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Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman
Wilson's visionary temperament and quick-paced leadership made him a uniquely articulate champion of the most essential American values. His policies, perhaps more so than any other president in this century, have shaped the world today. In this comprehensive biography, Kendrick Clements examines the brilliant successes as well as the failures of Wilson's public career as professor, president of Princeton University, governor of New Jersey, and president. Tempering the impression of Wilson as a stiff moralist, Mr. Clements reveals fascinating details of his periodic bouts of depression. But the recurrent themes of this balanced and engrossing portrait are Wilson's deep idealism and his drive for leadership. “The best available one-volume biography of our twenty-eighth president.”―Nicholas C. Burckel, History. “ Woodrow World Statesman deserves to be widely read...Clements displays a keen eye for anecdote and for telling quotations. He shows excellent judgment in evaluating varying interpretations of events and is not afraid to offer opinions of his own...The book is clearly written and well-paced.”―John A. Garraty, Journal of American History . “An engaging and useful book...a balanced treatment of Wilson's strengths and weaknesses, his triumphs and failures.”― Presidential Studies Quarterly .
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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About the author
Kendrick A. Clements
9 books1 followerA specialist in American diplomatic history and early 20th century American history, Kendrick Clements taught at the University of South Carolina until his retirement in 2006. Clements earned his B.A. at Williams College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 16, 2015
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“Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman” by Kendrick Clements was published in 1987. Clements is a retired professor of American history at the University of South Carolina. In 1992 he authored a detailed study of the Wilson presidency and has written biographies of Herbert Hoover, William Jennings Bryan and James Byrnes.
Although this book is not a member of the American Presidents Series it exhibits many of the characteristics of biographies in that collection. It is relatively brief (with 224 pages), extremely straightforward and quite readable. And in an austere, no frills style it is packed with salient facts and observations about Wilson’s life and presidency.
In eleven well-organized chapters Clements analyzes Wilson’s life, from birth to death, covering every major period of his life. Given the relative brevity of this biography the pace is fast, but not hectic. The casual reader never feels rushed; only an academic audience will notice the absence of instructive detail or color.
Despite the book’s efficient tempo Clements is able to provide excellent insight into Wilson’s childhood in Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina. Later, the chapter devoted to his eight-year tenure as president of Princeton University proves particularly engaging and revealing.
There are other high points in the biography as well. One of the best is Clements’s review of Wilson’s domestic agenda during his first term as president. His legislative priorities (and successes) are crisply and clearly articulated. Even readers intimidated by detailed policy discussions will find this chapter lively and fascinating rather than boring and burdensome.
But while Clements’s writing style is easy to navigate and digest, he does not treat the reader to passages filled with a colorful, vibrant narrative. There is never a sense of being in the room with Wilson, or seeing the world through his eyes. Instead, this is clearly an analysis of Wilson written by a historian many years removed from the scene.
Largely as a result, this book resembles an interesting American history text far more than a pure presidential biography. As a political study of the times it succeeds nicely; as a biography it lacks the intimacy and charm that leaves the reader feeling a personal connection with the book’s subject and his times.
In addition, Clements rarely reveals much about the personalities who surround Wilson. His wives and one or two of his closest friends receive modest exposure…but other important family and political figures remain vague and ephemeral. In addition, the discussion of World War I (the most significant challenge of Wilson’s presidency) is spare and somewhat lifeless.
Overall, Kendrick Clements’s “Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman” proves an efficient, straightforward and valuable review of the life of Woodrow Wilson. What it lacks in depth and color it almost entirely makes up for with crisp insights and cogent observations. As a full-blown biography of Wilson, this book is fair at best; as an introduction to Wilson and his presidency it is arguably excellent.
Overall rating: 3¾ stars
“Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman” by Kendrick Clements was published in 1987. Clements is a retired professor of American history at the University of South Carolina. In 1992 he authored a detailed study of the Wilson presidency and has written biographies of Herbert Hoover, William Jennings Bryan and James Byrnes.
Although this book is not a member of the American Presidents Series it exhibits many of the characteristics of biographies in that collection. It is relatively brief (with 224 pages), extremely straightforward and quite readable. And in an austere, no frills style it is packed with salient facts and observations about Wilson’s life and presidency.
