Woodrow Wilson (The Judge President)[]
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the
United States from 1913 to 1917 and 1921 to 1922. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of Princeton University and as the governor of New Jersey before winning the 1912 presidential election. As President, Wilson changed the nation's economic policies. His progressive stance on foreign policy came to be known as Wilsonianism.
Wilson grew up in the American South, mainly in Augusta, Georgia, during the Civil War and Reconstruction. After earning a Ph.D. in political science from Johns Hopkins University, Wilson taught at various colleges before becoming the president of Princeton University and a spokesman for progressivism in higher education. As governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913, Wilson broke with party bosses and won the passage of several progressive reforms. To win the presidential nomination he mobilized progressives and Southerners to his cause at the 1912 Democratic National Convention. Wilson defeated incumbent Republican William Howard Taft and third-party nominee Theodore Roosevelt to easily win the 1912 United States presidential election, becoming the first Southerner to do so since 1848.
During his first year as president, Wilson authorized the widespread imposition of segregation inside the federal bureaucracy. His first term was largely devoted to pursuing passage of his progressive New Freedom domestic agenda. His first major priority was the Revenue Act of 1913, which lowered tariffs and began the modern income tax. Wilson also negotiated the passage of the Federal Reserve Act, which created the Federal Reserve System. Two major laws, the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Clayton Antitrust Act, were enacted to promote business competition and combat extreme corporate power.
Wilson would be defeated by Republican challenger Charles Evans Hughes in 1916 despite winning the popular vote, the second time in thirty years a Democratic incumbent loses to a Republican challenger. After his defeat Wilson decided to take an extended leave of absence before returning to Princeton as a lecturer. He had dealt with health issues but by 1920 he believed he was healthy enough to run for a second term. He easily won the nomination for the Democratic Party but his running mate was not Thomas Marshall but instead his former assistant to the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wilson regained the presidency in 1920 in circumstances identical to his first victory in 1912. Wilson joins fellow Democratic president Grover Cleveland as the only two presidents to serve two non-consecutive terms. Seven months into office however, Wilson would suffer a debilitating stroke on July 20th, 1921 leading to the young FDR to fill in most of his presidential duties. On January 9th, 1922 Wilson shocked the nation with his resignation due to health issues leading to FDR to assume the presidency, about one month before his 40th birthday making FDR the youngest president, beating out his famous cousin.
After the Election of 1916[]
Following his defeat in the election of 1916, Wilson finished his term and went on a year long trip to South America to recuperate from the stress of being president. Wilson then returned to Princeton as a teacher. He initially intended to retire from politics but after hearing Hughes declining for a second term, Wilson believed this was his best opportunity to return to the White House.
Election of 1920[]
Page for election of 1920
Franklin D. Roosevelt, VP of Woodrow Wilson (1921-1922)
The election of 1920 proved to be one of the most controversial and closest elections. With Hughes declining a second term despite his popularity it was unclear who could replace him in the GOP. Henry Cabot Lodge was seen as the ideal successor to Hughes but he turned it down. General Leonard Wood was also a serious nomination. it ultimately came down to former Iowa Senator Albert Cummins and Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding. In the end Harding was given the nomination despite his inexperience. The Democratic party was initially reluctant to run Wilson due to his health but ultimately beat out Ohio governor James Cox. Harding had campaigned on following through with the IUPP as Hughes established it. The economy was also in a recession in 1920 which also hurt the GOP's odds of winning the presidency. Wilson would not only go against Harding but also against Progressive Party candidate Robert La Follette who called for the repeal of the IUPP, nationalizing more industries and for opening relations with the USSR. Both Wilson and Harding took hardline stances against the Soviets while portraying La Follette as a communist but differed greatly on economics. Roosevelt heavily campaigned in Wilson's place to not put too much pressure on him and campaigned energetically showing his great speaking prowess. The election proved too close to call and at times it seemed as if the Electoral College would split the vote three ways leading to the House to decide the presidency. In the end Wilson just got the 266 votes needed and was re-elected to the White House. He became the 30th US President following the footsteps of former Democratic president Grover Cleveland. FDR became the 30th VP and the second youngest VP.
Second Term (1921-1922)[]
Wilson would be sworn into office facing a Republican supermajority in the congress. As such many of his policies would fail to pass. The stress and frustration took a toll on Wilson and eight months in to his presidency he suffered a debilitating stroke. Roosevelt would act in his place for the next few months and after discussing it with his cabinet, they pushed Wilson to resign from the president. Wilson, having little mental autonomy agreed and resigned on January 4th, 1922 making him the first president to resign from office. Roosevelt would assume the presidency in the ensuing hours. The only major accomplishment of Wilson in his second term was reluctantly appointing former Presidential opponent William Howard Taft to Chief Justice of the US after the congress consistently blocked any other nomination and the 19th Amendment which officially abolished the Electoral College with support from both sides.
Post Presidency[]
Wilson would retire to his home in DC. His health did not recover greatly and he would fail to launch any significant law career. He would give an occasional presentation at Princeton and was award an honorary title. He would die on February 3rd, 1924 and be buried at the National Cathedral in DC being the only US president to be buried at the nation's capital. President FDR among others were in attendance.
Legacy[]
Wilson is generally rated as an above average to great president by many scholars despite only truly serving one term. His progressive agenda lead to the establishment of the Federal Reserve and greater regulation on industry and labor as well as set the Democratic Party on course to a modern progressive agenda. However his legacy is also tarnished by his personal racist views and his decision to segregate the Federal Government. His first term is generally viewed as a success despite regressing civil rights but his second term is largely forgotten.