Thomas Woodrow WilsonThomas Woodrow Wilson, twenty-eighth president of the United States, may have suffered from dyslexia. He never knew how to read easily, but developed a strong power of concentration and an almost photographic memory. The outbreak of World War I coincided with the death of Wilson's first wife, Ellen Axson, to whom he was passionately devoted. Seven months after his death, his friends introduced him to Edith Bolling Galt, a descendant of the Indian princess Pocahontas, and they married nine months later. In 1912, times were good for most Americans. Farmers were experiencing their most prosperous period in living memory, the cost of living was rising slightly, unemployment was lower than it had been for several years, and working conditions were improving. In 1913, when Wilson was inaugurated, American industries were overwhelmed by a flood of consumer goods, including automobiles, telephones, and movies. However, Wilson almost did not appear on the presidential ballot, with the leading contender for the Democratic nomination being House Speaker Champ Clark. It took 46 votes before the delegates turned to Wilson. In the election, the Republicans were split between Taft and Roosevelt, almost guaranteeing victory for the Democrats and Wilson. He sought ways to develop patriotism and reshape the federal government to govern the nation more effectively. Wilson was a conservative; in his books and articles he often displayed hostility towards reformers and rebels. Although Woodrow Wilson is best remembered for his successes in foreign affairs, his abilities for domestic reform and leadership are also notable. Commemorated by the public primarily for his success in guiding the nation through its first major modern war, World War I, out of Mexico/...... middle of paper ......front. Wilson tried to apply his own moral standards to international politics; he believed that the president should be the leader of the people, not just the chief executive of the country.Bibliography:BIBLIOGRAPHYBailey, Thomas A.: The American Pageant, DC Heath and Company, 1994.Bailey, Thomas A.: Presidential Greatness, Thomas A. Bailey, 1966.Clements, Kendrick A.: The Presidency of Woodrow Wilson, University Press of Kansas, 1939.Hoover, Herbert: The proof by Woodrow Wilson, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1958.Leavell, Perry J.: World Leaders Past and Present, Wilson, Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Wilson, Woodrow: The New Freedom, Prentice-Hall, Inc. , 1961. "Woodrow Wilson" The World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia, World Book Inc., 1996. "Woodrow Wilson" Infopedia, Future Vision Multimedia Inc., 1995.