This comprehensive and marvelous biography of Woodrow Wilson at over 800 pages consumed most of my reading time this month. A. Scott Berg who won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Lindbergh has written a masterful book about another interesting and multi-facited man. Woodrow Wilson, America's 28th President is a fascinating study of one of the most brilliant minds to occupy the White House. His progressive policies and idealistic philosophy of government changed the direction of American policy and her place in the world.
The book can roughly be divided into two parts. The first begins with Wilson's early life and the effect the Civil War had on his development as a son of the south. It tells of his education and upbringing and his road to the Presidency of Princeton University. From Princeton, he had a meteoric rise in politics. The New Jersey political machine mistakenly thought it could control Wilson when it chose him to run for Governor. He initiated massive reforms, among other things, ending the strangle hold cronyism and corruption had on the state. He only served two years as governor and his fame as a reformer catapulted him into the national spotlight and eventually into the Presidency. It ends with his very loving and happy marriage to Ellen Axon with whom he had three daughters and his energetic control in enacting his progressive programs on a national scale.
The second section of the book begins with Ellen's death, Wilson's deep bereavement, and the path of America's involvement in WWI and the end of isolationism. Edith Bolling Gault, his second wife, plays a huge role during this time and up until Wilson's death.
It is said of Woodrow Wilson, ....."probably in the history of the whole world there has been no great man of whom so much has been written but of whom personally so little has been correctly known." ....."Stern and impassive, yet emotional; calm and patient, yet quick-tempered and impulsive; forgetful of those who had served him, yet devoted to many who had rendered but minor service....precise and business-like, and yet, upon occasion, illogical without more reason than intuition itself."
Wilson was the first democratic President since Andrew Jackson to serve two consecutive terms. A strong electrifying speaker, he ran on his legislative success and the powerful message that "He kept us out of war." Despite all this it wasn't long before it became impossible for America to remain neutral as WWI escalated out of control and spilled over affecting shipping and independence on the seas. With the torpedoing of the passenger ship Lusitania,Wilson found himself unable to deny help to his European allies. It wasn't long before his forceful personality caused him to assume leadership on the world stage.
Wilson's life is enormously interesting and I enjoyed each part of this book equally. Wilson's influence on the peace process and the Treaty of Versailles ending WWI, and his frustration on returning to the United States and being unable to convince the fractured and partisan Congress to pass on the treaty which included a section of forming a League of Nations, was especially enlightening. His failure to influence Congress and his political enemies, led by Republican Henry Cabot Lodge, eventually led to his death. There are numerous parallels here the reader may draw with the partisanship in today's Congress and its relationship with the Presidency.
In his lifetime Wilson accomplished so much it is impossible to catalog his triumphs here. To name just a few, he slashed tariffs, instituted a federal income tax, championed the Federal Reserve system, enacted anti-trust laws, instituted the eight hour work day and passed laws against child labor; he also passed woman's suffrage laws endearing him to women reformers; he was the first President to hold regular news conferences. He adored woman, movies and golf. He had a huge personality and huge faults. He was fascinating.
There is enough material in this book to occupy a book group for two months. I highly recommend it to all readers. Do not be put off by its length. I read it slowly going back and forth between other books. It was thoughly enjoyable and readable.
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