author
Edward Mandell House
1858–1938
A behind-the-scenes power broker in early 20th-century America, he became Woodrow Wilson’s closest adviser and helped shape U.S. diplomacy during World War I and the Paris Peace Conference.
1 Audiobook
Philip Dru: Administrator; A Story of Tomorrow, 1920-1935
by Edward Mandell House
About the author
Born in Houston, Texas, in 1858, he came from a wealthy family and built his influence first in Texas politics before moving onto the national stage. Although widely known as “Colonel” House, the title was honorary rather than military.
He is best remembered as President Woodrow Wilson’s trusted confidant during the 1910s. Working largely out of public view, he helped with political strategy, took on sensitive diplomatic missions in Europe, and played an important part in discussions surrounding the peace settlement after World War I and plans for the League of Nations.
House’s reputation has lasted because he showed how much quiet influence an adviser could wield without ever holding elected office. His career offers a revealing look at the personal networks, private negotiations, and idealistic ambitions behind American foreign policy in the Wilson years.