Ross Kennedy - The Will to Believe: Woodrow Wilson, World War I, and Americas Strategy for Peace and Security

There are many individuals and institutions I would like to thank for their support as I worked on this book. First, this project would not have been possible without the education and aid I received from one of the great centers of higher education in the world, the University of California at Berkeley. Doe Library provided me with the bulk of my research material, and the Berkeley history department generously helped to fund my work with several scholarships. My teachers at Berkeley also made a lasting impression on my intellectual development. Leon F. Litwacks incomparable American survey course first inspired me to study history as an undergraduate. In different ways, Charles G. Sellers and James H. Kettner taught me how to think about the role of ideas in American politics. Professor Kettners graduate seminar on colonial America stimulated the basic question in my mind that ultimately led to this book: Whatever happened to Americas fear of standing armies? I am also grateful to Lawrence W. Levine for his insightful reading of my doctoral dissertation and for sharing his views of William Jennings Bryan. My deepest appreciation goes to my dissertation advisor and friend, Paula S. Fass. She taught me how to write and how to analyze historical arguments in a critical, logical way. Even though our fields of study were different, she enthusiastically encouraged my work and, with her probing questioning of my arguments and careful editing of my writing, vastly improved it.

In addition to Professor Fass, I have been fortunate in having three other important mentors in my career. I first met Martin Sherwin while a student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He has remained a friend and advisor ever since, always happy to exchange ideas and help out in guiding me through life as a diplomatic historian. William Rope was the American director of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese-American Studies when I taught there in 199596. A gifted diplomat and administrator, he was the most patient and fair boss one could hope for, and he never fails to inspire me with his intellectual curiosity, keen intelligence, and profound dedication to public service. Jerald Combs was department chair when I taught at San Francisco State University. At a time when jobs were hard to find, he kept me in the game while offering a treasure trove of sensible advice about academia. I will always be thankful for his wise counsel.

The quality of the book has been improved by advice from several scholars who were kind enough to read summaries or chapters of the manuscript. I am especially indebted to Lloyd E. Ambrosius, John Whiteclay Chambers II, and Roger Baldwin for their thoughtful suggestions and incisive criticisms. My colleagues at Illinois State UniversityRoger Biles, Anthony Crubaugh, Alan Lessoff, and Richard Soderlundalso offered invaluable comments on this project at various stages, from the book proposal to the final manuscript. Most of all, I am grateful to Professor Mary Ann Heiss, my series editor at Kent State University Press. Professor Heiss edited an early draft of the manuscript with extraordinary care, pushed me to clarify my interpretive points, and guided the work through the peer review process with exemplary professionalism. One of the very best parts of writing this book was working with her.

I would also like to thank Joanna Hildebrand Craig at Kent State University Press for her encouragement and support in meeting all of the key deadlines connected with the work; Mary D. Young at Kent State University Press for shepherding the manuscript through its last stages; John Kostelnick, who produced the excellent maps that accompany the manuscript; and Lawrence Castriotta, who helped me with archival research on the League of Free Nations Association I otherwise would have missed.

Finally, I am grateful to my family. My daughters Sidney and Eliot patiently competed with this book for my attention, rejuvenated me with Post-It note fights, and even offered to check the page proofs for misspellings. My wife, Larissa, served as both sounding board and editor and never allowed her disdain for Woodrow Wilsons China policies to interfere with her willingness to help in anything I asked her to do. And last, but certainly not least, I thank my dad, James Stirling Kennedy, for everything.