Woodrow Wilson's Wars: The Making of America's First Modern Commander-in-Chief

Woodrow Wilson'spresidentialadministration (1913-1921) was marked not only byAmerica'sparticipationinWorld WarI,but also by numerous armed interventionsby the UnitedStatesinothercountries.Spanning the globe, these actions includedthe years-long occupations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic,a border war with Mexico,and the use ofMarinesguarding American citizens during unrest inChinese cities.Author MarkBenbow examines whatthese American policy decisions and military adventuresrevealofWilsonascommander-in-chief, and the powers and duties of the office. Wilson tended to let his cabinet officials operate their own departments as theywishedaslong astheir actions did not contradicthis overall policies.However, as regardsforeign policy,Wilson took an active role overseeing American diplomats.

His policy toward the military followeda similarpattern,though sometimesmilitary commanders' actions.affected Wilson's diplomatic goals.Benbow focuses on those conflictsbetween military reality, the pragmatic needs of policy, and the larger goals of crafting a lasting foreign policy.