History Hoover, Herbert: The Ordeal of Woodrow Wilson.v1. 05 May 2011

[mrmikel]

This book describes the challenges faced by President Woodrow Wilson during and after World War I. Hoover shows Wilson's trial by many ordeals of administration, of simmering hatreds in Europe and finally by illness in office and rejection of the League of Nations by the US Senate. The fact that some of these ordeals were caused by shortcomings in Wilson himself makes them no less poignant.

What I found even more interesting is the much larger stature of Herbert Hoover himself. Most remember him for his apparent failing to cope with the Great Depression as President 1928-1932 (which might have been far out of anyone's ability to cope with.) He was, however, a renowned engineer who had met and interacted with many of the major participants at the Peace Conference in this work. He also headed up organizations for relief of starvation and famine during World War I and II and spoke up for the starving in the conferences of government.

The book also makes clear that isolationism was not a phenomenon of the interwar period. It existed virtually in straight line from Washington's injunction to avoid entangling alliances through the World War I, where the President was careful not to say any of the European powers were allies, including Great Britain.

This book not only clarifies the actions of Woodrow Wilson, but by reporting of the facts, amply supported by footnotes, shows the true stature of Herbert Hoover.

Although normally this book would be in copyright, copyright was not renewed in the United States.

[GA Russell]

Thanks! Sounds great!