Neil Lanctot follows Wilson's narrow re-election in late 1916, fueled by the slogan of maintaining peace. Seeking to end the conflict before the U.S. was forced in, he issued a peace note to all warring parties and delivered his famous "Peace Without Vict

Neil Lanctot follows Wilson's narrow re-election in late 1916, fueled by the slogan of maintaining peace. Seeking to end the conflict before the U.S. was forced in, he issued a peace note to all warring parties and delivered his famous "Peace Without Victory" speech in early 1917. While popular in America, the speech was rejected by European Allies who had already sacrificed too much blood and treasure. Wilson eventually realized that if the U.S. did not fight, he would have no influence at the post-war peace conference, telling Jane Addams he would be lucky to enter "through a crack in the door." Lanctot also highlights Wilson's segregationist views and racial "hate language," noting his 19th-century mindset was far behind Addams, an NAACP supporter. As Germany prepared to resume unrestricted submarine warfare, Wilson's efforts to remain neutral were rapidly collapsing under the weight of geopolitical reality. (7)