Two Seemingly Contradictory Quotes are Offered to Readers Today. Decide Which you prefer.

Woodrow Wilson, Governor of New Jersey, was a surprise victor in the Presidential election of 1912. Wilson, the Democrat nominee, beat incumbent Republican William Howard Taft and former President and Progressive Bull Moose candidate Theodore Roosevelt. Taft was Roosevelt’s handpicked successor and was elected in 1908 but the restless TR sought the presidency again and split the Republican vote with Wilson ending up the winner. Wilson was re-elected in1916 with the campaign theme “He kept us out of the war”. Today, Wilson is under attack for being a racist, yet his influence in the field of American foreign policy remains paramount. He was the author of the League of Nations, which although it failed, led to the creation of the more enduring United Nations after World War II. Despite Wilson’s pledge not to enter the war, in 1917 the U.S. declared war, and sided with Great Britain and France. After the defeat of the Central Powers, Wilson was one of the "Big Three” at the Versailles Conference which has created the modern world in which we live today,

Prior to America’s entry into World War I, then called the Great War, Wilson addressed Congress where he proposed “peace without victory” (Jan. 22, 1917) Our first quote today is from Senator Francis E. Warren (R-WY):

“The President thinks he is president of the world” (Jan. 22, 1917).

Our second quote is from Wilson’s Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels. Secretary Daniels, in response to the ethnic turmoil and chaos which was taking place in postwar Europe with the redrawing of boundaries, the creation of new states and the breakup of old empires said the following:

"America has committed itself to the welfare of the world and stands against autocracy and cruelty no matter in what land. The day will never come when America will not with all the power behind it stand against injustice and inhumanity in any part of the world”.

Both of these quotes are over one hundred years old. I challenge the readers of this post to ponder both of them very carefully, in the context of the times we live in, and reach your own conclusion on what is best for America.

Garry S. Sklar

Guttenberg, New Jersey

August 11, 2022