Woodrow Wilson, a Third Term, and the Solemn Referendum

Abstract

AS election year, I920, neared there was more than the usual speculation as to whether the President would be a candidate. Political reporters wrote variously that two presidents, Roosevelt and Wilson, would campaign against each other for a third term; that Wilson would run in order to assure United States participation in the League of Nations; and even that he resisted compromise with Republicans in order to make the League the is-sue for a third term bid. The consensus of press and politicians, at least before his breakdown in September, I9I9, was that Wilson would run again.1 Wilson's position of leadership within his party was overshadowing; many Democrats were ready to cry long live the king. According to the party chairman, Homer Cummings, the I9I8 election had shown that Democrats could hope to win in I920 only by adding Wilson's personal following to the normal party vote.2 Attorney General Palmer proclaimed that Wilson could be elected, and national committeeman Norman E. Mack said he did not see how anyone else could be the nominee.3 Seibold, of the New York World, wrote that Democratic leaders hoped Wilsoin would run and, unless he indicated otherwise, would take his consent for granted.4 No statement came from Wilson, and through I919 there is no consistent evidence concerning his attitude. His political theory opposed any arbitrary time limit on executive leadership, and, in February, i9I9, the White Hoiuse denied a report that Wilson had intimated he would not run.5 In Paris, House reported, Wilson was at one time on the brink of withdrawing. Wilson saw press comment that removal of his personal political fortunes from