Hats Off” For Mr. Wilson?

Who do you know that would make an effective U.S. President? Why is that?

“The ancients tell is what is best; but we must of the moderns what is fittest?” (Benjamin Franklin)

An essential component in this year’s Presidential election centers around the vital need for voters to intelligently  observe both candidates before casting their ballots. That means taking into account a serious consideration of the moral character of the person running, their policy making abilities and their key issue stands that might best sway majority support. Recent history has shown for example that fast political risers like Kennedy, Obama, Ike, and Reagan greatly benefited by their personal qualities of charm/ charisma. LBJ, Carter, and Nixon, however, excelled with plenty of knowledgeable experience about the legislative and executive workings of government. Notable ties to family dynasties elevated Bush, Roosevelt, and Trump’s election chances while the tag team of female – male shared power with Hillary at his side gave Clinton a boost when needed. 

Such differences interested me during our recent road trip visit to the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace and Presidential Library in Staunton, Virginia. Know then Mr. Wilson most  impressed me during our two hour tour of the complex as a boldly ambitious proponent of progressive domestic reform armed with his Ph.D. in history/political science and successful tenures as President of Princeton University and Governor of New Jersey. As our Commander in Chief during World War, I also learned he receive high praise for defending our country’s national security as well as his writing of the “Fourteen Points” , designed as a blueprint for  restoring world order at the time.   

In contrast, I tuned in with interest to Woodrow’s personal leadership flaws of being overly egoistic, stubborn and generally cold in nature. These personal failings it’s argued contributed greatly to his failure to persuade Congress to pass his “League of Nations” treaty during the postwar period. As a further consequence of this missed treaty opportunity, experts contend that opportunities then arose for Hitler’s Nazi rise  through the “Third Reich in Germany did inevitably came to power. Wilson’s character reputation throughout his public life also suffered due to his overt racist support for white supremacy ideals. For during the eight years of his Presidency, the eruption of race riots, continued “Jim Crow” Voter Disenfranchisement” and implementation of  “Separate But Equal” court decisions divided the country severely at the time.

Consider it somewhat ironic as well that our visit to observe Woodrow Wilson’s questionable legacy as a two term president took place during the week when Kamala Harris accepted her candidacy to run for President at Chicago’s  Democratic Convention. For I believe that as history does tend to repeat itself, the living ghost of Woodrow Wilson’s contradictory character seemed to issue a powerful public warning based on his early 20th century experience.  

These haunting thoughts that follow thus powerfully linger in my mind. “Mark my words fellow Americans. We should elect our next President for the right reasons that best fit today’s turbulent times if we desire to keep our Democracy intact.” Examine the photo set below from this visit which might further exemplify what Wilson’s tenure as President relevantly means. 

Sources Used:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wilson_and_race

https://www.woodrowwilson.org/blog-podcast/2024/2/2/the-centennial-of-wilsons-death-1

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/league-of-nations