Reply #3: Wilson a liberal?

[exboyfil]

Given the context of his time he was one of the most racist presidents we ever had. He complained bitterly about T. Roosevelt having Booker T. Washington in the White House for dinner. His actions both as president of Princeton and as the U.S. president showed deep racism as he attempted to exclude access for African Americans to positions and jobs. You may argue he was a man of his times, but T. Roosevelt had already broke the ice for better racial relations. Wilson regressed in those relationships.

His 14 points were only for Europeans (just ask Ho Chi Minh). He got us into a war we had no business being in (hardly an action of a liberal).

Thomas Jefferson, who was a man of his time and flawed, still is a much greater liberal than Wilson. The opening paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, according to Joseph Ellis, echoes most of the social progress we have seen the last two plus centuries.

Both Adams, both Roosevelts, and Washington rightly deserve to be on the list, but I would never include Wilson. He is the most overrated president in history.