Wilson had been asked by League of Nations supporters to deliver a short radio address on the eve of the 5th anniversary of Armistice Day. Wilson agreed. On the day of the speech he had a bad migraine but a little after 8 pm he came down to his library on S Street to give his short speech. Wilson was introduced at 8:28 p.m. and began to speak three minutes later. Three stations carried the speech which was heard over much of the U.S., as far west as Denver.. The stations were WEAF in New York, WCAP in Washington, and WJAR in Providence, Rhode Island. WCAP noted that speakers had been installed in auditoriums in various towns in Texas so that audiences there could listen to Wilson's speech. This was the first remote radio broadcast made by a national figure.

Wilson’s address was short and when audiences heard his voice it was the first time that much of the public was made aware of how weak Wilson had become. Click here to hear part of his speech. (mp3 500 kb) Wilson’s voice is the fainter of the two. The other voice is unidentified.

This is the text of Wilson’s address…

The anniversary of Armistice Day should stir us to great exaltation of spirit because of the proud recollection that it was our day, a day above those early days of that never-to-be-forgotten November which lifted the world to the high levels of vision and achievement upon which the great war for democracy and right was fought and won; although the stimulating memories of that happy time of triumph are forever marred and embittered for us by the shameful fact that when the victory was won-won, be it remembered-chiefly by the indomitable spirit and ungrudging sacrifices of our incomparable soldiers-we turned our backs upon our associates and refused to bear any responsible part in the administration of peace, or the firm and permanent establishment of the results of the war-won at so terrible a cost of life and treasure-and withdrew into a sullen and selfish isolation which is deeply ignoble because manifestly cowardly and dishonorable.

This must always be a source of deep mortification to us and we shall inevitably be forced by the moral obligations of freedom and honor to retrieve that fatal error and assume once more the role of courage, self-respect and helpfulness which every true American must wish to regard as our natural part in the affairs of the world.

That we should have thus done a great wrong to civilization at one of the most critical turning points in the history of the world is the more to be deplored because every anxious year that has followed has made the exceeding need for such services as we might have rendered more and more evident and more and more pressing, as demoralizing circumstances which we might have controlled have gone from bad to worse.

And now, as if to furnish a sort of sinister climax, France and Italy between them have made waste paper of the Treaty of Versailles and the whole field of international relationship is in perilous confusion.

The affairs of the world can be set straight only by the firmest and most determined exhibition of the will to lead and make the right prevail.

Happily, the present situation in the world of affairs affords us the opportunity to retrieve the past and to render mankind the inestimable service of proving that there is at least one great and powerful nation which can turn away from programs of self-interest and devote itself to practicing and establishing the highest ideals of disinterested service and the consistent maintenance of exalted standards of conscience and of right.

The only way in which we can worthily give proof of our appreciation of the high significance of Armistice Day is by resolving to put self-interest away and once more formulate and act upon the highest ideals and purposes of international policy. Thus, and only thus, can we return to the true traditions of America.

The Woodrow Wilson House