In eleven well-organized chapters Clements analyzes Wilson’s life, from birth to death, covering every major period of his life. Given the relative brevity of this biography the pace is fast, but not hectic. The casual reader never feels rushed; only an academic audience will notice the absence of instructive detail or color.
Despite the book’s efficient tempo Clements is able to provide excellent insight into Wilson’s childhood in Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina. Later, the chapter devoted to his eight-year tenure as president of Princeton University proves particularly engaging and revealing.
There are other high points in the biography as well. One of the best is Clements’s review of Wilson’s domestic agenda during his first term as president. His legislative priorities (and successes) are crisply and clearly articulated. Even readers intimidated by detailed policy discussions will find this chapter lively and fascinating rather than boring and burdensome.
But while Clements’s writing style is easy to navigate and digest, he does not treat the reader to passages filled with a colorful, vibrant narrative. There is never a sense of being in the room with Wilson, or seeing the world through his eyes. Instead, this is clearly an analysis of Wilson written by a historian many years removed from the scene.
Largely as a result, this book resembles an interesting American history text far more than a pure presidential biography. As a political study of the times it succeeds nicely; as a biography it lacks the intimacy and charm that leaves the reader feeling a personal connection with the book’s subject and his times.
In addition, Clements rarely reveals much about the personalities who surround Wilson. His wives and one or two of his closest friends receive modest exposure…but other important family and political figures remain vague and ephemeral. In addition, the discussion of World War I (the most significant challenge of Wilson’s presidency) is spare and somewhat lifeless.
Overall, Kendrick Clements’s “Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman” proves an efficient, straightforward and valuable review of the life of Woodrow Wilson. What it lacks in depth and color it almost entirely makes up for with crisp insights and cogent observations. As a full-blown biography of Wilson, this book is fair at best; as an introduction to Wilson and his presidency it is arguably excellent.
Overall rating: 3¾ stars
March 27, 2012
Kendrick Clements presents a very good and well organized biography of President Woodrow Wilson. In eleven well written chapters he details and explains the life of this very complicated President. Wilson's life takes many interesting turns, he starts out in life and politics as a die-hard imperialist, his position starts to transform into what he would later call `collective security.' Clements lays this out brilliantly in his Wilson narrative.
The first few chapters focus on his youth and educational background. He was born Thomas Woodrow Wilson, and ultimately choosing to go by the middle name. Wilson would make a career in academia writing several papers on government. In this, his position often shifts, in his first major work,Congressional Government: A Study in American Politics, Wilson describes the American Government as inefficient and desires a parliamentary government, like the government in Great Britain. Although his first major work is a sharp critique of the American system, it was nevertheless was an important study to the American way of government. As time goes on Wilson changes his position and starts studying and writing more positively about U.S. Constitutional government, due to his admiration of President Grover Cleveland. In his last academic work, Constitutional Government of the United States, Wilson wrote a positive piece on American Government based on the presidencies of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt; he was impressed by the office of the president stating it was as big as the one who occupies it. Wilson would become the President of Princeton University, before leaving to take up politics.
In 1910, Wilson was elected Governor of New Jersey over his opponent Vivian M. Lewis. As the new Governor, Wilson began a process of reform. Wilson established state primaries, reformed the public utilities commission, and established worker compensation laws to protect ordinary people. Wilson was being seen by many as a person who should be put in charge of the entire nation.
"Within the narrow goals set out by progressivism, Wilson was a marked success as governor of New Jersey. He and other progressives demonstrated that state government could be revitalized to deal with modern society. The irony of his success, however, was that triumph at the state level made him a national figure and a potential candidate for the presidency. The best leaders were thus plucked from the states and thrust upon the national stage, where to be successful they had to argue that the very problems they had been dealing with effectively at the state level could only be attacked from Washington. The success of state reform movements seemed to doom them and to focus attention on the national government. Wilson, for one, certainly made no attempt to resist the siren's song." p.73
In the famous election of 1912, Wilson defeated both William H. Taft and Theodore Roosevelt to capture the presidency. The first President, who had made an academic study of the presidency before entering it, was going to have tremendous success. Wilson would be able to get almost whatever he wanted out of the Congress. He would create the Federal Reserve, and reestablish the presidential tradition of delivering the State of the Union to the Congress in person. He would also make a great deal of economic reforms to help low income people.
