The Life and Letters of Walter H. Page

A long but fascinating examination of the events leading to the United States participation in World War I. Walter Page from North Carolina was American Ambassador to Great Britain from 1913 to 1918. His memoranda and letters lay bare how persistent his advice and argument was in urging the USA to put its full weight behind entering the war against Germany and Austria. His reasoning centered on the rightness of British and French determination to put a halt to German militaristic expansion.
Countering this in the USA was President Wilson's natural reticence about supporting Britain, and the pro German and Irish sentiment among the immigrant descendants of those countries. So it was that for two years after the Lusitania sinking, Wilson show more stayed America's hand and remained neutral. The arguments for Page's repeated urging to become involved in the war rested on his foreseeing an immense advance in American power in the new world order and eventually these views were adopted.
His efforts as ambassador to Britain were greatly appreciated there. His abilities as a negotiator between both countries became legend because they were forceful, intelligent, well argued, ever loyal to his commission as ambassador and courteous.
The job destroyed his health and he died immediately he returned to America after resigning in 1918.
A book that did not look promising at first proved to be absorbing. show less

3169. The Life and Letters of Walter H. Page, by Burton J. Hendrick (read Mar 7, 1999) This won the 1922 Pulitzer for biography, and I have long wanted to read it and when I found it at a local college library, I could not resist reading it. Page was ambassador to England from 1913 to 1918, and died shortly after resigning as such. This is not a well-written book, and is mainly made up of Page's letters from 1913 to 1918. He was hot for US helping the Allies, and did all he could to get us into the War. I'm not sure this was worth reading, but it is the 41st Pulitzer prize winner for biography I've read.