Story by Chris Graham
The House of Representatives has voted to establish a Woodrow Wilson presidential library in Staunton.
The matter was passed by a voice vote of the House, said Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte, who introduced the legislation creating a Wilson library at his birthplace in the Queen City.
“As a statesman, scholar and president, Woodrow Wilson faced economic crisis, democratic decay, and a world war,” Goodlatte said. “Presidential historians agree that World War I, and President Wilson’s leadership, radically altered the role of diplomacy as a tool of foreign policy – a policy that established a new path for America’s role in promoting democracies throughout the world.
“Woodrow Wilson, President from 1913 to 1921, is the most important recent president without a presidential library or repository of important records. The establishment of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum will enable folks to learn more about the life and work of our nation’s 28th president,” Goodlatte said.
The legislation – which now moves to the Senate for consideration in that body – would create grants from the National Archives for the establishment of a presidential library. The bill requires the foundation that is currently working toward this end locally to raise at least twice the money to be allocated by Congress to qualify for the grant award.
Chris Graham is the executive editor of The Augusta Free Press.
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