that our 28th president hadb q philippine artist who went on to live in 1970 and 80s and had an impact in his own country. The fqc but still its an amazing work just with the gown on the woman, particularly if the woman and the child looking off into÷u th middle distance, presumably looking for peace, standing on a rock under which you can see change and a crown and helmet. So its a very symbolism but also a favorite ÷upeace. President wilson passed away in his house, actually in his room in 1994. He lived herezv until remarkabl 1961, 37 years after he passed. She left his house to the National Trust historic rese2v tion to be a memorial to president wilson. And over his bed we could see a work of art and was presented to wilson during world war i by an italian artist when wilson was visiting new york city. It had into the likeness. The story explains it. During world war i, the United States undertook tou send it t belgium, which was partially occupied by german. And part of it came in the substance in fact, the belgians who had centuries old position÷ didnt have the to leave during the war. But they would take the sacks and reweave them into other designs. And this one was a gift of president wilson and actually a likeness of wilson because it was around the edge to decnbate. Its an amazing example of what people will do in war when theyre limited in the materials that theyre available to them and yet they have a skill and they want to exercise that zv skill. This is the blind room in this house. One of the important stories in this room is the hybrids are with which the american prem eu j held by the leaders of world certainly by the end of world war i. There are many gifts in this room, which are an acknowledgment ofzv wilsons Important Role in by the end of world war i and the peace and÷u the treaty and establishing it. Today we weve seen so much more of world war ii and world war ii is in time, my own father was in the navy and world war ii. It also was a more disastrous war, more damaged, just on casualties, lets say, about 18 Million People died in world war i, aboutp 65 Million People die in world war ii. Further contemporary, there have never been a spill that they wereht enduring. And its hard for us, i think, today to go back and the minds and passions of people into early 20th pcentury. What a tragedy world war i was to them and how hopeless things must have seen in the middle of that war whichzv extended from 1914 until november of 1918. And so into that president wilson brought the United States. And not only did american troops lead to a decisive victory for the parties at, you know, the allies at the end of the war, but also of the 14 points, which you may remember from high school. At that time theyre really that this war could be terminated, could be ended on principle. It didnt have to be a fight to the death. This innovation kocoming from a senior leader, and traditionally, the points can be traditionally, the points can be seen as a response toy4 evolution which had occurred just three months earlier in october of 1917. In january of 1918. Wilson will say, we can maintain the western europe and the world that we all know or we can have the homes that÷u were more comfortable with. And we can end this war without a fight to the death. And well take another better and well take another better part of the year, another 9 ora 10 months, set it from 14 points as the basis for negotiated peace and the date of thats acceptance was known of parliaments today. But thats how important that day was. We still honor it as a national 100 years later. In that time wilson was world leader who was bringing the hopes of peace to the world. Hopes of peace to the world. When he went to eu a negotiate the treaty at the end of÷u world war i. Ym. Whatever it took to do. Paris, france, of course. He was in france. He visited italy, belgian and Great Britain. While he was in italy he went to rome and there met with the pope. Pope benedict thes15th and this is a gift of mosaic. This is the gift. Its such a fine thatu youre be forgiven that you think from a distance and theyll recognize that at the detail by paintings a painter italian painter. That this is a work of the workshop and a gift that way to wish him well in bringing peace to the world at the peace conference. Here is anotherym amazingly beautiful work of art this is a÷u painting by a fella who i r armenian. The impact collapsed after having controlled that area for 8 or 9 centuries. Suffered. Well who is wood row wilson. In that time he responded to that crisisbjn so one of the first examples of international relief. Want you to think of americans role to the relief today and it would have been precursor to ym that. Were here just after and presented this painting to president ÷uwilson. And thats÷u the title. To bring relief and being a player, if you will, on the international stage. Another that we have on the homv are three plays. Ill point out these hand painted are three of 15 plates that were a gift to president zv wilson from the king and queen of belgian. Who wilson visited when he was inu europe and then they resi prokated. This was the first trip to america by reigning monarchs from europe. Weve been a country for all this time, but because of traves and british kings and queens, they had not visited the United States. But the belgians came to the United States and presentedp opn United States and presentedp opn witha stroke that devastated his health. They could hardly say to european monarch, its not a convenient time to zvcome. Wilson had an audience with him. He actually was in bed recuperating. And the first lady took the king and queen in on the tour of the white house and before they left, they returned and found him with a magnifying glass. Wilson had÷u quickly realized tt each plate depicted a building in belgian that had been destroyed in world war i. And so these plates really ymwe, in some way, a reflection of the damage that had been done in europe and i thank you to