Unfortunately he also, as President, issued executive orders, that segregated the Federal Government for the first time in history. Defenders might point out that he was a moderate when a great deal of the Congress wanted to expel all African-Americans from Federal jobs, and action that Wilson refused to do. However, Wilson's actions were harmful to many people and a long-term government mistake.
"Yet there were ways in which Wilson's detachment was a liability. Because his decisions were based on principal rather than being expedient reactions to immediate problems, he spent a great deal of time alone, reading, thinking, and writing. Some people thought him cold and aloof. He had no social ambitions, did not entertain extensively in the White House, and seemed to avoid rather than cultivate the social contacts with politicians that are the channels though which a great deal of public business flows though Washington." p.103
In 1916, Wilson would narrowly win re-election, over Charles Even Hughes, under the slogan that he kept us out of the war. Wilson however, thanks to the Zimmerman note and the sinking of the Lusitania, would end up having the United States Congress to declare war. The United States spent little time in the war, but after is where Woodrow Wilson made his big splash; the Fourteen Points and the League of Nations proposal were historic and unprecedented. They would change the very nature of foreign relations for all nations. Unfortunately, the only major nation that did not join the new League was the United States, Wilson had alienated his support at home and his treaty failed to win U.S. Senate ratification.
"Just as the stroke impaired Wilson's ability to concentrate, so it seemed to narrow and limit his mind, stripping away his political skills and ability to deal with complexities, bringing emotion very near to the surface, and intensifying his deep-seated tendency to judge all issues as right or wrong. On such matters he could be clear and decisive, firing Lansing for his disloyalty on the treaty and for encouraging a movement toward intervention in Mexico, refusing to see House because he thought the colonel had given away too much in Paris. Unwittingly, Edith and Dr. Grayson contributed to his oversimplification of issues by shielding him from his problems that might be complicated and unpleasant. Because, like many stoke victims, he denied the severity of his own illness, Wilson really believed that he was quite himself. By 1920 he was even talking about running for a third term to vindicate his stand on the league." p.216
Toward the end of his presidency he had a stroke, and was mostly unable to function as the President, his wife, Edith, (who he married during presidency after his first wife, Ellen, had died) would to bring papers for him to sign so no one would know of his condition.
His time in his post-presidency was very short. He did, however, outlive his own successor--Warren G. Harding died in 1923--where Wilson lived until 1924. Clements wrote an awesome biography that details all of these events and much more. I highly recommend this book to anyone.
The first few chapters focus on his youth and educational background. He was born Thomas Woodrow Wilson, and ultimately choosing to go by the middle name. Wilson would make a career in academia writing several papers on government. In this, his position often shifts, in his first major work,Congressional Government: A Study in American Politics, Wilson describes the American Government as inefficient and desires a parliamentary government, like the government in Great Britain. Although his first major work is a sharp critique of the American system, it was nevertheless was an important study to the American way of government. As time goes on Wilson changes his position and starts studying and writing more positively about U.S. Constitutional government, due to his admiration of President Grover Cleveland. In his last academic work, Constitutional Government of the United States, Wilson wrote a positive piece on American Government based on the presidencies of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt; he was impressed by the office of the president stating it was as big as the one who occupies it. Wilson would become the President of Princeton University, before leaving to take up politics.
In 1910, Wilson was elected Governor of New Jersey over his opponent Vivian M. Lewis. As the new Governor, Wilson began a process of reform. Wilson established state primaries, reformed the public utilities commission, and established worker compensation laws to protect ordinary people. Wilson was being seen by many as a person who should be put in charge of the entire nation.
