Woodrow Wilson's Legacy

When I was growing up, Woodrow Wilson was a great progressive hero. As a founder of the League of Nations and a champion of global democracy, he was a model of enlightened statesmanship. As president of the United States, he introduced a host of sweeping reforms, including an income tax and women’s right to vote. He was the most forward-looking leader before the New Deal came along.

But now, they want to chisel his name off buildings.

Woodrow Wilson was also a deep-dyed racist. Even in the context of the times, his views on race were noxious. As president of Princeton, he excluded blacks. As president of the United States, he resegregated the federal civil service and removed black employees from positions of authority. He told a group of black professionals, “Segregation is not a humiliation but a benefit, and ought to be so regarded by you gentlemen.” …show more content…
Wilson’s legacy has been pretty much airbrushed out of history. Now it has sparked a crisis at Princeton, where students are demanding that his name be expunged from its renowned school of public policy. Lots of folks agree with them – including The New York Times. Others aren’t so sure. As one student told the Times, “If the criteria for naming a building for someone was that they’d be perfect, we shouldn’t name