"IT MIGHT BE NICE TO NOMINATE SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY A DEMOCRAT"

WILSON NOMINATES FORMER REPUBLICAN FOR STATE SECRETARY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) In a recent debate of presidential candidates of the Democratic Party, Pete Buttigieg said, "It might be nice to nominate someone who is actually a Democrat."

Those words might well have been spoken by Democratic senators a century ago when President Woodrow Wilson (Feb 26, 1920) nominated Bainbridge Colby* for Secretary of State.

The President's nomination met with bewilderment not only because Mr. Bainbridge had been a Republican, Bull-Mooser and Independent, but also because he had no diplomatic experience.  Mr. Wilson had fired Secretary of State Robert Lansing** for insubordination. 

Despite the grumblings of Democratic Senators, Bainbridge Colby was confirmed as Secretary of State on March 23, 1920.  He served until the end of Woodrow Wilson's second term.

Secretary Colby pushed for the ratification of the Versailles Treaty, supported the proposed League of Nations, and did not support U.S. recognition of communist Russia.  After his service in the State Department, Mr. Colby opened a law practice with former President Wilson in Washington, D.C.

Although originally a supporter of FDR, Mr. Colby founded the anti-Roosevelt American Liberty League.

*Bainbridge Colby (1869-1950) was born in St. Louis, Mo & graduated from Williams College (1890),  & NY School of Law (1892).  BC served as a member of the NY State Assembly (1901-02) but was defeated as a Progressive for U.S. Senate (1916).  He served as a member of the US Shipping Board during WWI.

**Robert Lansing (1864-1928) served as Secretary of State (1915-1920).  RL was a conservative pro-business Democrat who fell out of favor with Woodrow Wilson because of his opposition to the Versailles Treaty.

SOURCES

"Bainbridge Colby (1920-1921)," Miller Center, www.millercenter.org/

"Today-100: February 26, 1920: Of present political affiliations, the draft, by-elections, opium, shackles and glue," www.whateveritisimagainstit.blogspot.com/

Bainbridge Colby

Secretary of State

Photo by Harris & Ewing (1920)

www.hdl.loc.gov/

loc.pnp/cph3a14198

GERMAN DECEITS, INSULTS & PLOTS!

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2350

FIRST AMERICAN RED WHITE & BLUE BOOK OFFICIAL STATEMENT ISSUED 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago tonight, June 24, 1917, "the first in a series of official statements" explaining how the United States was 'forced' into World War I was issued by the administration of President Woodrow Wilson.

The statements, which were prepared by Secretary of State Robert Lansing*, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker and Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels with the assistance of George Creel, were to collectively be known as the American Red, White & Blue Book.

The first statement indicted the German government by "exposing how every effort...to gain...observance of international law and treaty obligations went for naught."

The pamphlet addressed American neutrality and the sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania resulting in "the wanton murder of peaceable men and innocent women and children."

The headline in an article in the Chicago Daily Tribune of June 25, 1917 written by Arthur Sears Hennings says that the United States was forced into the war by "deceits, insults (and) plots."


*Robert Lansing (1864-1928) was born in Watertown, NY & graduated from Amherst College in 1886.  RL was admitted to the bar in 1889 & served as Secretary of State from 1915 to 1920.

"Why U.S. Fights Kaiser, Forced Into War By Deceits, Insults, Plots", by Arthur Sears Henning, The Chicago Daily Tribune, June 25, 1917.

Robert Lansing
Secretary of State (1919)
Library of Congress Image

WILSON WANTS STATE OF WAR WITH GERMANY

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2260

PRESIDENT WANTS CONGRESS TO DECLARE STATE OF WAR

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 100 years ago today, March 26, 1917, Secretary of State Robert Lansing* conferred with Democratic house leaders on the form of a prospective resolution "declaring a state of war with Germany, on the early enactment of espionage legislation, and on the creation of a great secret service to guard against the operation of German plotters."

According to a special bulletin in the Chicago Daily Tribune of March 27, 1917, the Secretary of State told the house leaders that the President wanted Congress to declare a state of war, as opposed to making a "straight out" declaration of war, to place the responsibility for aggression upon the Germans.

The Tribune's special bulletin stated that the congressmen approved President Wilson's request.

JFK+50 NOTE

President Wilson finally asked Congress to declare war on Germany on April 2, 1917.  The US Senate did so on April 4 followed by the US House of Representatives on April 6, 1917.