"Within the narrow goals set out by progressivism, Wilson was a marked success as governor of New Jersey. He and other progressives demonstrated that state government could be revitalized to deal with modern society. The irony of his success, however, was that triumph at the state level made him a national figure and a potential candidate for the presidency. The best leaders were thus plucked from the states and thrust upon the national stage, where to be successful they had to argue that the very problems they had been dealing with effectively at the state level could only be attacked from Washington. The success of state reform movements seemed to doom them and to focus attention on the national government. Wilson, for one, certainly made no attempt to resist the siren's song." p.73
In the famous election of 1912, Wilson defeated both William H. Taft and Theodore Roosevelt to capture the presidency. The first President, who had made an academic study of the presidency before entering it, was going to have tremendous success. Wilson would be able to get almost whatever he wanted out of the Congress. He would create the Federal Reserve, and reestablish the presidential tradition of delivering the State of the Union to the Congress in person. He would also make a great deal of economic reforms to help low income people.
Unfortunately he also, as President, issued executive orders, that segregated the Federal Government for the first time in history. Defenders might point out that he was a moderate when a great deal of the Congress wanted to expel all African-Americans from Federal jobs, and action that Wilson refused to do. However, Wilson's actions were harmful to many people and a long-term government mistake.
"Yet there were ways in which Wilson's detachment was a liability. Because his decisions were based on principal rather than being expedient reactions to immediate problems, he spent a great deal of time alone, reading, thinking, and writing. Some people thought him cold and aloof. He had no social ambitions, did not entertain extensively in the White House, and seemed to avoid rather than cultivate the social contacts with politicians that are the channels though which a great deal of public business flows though Washington." p.103
In 1916, Wilson would narrowly win re-election, over Charles Even Hughes, under the slogan that he kept us out of the war. Wilson however, thanks to the Zimmerman note and the sinking of the Lusitania, would end up having the United States Congress to declare war. The United States spent little time in the war, but after is where Woodrow Wilson made his big splash; the Fourteen Points and the League of Nations proposal were historic and unprecedented. They would change the very nature of foreign relations for all nations. Unfortunately, the only major nation that did not join the new League was the United States, Wilson had alienated his support at home and his treaty failed to win U.S. Senate ratification.
"Just as the stroke impaired Wilson's ability to concentrate, so it seemed to narrow and limit his mind, stripping away his political skills and ability to deal with complexities, bringing emotion very near to the surface, and intensifying his deep-seated tendency to judge all issues as right or wrong. On such matters he could be clear and decisive, firing Lansing for his disloyalty on the treaty and for encouraging a movement toward intervention in Mexico, refusing to see House because he thought the colonel had given away too much in Paris. Unwittingly, Edith and Dr. Grayson contributed to his oversimplification of issues by shielding him from his problems that might be complicated and unpleasant. Because, like many stoke victims, he denied the severity of his own illness, Wilson really believed that he was quite himself. By 1920 he was even talking about running for a third term to vindicate his stand on the league." p.216
Toward the end of his presidency he had a stroke, and was mostly unable to function as the President, his wife, Edith, (who he married during presidency after his first wife, Ellen, had died) would to bring papers for him to sign so no one would know of his condition.
His time in his post-presidency was very short. He did, however, outlive his own successor--Warren G. Harding died in 1923--where Wilson lived until 1924. Clements wrote an awesome biography that details all of these events and much more. I highly recommend this book to anyone.
December 15, 2019
Few American Presidents have been more enigmatic than Woodrow Wilson. Oddly, I see some parallels between Wilson and the equally indecipherable Thomas Jefferson. Both men were visionaries, yet shared a naïveté that frequently left you wondering, “what were they thinking?” when they said X or when they did Y.
Kendrick A. Clements relatively brief biography of the 28th President is surprisingly complete. You get a sense of “Tommy’s” upbringing, his education, his emergence as a noted educator, his brief governorship of New Jersey, his early presidency, his elevation to being recognized as an international statesman, and his tragic descent both physically and mentally. While short (about 225 pages of text), Clements Book is nevertheless complicated. The author forgoes the typical chronological approach in favor of a topical structure. Consequently, I often found myself trying to connect the dots regarding how what was happening in one facet of his life might have influenced the specific action or decision being described.
