Woodrow Wilson and Colonel House: A Personality Study [Paperback]

Alexander L. George (Author), Juliette L. George (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1964

Analysis of the failure of the U.S. Senate to accept the League of Nations and other defeats of Wilson's. Examines Wilson's character and association with House, national politics, President's collapse, more. Psychoanalytical interpretation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 361 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1964)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486211444
• ISBN-13: 978-0486211442
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #414,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining. Informative. Thought-provoking., May 12, 1999

By 

P. S. Ruckman Jr. (IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Woodrow Wilson and Colonel House: A Personality Study (Paperback)

This book presents a "personality study" of Wilson. I ordered it as a political scientist interested in individual-level analyses of international relations. I came to it with little or no particular interest in Wilson or House (who?) or American politics during the Wilson administration. I knew nothing of the authors.

I read the book in 2 days because I could not put it down. It well deserves the status of "classic." Although the psychological disposition and development of Wilson provide a motif throughout, the authors state their case in moderate terms and are kind enough to limit jargon-filled discussions to very few pages. Some readers will sense contradictions in the analysis, but they are not too distracting. Meanwhile, an impressive tale is told. The reader goes from the singing of hymns in church as a child to a bizarre last speech on a balcony (before Wilson dies). Wilson emerges as a perfectionist, an idealist, one full of self-doubt, and yet one unwilling to compromise EVER ! He also emerges as someone who had low self-esteem and a giant, hyper-sensitive ego which allowed him about 3 friends (his 2 wives and Colonel House). House was valued by Wilson because he knew how (and was willing)to flatter and say "yes" a lot to Wilson (to his face anyway). Personal diaries and letters add color to the discussion of the relationship. Wilson's complex make-up interestingly resulted in all too predictable dispositions and behavior. Participants at the Paris Peace Conference and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge understood this and played him like a cheap deck of cards. Thus, this great read teaches lessons about politics, personality and life!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woodrow Wilson and His Ego., February 14, 2009

By 

J.L. Populist (WI,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Woodrow Wilson and Colonel House: A Personality Study (Paperback)

This book analyzes Woodrow Wilson's personality and his relationships with others throughout his adult life. A lot of the material centers on his quests for power, first as an educator and then in politics.
Colonel Edward House was one of three people to really become a confidant of Wilson.

The sources for the book from Wilson are personal letters he wrote as well as speeches he gave. The personal papers of Edward Mandell House were also used as a source.

From reading this book it is evident that Woodrow Wilson had severe personality flaws. His mental health problems in the 1890's were troubling! He was also obsessive in his pursuit of the presidency at the expense of anyone he could utilize to achieve that goal.

What I took from the book was that Wilson was a megalomaniac and Edward House was a shrewd political manipulator(until the end of their friendship) that eventually was perceived by Wilson as a threat.

On the presidential term, the book focuses on the defeat of the League of Nations which was aided mostly by Wilson's refusal to compromise. The authors also detail the circumstances of the falling out between Wilson and House.

This is an excellent book about the psychology of Woodrow Wilson. Not as much attention is spent on House or some of the major changes in the U.S during Wilson's administration, namely the Federal Reserve Act, and Income tax.

Overall WOODROW WILSON AND COLONEL HOUSE provides some insight on Woodrow Wilson from childhood to death. This book also addresses some of the politics and politicians of the WWI era.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprising discovery, February 16, 2008

By 

cmc (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Woodrow Wilson and Colonel House: A Personality Study (Paperback)

I came across this book as an Amazon recommendation.
Wilson was one of my least favourite Presidents - so I thought this may give me another perspective.
I was captivated by the book - the complexity of WW's charachter, the same mistakes continuously repeated with links to his parental relationships.
In 50 years time someone will write a best seller of the Clintons as a psychological profile - this was the precedent.

Great book. Great surprise.