Some of you may recall my two thumbs down award to President Woodrow Wilson for being behind the times on race.
And the Award Goes to ... President Woodrow Wilson
Before I embark upon the thrust of this argument, I want to express my sadness upon hearing Samuel Kronen of the Substack Alien Nation has retired from writing. I wish Samuel well in the next chapter in his life. I discovered Samuel three or four years ago on
In fairness, I have now read 720 pages of Wilson by A. Scott Berg. There is a racial moment on the South Portico of the White House that took me by surprise. The moment was out of character for Wilson and I felt duty bound to share the happening. Even President Wilson was nuanced and complex on race.
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The year is 1920. There is a major presidential election between Ohio Governor James M. Cox (D) and Ohio junior U.S. Senator Warren G. Harding (R). President Wilson (D) has been paralyzed on his left side and incapacitated for over a year. Wilson is effectively side-lined in the national campaign.
Until a racial moment presents itself.
While President Wilson is eating crackers and milk, a breathless chief of staff Joseph Patrick Tumulty waves a paper over his head. Tumulty is running up the steps at a breathless clip. What could it be?
Tumulty waited for the (black - ?) butler to leave.
“Governor (a term of endearment for President Wilson), we’ve got ‘em beat! Here is a paper which…is absolutely true, showing that Harding has negro blood in him. (Oh, the horror/snark) This country will never stand for that!”
Tumulty went on and on about the racial scandal there for the taking. Tumulty was reading the room well, or was he?
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The native of Virginia and son of Augusta, Georgia listened. He sipped his milk.
“Even if that is so…it will never be used with my consent. We cannot go into a man’s genealogy; we must base our campaign on principles, not on backstairs gossip. That is not only right but good politics. So I insist you kill any such proposal.” Wilson by A. Scott Berg, p. 691
Now, my friends, that was a stand up move in 1920. A man who segregated federal employment and steered black applicants away from Princeton University found racial conscience. No one would have been the wiser if President Wilson had released the hounds of racial bigotry against Harding. Wilson could have rejoiced in the smoking gun of Harding’s (alleged) black ancestry. Wilson declined to play the race card against Harding.
Why?
Why would a segregationist President give Harding a pass on race? (no pun intended)
I only have speculations. Perhaps, Wilson could not conceive of Harding as of black descent. The possibility was too disturbing to Wilson’s worldview of race. Maybe, the paralyzed Wilson was befallen with a new empathy on race. Or, perhaps Wilson was a man of honor and principle who valued fair dealing in national politics over gutter gossip. I sense honor and principle trumped Wilson’s natural prejudice and bigotry in this one instance in his life.
What do you think?
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Conclusion: Abysmal though President Wilson was on race, I have to play it straight. Wilson made a honorable call against racial digging into Harding’s family tree. And for the times, Wilson’s moment of conscience should be credited.
President Warren G. Harding March 4, 1921 - August 2, 1923
Best comment of the day — life is endlessly fascinating!
Love Anne's comment below...
She says all that I would have said plus more!
I always tell others we shouldn't judge people in the past, because of all that we have now learned.
Life may not be fair, but we can at least give others the 'benefit of doubt' when we have questions.