Clements clearly reveres Wilson, and there is much to be admired. There are numerous lessons in political effectiveness that are worthy of notice. However, Clements adoration for his subject results in constant equivocation when presenting Wilson’s disturbing blind spots on topics related to race, imperialism, and equal rights. Clements admits failures, but annoyingly almost always points out that some other contemporary was more racist or excuses behaviors because of Wilson’s health or more pressing priorities.
“Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman” is worth reading and really packs a lot of information into a single volume. Nevertheless, this isn’t the best choice if you only plan to read one Wilson biography.
Kendrick A. Clements relatively brief biography of the 28th President is surprisingly complete. You get a sense of “Tommy’s” upbringing, his education, his emergence as a noted educator, his brief governorship of New Jersey, his early presidency, his elevation to being recognized as an international statesman, and his tragic descent both physically and mentally. While short (about 225 pages of text), Clements Book is nevertheless complicated. The author forgoes the typical chronological approach in favor of a topical structure. Consequently, I often found myself trying to connect the dots regarding how what was happening in one facet of his life might have influenced the specific action or decision being described.
Clements clearly reveres Wilson, and there is much to be admired. There are numerous lessons in political effectiveness that are worthy of notice. However, Clements adoration for his subject results in constant equivocation when presenting Wilson’s disturbing blind spots on topics related to race, imperialism, and equal rights. Clements admits failures, but annoyingly almost always points out that some other contemporary was more racist or excuses behaviors because of Wilson’s health or more pressing priorities.
“Woodrow Wilson: World Statesman” is worth reading and really packs a lot of information into a single volume. Nevertheless, this isn’t the best choice if you only plan to read one Wilson biography.
June 19, 2025
I had a hard time reading this biography. It was factual and well researched but it didn't have the depth I have been used to reading on all the presidents. He had idealistic views and was a moralistic person in many ways, but his racist values really disappointed me. He saw things in black and white and was frustrated with those who disagreed with him. A stubborn man. And his second wife acted as president after his stroke. He tried to get the League of Nations passed but failed. He tried to get his 14 points accepted but the world was too complicated for his idealistic ideas. His main successes were in the field of finance - income tax, Federal trade and banking. The book didn't do a good job of covering WW1 in my opinion. A lot happened during Wilson's time in office, but this book seemed to rush through it.
January 15, 2025
For such an intelligent person, Woodrow Wilson was a horrible politician and president. He generally refused to listen to anyone and basically told his naysayers they were idiots and wrong without debating them otherwise. He caused occupation and revolt in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. And he almost detailed the treaty of Versailles over Japan's insistence that the West not be racist. He also ushered in prohibition. No wonder it took me nearly a year to read this dry book about a dry man.
March 31, 2018
Good biography
I read this book out of the sense of learning something about the president and the man. I did in both cases. By the time the book ended I enjoyed a greater understanding of Woodrow Wilson. I gave a four star rating because the book was so poorly edited. Numerous typos.
I read this book out of the sense of learning something about the president and the man. I did in both cases. By the time the book ended I enjoyed a greater understanding of Woodrow Wilson. I gave a four star rating because the book was so poorly edited. Numerous typos.
June 27, 2018
Well done
A very satisfying tome on the life of Wilson . One really gets to intimately see the life and breath of a truly great American and his dedication to service .
A very satisfying tome on the life of Wilson . One really gets to intimately see the life and breath of a truly great American and his dedication to service .
September 2, 2018
Deadly dull.
November 26, 2011
This was an interesting short-volume treatment of the two-term president the presided during World War I and the advent of Prohibition, although the domestic campaign for Prohibition was given footnote treatment. Perhaps correctly, more emphasis was placed on the Sedition Act of 1918. The treatment of Wilson's marriages, health concerns, and personal life seems even handed and responsible to me. The book reads closer to a 3.5 to me.
For those looking strictly for an introduction to 28th president of the United States, this offers a decent first look at Wilson. Those seeking something scholarly will be disappointed.
For those looking strictly for an introduction to 28th president of the United States, this offers a decent first look at Wilson. Those seeking something scholarly will be disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews