Woodrow Wilson and Colonel House: A Personality Study

This book analyzes Woodrow Wilson's personality and his relationships with others throughout his adult life. A lot of the material centers on his quests for power, first as an educator and then in politics. Colonel Edward House was one of three people to really become a confidant of Wilson. The sources for the book from Wilson are personal letters he wrote as well as speeches he gave. The personal papers of Edward Mandell House were also used as a source. From reading this book it is evident that Woodrow Wilson had severe personality flaws. His mental health problems in the 1890's were troubling! He was also obsessive in his pursuit of the presidency at the expense of anyone he could utilize to achieve that goal. What I took from the book was that Wilson was a megalomaniac and Edward House was a shrewd political manipulator(until the end of their friendship) that eventually was perceived by Wilson as a threat. On the presidential term, the book focuses on the defeat of the League of Nations which was aided mostly by Wilson's refusal to compromise. The authors also detail the circumstances of the falling out between Wilson and House. This is an excellent book about the psychology of Woodrow Wilson. Not as much attention is spent on House or some of the major changes in the U.S during Wilson's administration, namely the Federal Reserve Act, and Income tax. Overall WOODROW WILSON AND COLONEL HOUSE provides some insight on Woodrow Wilson from childhood to death. This book also addresses some of the politics and politicians of the WWI era.

required reading as background history to understand the future we need to understand the past to the best of our abilities

This books presents a "personality study" of Wilson. I ordered it as a political scientist interested in individual-level analyses of international relations. I came to it with little or no particular interest in Wilson or House (who?) or American politics during the Wilson administration. I knew nothing of the authors. I read the book in 2 days because I could not put it down. It well deserves the status of "classic." Although the psychological disposition and development of Wilson provide a motif throughout, the authors state their case in moderate terms and are kind enough to limit jargon-filled discussions to very few pages. Some readers will sense contradictions in the analysis, but they are not too distracting. Meanwhile, an impressive tale is told. The reader goes from the singing of hymns in church as a child to a bizarre last speech on a balcony (before Wilson dies). Wilson emerges as a perfectionist, an idealist, one full of self-doubt, and yet one unwilling to compromise EVER ! He also emerges as someone who had low self-esteem and a giant, hyper-sensitive ego which allowed him about 3 friends (his 2 wives and Colonel House). House was valued by Wilson because he knew how (and was willing)to flatter and say "yes" a lot to Wilson (to his face anyway). Personal diaries and letters add color to the discussion of the relationship. Wilson's complex make-up interestingly resulted in all too predictable dispositions and behavior. Participants at the Paris Peace Conference and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge understood this and played him like a cheap deck of cards. Thus, this great read teaches lessons about politics, personality and life!