Woodrow Wilson and Colonel Edward House
Woodrow Wilson was a hard person to get close to, according to some of the recent biographies of him. But for much of his term, his closest adviser was the man he referred to as Colonel House, even though he had no military experience. The two men were very close until they suffered a falling out because Wilson believed that House had failed to carry out his plan for a League of Nations, while in Paris in 1919. But prior to that time, Edward House had enormous personal influence with U.S. President Woodrow Wilson as his foreign policy advisor throughout World War I.
Edward House was born July 26, 1858 in Houston, Texas. He was the son of Houston mayor Thomas William House, Sr. House attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, but was forced to drop out of Cornell when his father died. He became active in Texas politics and was said to have helped to make four men governor of Texas. One of them, Governor James Hogg, gave House the title "Colonel" by appointing House to his staff.
House became a close friend and supporter of New Jersey governor Woodrow Wilson in 1911, and helped him win the Democratic presidential nomination in 1912. The two men forged a close friendship and House helped Wilson set up his administration. House was offered the cabinet position of his choice (except for Secretary of State which was already pledged to William Jennings Bryan) but declined the offer, choosing instead "to serve wherever and whenever possible." House was even provided living quarters within the White House. After Wilson's first wife died in 1914, the President became even closer to House. But Wilson's second wife, Edith, was said to have disliked House, and this in turn weakened the friendship between the two men,
In the 1916 presidential election House declined any public role, but was selected as Wilson's top campaign advisor. He was a key planner of the campaign and was also active in campaign finance and fundraising.
During Wilson's second term, House was assigned the task of promoting Wilson's goal of brokering a peace to end World War I. He spent much of 1915 and 1916 in Europe, trying to negotiate peace through diplomacy. He was enthusiastic an a hard worker, but lacked knowledge of European affairs and was misled by British diplomats. After the sinking of the Lusitania on 7 May 1915, tension escalated with Germany. House argued the United States ought to help Britain and France win a limited Allied victory. However, Wilson still insisted on neutrality.
House played a major role in shaping wartime diplomacy. Wilson had House assemble a team of academic experts to devise efficient postwar solutions to the perplexing problems and issues of the day. In September 1918, Wilson gave House the responsibility for preparing a constitution for a League of Nations. In October 1918, when Germany petitioned for peace based on the Fourteen Points, Wilson charged House with working out details of an armistice with the Allies.
House helped Wilson outline his Fourteen Points, and worked with the president on the drafting of the Treaty of Versailles and the Covenant of the League of Nations. House served on the League of Nations Commission on Mandates with representatives from other allied powers. On May 30, 1919 House participated in a meeting in Paris, which laid the groundwork for establishment of the Council on Foreign Relations. Throughout 1919, House urged Wilson to work with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Wilson's foremost political opponent, to achieve ratification of the Versailles Treaty.
The conference revealed a number of serious policy disagreements between Wilson and House. The stress appeared to show on both men and Wilson had become much more intolerant and broke with many of his closest advisors. He dismissed House's own son-in-law, Gordon Auchincloss, from the American peace commission he was told that Auchincloss was making derogatory comments about the President.
When Wilson returned home in February of 1919, House took his place on the Council of Ten where he negotiated compromises which were unacceptable to Wilson, not the least of which was a watering down of the League of Nations. In mid-March 1919, Wilson returned to Paris and lost confidence in House, relegating him to the sidelines. After they returned to the U.S. later in 1919, the two men never saw or spoke to each other again. After Wilson suffered a stroke and ended his term as President, House attempted to visit Wilson at his home in Washington, but Wilson would not see him. Despite the falling out, House strongly supported U.S. membership in the League of Nations and in the World Court.
Wilson died on February 3, 1924 in Washington. House continued to be involved in Democratic party politics and in 1932, House supported Franklin D. Roosevelt, but did not join his inner circle. He later became disillusioned with the New Deal. House died on March 28, 1938 in New York City, following a bout with pleurisy. The relationship between Wilson and House is closely examined in the 1964 book by Alexander and Juliette George entitled Woodrow Wilson and Colonel House: A Personality Study.
Edward House was born July 26, 1858 in Houston, Texas. He was the son of Houston mayor Thomas William House, Sr. House attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, but was forced to drop out of Cornell when his father died. He became active in Texas politics and was said to have helped to make four men governor of Texas. One of them, Governor James Hogg, gave House the title "Colonel" by appointing House to his staff.
House became a close friend and supporter of New Jersey governor Woodrow Wilson in 1911, and helped him win the Democratic presidential nomination in 1912. The two men forged a close friendship and House helped Wilson set up his administration. House was offered the cabinet position of his choice (except for Secretary of State which was already pledged to William Jennings Bryan) but declined the offer, choosing instead "to serve wherever and whenever possible." House was even provided living quarters within the White House. After Wilson's first wife died in 1914, the President became even closer to House. But Wilson's second wife, Edith, was said to have disliked House, and this in turn weakened the friendship between the two men,
In the 1916 presidential election House declined any public role, but was selected as Wilson's top campaign advisor. He was a key planner of the campaign and was also active in campaign finance and fundraising.
During Wilson's second term, House was assigned the task of promoting Wilson's goal of brokering a peace to end World War I. He spent much of 1915 and 1916 in Europe, trying to negotiate peace through diplomacy. He was enthusiastic an a hard worker, but lacked knowledge of European affairs and was misled by British diplomats. After the sinking of the Lusitania on 7 May 1915, tension escalated with Germany. House argued the United States ought to help Britain and France win a limited Allied victory. However, Wilson still insisted on neutrality.
House played a major role in shaping wartime diplomacy. Wilson had House assemble a team of academic experts to devise efficient postwar solutions to the perplexing problems and issues of the day. In September 1918, Wilson gave House the responsibility for preparing a constitution for a League of Nations. In October 1918, when Germany petitioned for peace based on the Fourteen Points, Wilson charged House with working out details of an armistice with the Allies.
House helped Wilson outline his Fourteen Points, and worked with the president on the drafting of the Treaty of Versailles and the Covenant of the League of Nations. House served on the League of Nations Commission on Mandates with representatives from other allied powers. On May 30, 1919 House participated in a meeting in Paris, which laid the groundwork for establishment of the Council on Foreign Relations. Throughout 1919, House urged Wilson to work with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Wilson's foremost political opponent, to achieve ratification of the Versailles Treaty.
The conference revealed a number of serious policy disagreements between Wilson and House. The stress appeared to show on both men and Wilson had become much more intolerant and broke with many of his closest advisors. He dismissed House's own son-in-law, Gordon Auchincloss, from the American peace commission he was told that Auchincloss was making derogatory comments about the President.
When Wilson returned home in February of 1919, House took his place on the Council of Ten where he negotiated compromises which were unacceptable to Wilson, not the least of which was a watering down of the League of Nations. In mid-March 1919, Wilson returned to Paris and lost confidence in House, relegating him to the sidelines. After they returned to the U.S. later in 1919, the two men never saw or spoke to each other again. After Wilson suffered a stroke and ended his term as President, House attempted to visit Wilson at his home in Washington, but Wilson would not see him. Despite the falling out, House strongly supported U.S. membership in the League of Nations and in the World Court.
Wilson died on February 3, 1924 in Washington. House continued to be involved in Democratic party politics and in 1932, House supported Franklin D. Roosevelt, but did not join his inner circle. He later became disillusioned with the New Deal. House died on March 28, 1938 in New York City, following a bout with pleurisy. The relationship between Wilson and House is closely examined in the 1964 book by Alexander and Juliette George entitled Woodrow Wilson and Colonel House: A Personality Study.