Wilson, Woodrow (ON HOLD)

Description

Type: Note
Description: (1856-1924) Historian, Princeton President 1902-10, New Jersey reform Governor 1911-13, US President 1913-21.

His “New Freedom” domestic policies led to 3 Constitutional amendments (17^th, 18^th, & 19^th to support direct election of senators, prohibition, and woman suffrage); promoted tariff, antitrust, banking, and child labor law changes. He pursued Pancho Villa in Mexico and maintained US neutrality in WW I until the sinking of the Lusitania. Formulated 14 Points peace plan leading to Armistice to end the War, personally participated in Versailles Conference and forced European acceptance of League of Nations, ultimately not approved by the US Senate. He spent 6 months in Paris at the Peace Conference, making him the 1^st president to travel to Europe while in office. Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for 1919.

On October 2, 1919, he suffered a serious stroke, leaving him paralyzed on his left side, along with blindness in his left eye and with only partial vision in the right eye. He was  insulated by the First Lady, who selected matters for his attention and delegated others to his cabinet. Wilson temporarily resumed a perfunctory attendance at cabinet meetings and by February 1920, his true condition was publicly known. No one close to him, incl. his wife, his physician, or personal assistant, was willing to take responsibility to certify, as required by the Constitution, his “inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office”. Because of this complex case, Congress developed the 25th Amendment to control succession to the presidency in case of illness, which was later ratified.

5 ¼ x 4 scarce ANS while President: “Approved and sent for transmission. [signed] 4 Apr. ‘15″.

Condition: Very good, fold