When the Cheering Stopped: The Last Years of Woodrow Wilson

Read as an abridged version. Somewhat tedious, somewhat interesting, but about Wilson's final 3 years, which never gets taught in high schools (or earlier). There is something very familiar, writing this review in 2024, about a president whose party wants him to step down instead of running for a 2nd term. Wilson refused, because he was strongly set on getting the League of Nations accepted by the US. As it turns out, Congress would not vote for his negotiated terms, Wilson had a number of cranial thromboses, almost died, and spent the remaining years of his life barely doing anything. The Congress and his Cabinet did what they could, but there was no leadership...or, worse, his few comments hampered them from doing work that needed show more doing. He even wanted to try for a 3rd term. Instead, the US got Harding who, according to this book, gave all his appointments to friends who pilfered public funds.
I would not want anyone to infer my preferred presidential candidate. In this current election, I think we have 2 candidates who should both be asked to step down. show less

What happens when a President becomes disabled and is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of his position? That was the dilemma in 1919 when Pres. Woodrow Wilson suffered a variety of health maladies including strokes and found himself bedridden and unable to perform his job. His wife and his doctor essentially carried out and managed Presidential duties. Ordinarily the Vice President steps in and carries out the presidential duties – – however Wilson's vice president had no interest in being president. A grumbling Congress and Cabinet offered little resistance.

What struck this reader was how implausible this scenario would have been today. Wilson would never have been able to stay in the White House given his health situation. show more Mrs. Wilson has been credited with actually being the first woman President as she made a number of policy and personnel decisions. And like Nancy Reagan, she strictly managed the President's schedule and travels.

Woodrow Wilson was obsessed with the creation of the League of Nations. Obsessed to the point where he sacrificed his own health and life. He even considered running for a third term despite his failing health. Interesting history – – very well researched. show less

This is the riveting story of what happened when President Woodrow Wilson, at the height of his success, fell ill and had his plans for U.S. participation in the League of Nations thwarted by the U. S. Senate. Very few Americans knew what was happening in the final two years of his Presidency, but Gene Smith's investigations provide the story of what lay behind the bland pronouncements of Presidential surrogates. The resulting biography of the last days of the Wilson Presidency is exciting reading almost ninety years later.

a little too gushy about wilson. he seems like a religious fruitcake to me. he should have resigned. but a good story.