In 1916, Woodrow Wilson successfully won re-election as the President of the United States with a campaign slogan that emphasized his commitment to maintaining peace and avoiding involvement in international conflicts. His platform resonated particularly well with voters who were weary of war, as they sought leaders who promised stability and neutrality.
The deeper meaning behind this quote lies in its critique of political opportunism and the shifting alliances within American politics at the time. Greg Grandin suggests that Wilson’s ability to secure re-election on a platform of peace was undermined by his potential willingness to abandon those ideals once he secured power. The phrase "he could then betray his anti-war supporters" implies that Wilson might have acted in ways contrary to his campaign promises, possibly leading the nation into war despite his earlier assurances of neutrality. This betrayal was made easier because there were powerful political groups backing him, including individuals who had missed opportunities for military glory or felt a need to participate in new conflicts as a way to compensate for past disappointments.
Greg Grandin is an American historian and author known for his work on Latin America, the Cold War era, and U.S. foreign policy. His writings often focus on how political and economic ideologies shape global events, offering critical perspectives on historical narratives that tend to glorify or simplify complex political decisions.