*Robert Lansing (1864-1928) was born in Watertown, NY & educated at Amherst College.  RL was legal adviser to the State Department at the outbreak of WWI & served as President Wilson's Secretary of State from 1915 to 1920.

SOURCES

"Draw War Resolution," Special Bulletin, The Chicago Daily Tribune, March 27, 1917, www.archives.chicagotribune.com/

"US Entry into World War I, 1917," Office of the Historian, www.history.state.gov/

Your Country Is At War

U.S. Poster (1917)

Library of Congress Image

US GOVERNMENT EMBARKS ON A COURSE OF WAR WITH GERMANY

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2243

PRESIDENT WILSON BYPASSES CONGRESS, ARMS AMERICAN SHIPS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 100 years ago today, March 9, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson bypassed the United States Congress and issued the order to arm American merchant ships for protection against German submarines.

Arthur Sears Henning wrote in The Chicago Daily Tribune the following day that the President made the decision to take the action when he was informed he had the power by Secretary of State Robert Lansing* and Attorney General Thomas W. Gregory** and after he was convinced Germany was carrying out a "campaign of ruthlessness" via submarine warfare.

Mr. Henning wrote that the President's action, along with his call for an extra session of Congress to be assembled on April 16, "indicates the government is embarking upon a course which may lead to war with Germany."

Tribune readers were also alerted to the administration's call for "all loyal Americans to support the government without question and to maintain silence upon the plans for the protection of Americans..."

*Robert Lansing (1864-1928) was born in Watertown, NY & educated at Amherst College.  RL was legal adviser to the State Department at the outbreak of WWI & served as President Wilson's Secretary of State from 1915 to 1920.

**Thomas Watt Gregory (1861-1933) was born in Crwfordsville, Mississippi & graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1885.  He served as President Wilson's Attorney General from 1914 to 1919.

SOURCE

"Put Veil On Ship Arming, Navy Active To Meet The U-Boat Crisis," by Arthur Sears Henning, The Chicago Daily Tribune, March 10, 1917, www.archives.chicagotribune.com/

Robert Lansing

42nd US Secretary of State

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress Image

Thomas Watt Gregory

Attorney General

Photo by The Elliotts (1913)

Library of Congress Image

OVERT ACT BY GERMANY WILL EARN US RESPONSE

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2216

OVERT ACT BY GERMANY WILL RESULT IN U.S. MILITARY RESPONSE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, February 10, 1917, the Chicago Daily Tribune published a front page story reporting discussion at President Woodrow Wilson's cabinet meeting the previous day.

The main topic was the question of what action by Germany would result in a declaration of war by the United States.  While it was agreed that "no overt act" had yet been committed by the Germans since their resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare**, any overt act on their part would cause the President to "ask authority (of the Congress) to employ the armed forces of the nation."

Overt action was identified as the sinking of American ships without warning or killing American citizens aboard merchantmen of any  nationality.

President Wilson indicated, however, he would not ask for a declaration of war in such an instance, but would "protect the lives and rights of Americans on the high seas" by using the armed forces.

One of the participants in the cabinet meeting identified by the Tribune was Secretary of State Robert Lansing.**

*unrestricted submarine warfare is a type of naval warfare in which submarines sink vessels without giving warning beforehand.  Germany resumed usw on Feb 1, 1917 declaring the waters around the British Isles a "war zone" where all merchant ships, including neutrals, were subject to attack.

**Robert Lansing (1864-1928) was born in Watertown, NY & graduated from Amherst in 1886.  He was admitted to the bar in 1889.  RL served as legal adviser at the US State Dept at the outbreak of WWI & as Secretary of State 1915-1920.  

RL was head of the US Commission at the Paris Peace Conference at the end of the war, but fell out of favor with the President because he did not agree that the League of Nations was essential to the peace treaty.  After the President suffered a stroke, Mrs. Wilson asked for Mr. Lansing's resignation.

SOURCE

"Wilson Ready To Use Force If Necessary," The Chicago Daily Tribune, Vol LXXVI -- No. 36, Final Edition, February 10, 1917.

President Wilson & His Cabinet

Photo from "Liberty's Victorious Conflict:

A Photographic History of the World War"

by C.V. Buck

The Magazine Circulation Co., 1918