wilson for bringing it to÷u conclusion and reestablishing the normal capacity that will lead to ym rebuilding. Europe, he went to Great Britain and with that reception hoisted by the king and queen of england and for a moment queen mary to theyre in civil frames with their initials on ymthem. Bears quite a resemblance tou grandmother. That deserves note. They were corners of the American Red Cross. This was one way that United States was involved in world war i even before we declared war and became involved militarily. And the red cross did great work in world war i and was supportev by, you know, many americans, including prominently the president and first lady with sculpture÷u based on popular poster at the time, its called the greatest mother in the world and depicts a red crosszv kneelg and in her arms which you might nirlly think is a baby, but actually its a small soldier and previously wounded. Its an amazingly empathetic workp and to those wounded i workp and to those wounded i this ii 1 sweeping up and then much of the reputable ymworld. ÷u we think by the artist durg world war i. We have a whole range of artifactszv by mo mentos. But maybe the most amazing and clearly toht world war i is thi pen and pen stand. The pen is the pen that was used sign the declaration of ward8 i april ofym÷u 1917. So as the whole stoe9[ its clo closely was and it was a gift frn 5 territory of the United States. Over here is a statute that was a gift tou 5ait jst lady, edith wilson, from the city of rome. I mentioned earlier that wilson was the First American presidenv to go to office. And was the First American first lady to go to europe while in office, if you want to think of it that way. She had to÷u answer a bunch of questions about how to conduct herself. How does she dress, you know, all of thezv formalities so when the working visited in italy, wilson was in rome and was given honorary citizenship by the city of rome. But edith was given this statute, which those who are awareof the history of hillary. Is the statute of founders of rome and on it are the initialb spqr which stand for the senate and people of rome. Its a touching gift and of the growing role of women and society. The they raised the questions that were in the minds oftr t h americans and others around the world in that time of what would it would have been during the administration that the 19th amendment was finally confirmed and they received a federal constitutional right to vote in the united koymstates. By radio broadcast on this anniversary, which was, 11th, 19 if. And it was much÷u on this occasion, he was quite anxious about it. He spent the day napping off and on, you know,zv no one had ever spoken on the radio like this before and the former president and at that point having to so we have this to commemorate that remarkable event. Wilson used to case to appeal to the American People to reconsider the United States rejectionzof the league of nation. That never did join the league of nation. And wilson, at this time, consistent with the principles of our nation founding and also consistent with the the sacrifices made by ourg troops and world war i that we join the league of nation. He was wilson passed away three monthszv later in his hou. So really to his la days, wilson was appealing to america to reallyym conclude. Going to the cycle÷u and but th white house decided mowing and landscapingym a flock of sheep. And that theyu would much on t grass and every spring the sheep and the wilsons will then divide the sheep ofym wool ended different 50 parcels. One for each state, 48 states. One for the district of columbia and one for puerto rico and these are the options in the state to raise money for the American Red Cross. So this is an example of the auction on theko boston come me during world war i to help with the American Red Cross from sheeps that attended, lets say torks the white house lawn. Another artifact in this room is this platter, its a pewter platter. I can handle it without staining it. This is a gift from president wilson from theko people of belgium. As you can see its in horrible condition. Thats not because we neglected the platter. Its because we wereym pulled fm the rubble of the burned building in belgium. And this is presented to wilson at the endym of the negotiation peace conference of the signed treaty. And in a way i think the artifact and it tells tiu story at the beginning of the war and also the end. As i like to read whats in it here, itu says to the em gnat president of usa, wood row wilson. I remember reading exactly as iu is. First language and not english, in any event. It says in remembrance of hisp visit in belgian june 1919. This dish has been drawn on the ruinzv of Hotel Grand Plaza 30 belgium. Entirely destroyed by the fire which has been similar mat cyst inflamed on 1914. This is an artifact of the of history will remember germanys plan will sweep and k respond and then will, in turn, to russia and that plan, of course, to work becausemy in lae part bell and so on september 4th and 5th was set about a month after germany invaded. I dont remember, but the plan had the German Army Going through belgium in about a week and month. The hostility of that time, the violation of the new tribe in belgium. These are very intense issues. And i think in a way that belgium while presenting this place to demonstrate to him the passion that was÷u felt in that time, the intensity of the negotiation that he had zv conducted. There were 26 of the nations that participated in this world hunger, nation including indiac and japan who are also involved in the hostilities during that war and they had left among them, 18 Million People. This is how excruciating these negotiations had been compared to the sort of International Negotiations that we have today. There were things like Climate Change or trade treaty. And wilson brought all those parties together to side÷u trea to bring an end to world war i. But also to establish the league of nations also took o