Woodrow Wilson and The Presidency

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Woodrow Wilson and His Ability To be an Effective President

During Woodrow Wilson's two terms in office he showed to be a great democratic leader in many areas. He managed to accomplish a lot, despite his poor health that he had to deal with since his childhood. Wilson always had a strong interest in government and was always looking for changes and improvements. As president he was never afraid to show a bit of a radical side when it came to making changes. He was constantly pushing for world peace and the avoidance of World War I. Even though he was unsuccessful in avoiding the war he showed to be a great leader during it. He never gave up on anything he was trying to do. His last years of his life were dedicated to convincing the
U.S. to join his League of Nations.

Woodrow Wilson was born December 28, 1856. Through his childhood he was often sick. This did not keep him from building an interest in education. His father and him would read out loud to each other and discuss the books. If they were not reading often the two would sit and talk about recent events. He later moved onto college and studied American and British political history, public speaking, and law. After college he set up a law practice with Edward Renick.
Because he had not learned the field of law thorough while in school, he showed a poor ability to be a lawyer. During this time he was in and out of sickness.

Wilson did not really want to be a lawyer. His main area of interest was in politics. His first taste of politics was during his term as Governor of New
Jersey. He took this seat in office with sites of presidency two years later.
He let this be known in a letter he wrote to a friend in June of 1910. In the letter he said this "It is immediately, as you know, the question of my nomination for the governorship of New Jersey; but that it is the mere preliminary of a plan to nominate me in 1912 for presidency."(Encarta 5).

During his years as governor he showed that he could change his political attitudes. He learned to be a little more patient with other people. Before he found it "very difficult to work with people who opposed him, and was not receptive to the suggestions of friends who approved his ideals but trusted in slower or modified processes"(Encarta 4). This was shown more during his time
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...or and he had become to weak. People did not see

Wilson as the same man he used to be he was weak mentally and physically.
He fell into his last illness and died February 3, 1924.

Wilson was a very good leader during his terms of presidency. He showed great enthusiasm to stay out of the war and to create world peace. He showed that he cared for the people and that he would do just about anything to help them. Wilson learned to except other peoples opinions and to be open to new ideas from others. Even though war was not avoided he learned much from the experience and helped to create the League of Nations. With the creation of the
League of Nations the United Nations was formed to take it's place. Wilson helped to create many new amendments, policies and agencies. All of his idea's were strong and even though some of them did work out, they helped to created stepping-stones for the presidents that followed. Without Woodrow Wilson we may not be the country that we are today.

Works Cited

1. Colleir's Encyclopedia, Vol. 23. Ed. Bernard Johnston. 1994. 509-510

2. Microsoft Encarta '97 Encyclopedia Deluxe Edition. Subject Search: Woodrow
Wilson. 1-15.

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