House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938

Edward Mandell House was born July 26, 1858, in Houston, Texas. He became active in Texas politics and served as an advisor to President Woodrow Wilson, particularly in the area of foreign affairs. House functioned as Wilson's chief negotiator in Europe during the negotiations for peace (1917-1919), and as chief deputy for Wilson at the Paris Peace Conference. He died on March 28, 1938, in New York City.

Epithet: Colonel

Edward Mandell House was born July 26, 1858 in Houston, Texas. He became active in Texas politics and served as an advisor to President Woodrow Wilson, particularly in the area of foreign affairs. One of America's greatest diplomats, he served as Wilson's chief negotiator in Europe (1917-1919) and as chief deputy for Wilson at the Paris Peace Conference. His major achievements were participating in the drafting of Wilson's Fourteen Points and the Covenant of the League of Nations; and securing an armistice based on American ideals. He died on March 28, 1938 in New York City.

Edward Mandell House was born July 26, 1858 in Houston, Texas. He became active in Texas politics and served as an advisor to President Woodrow Wilson, particularly in the area of foreign affairs. House functioned as Wilson's chief negotiator in Europe during the negotiations for peace (1917-1919), and as chief deputy for Wilson at the Paris Peace Conference. He died on March 28, 1938 in New York City.

Edward Mandell House was an independently wealthy Texan who became active in politics by advising Texas governors in the 1890s. He was an important part of Woodrow Wilson's presidential campaign in 1912. He became Wilson's most trusted advisor and designated representative, first to Congress, and then to the European powers after the outbreak of World War I. He helped outline several of Wilson's key policies, and was integral in preparing a peace treaty to end the war.

Presidential adviser.

Edward Mandell House (1858–1938) was a politician, land and oil speculator, and farmer who was born in Houston, Texas, and moved to Austin in 1885 to more closely monitor cotton plantations he held there. House served as campaign director for his friend James Stephen Hogg in the tough three-way gubernatorial race of 1892, which Hogg won. House went on to serve as a political counselor and fundraiser for other Texas governors, such as Charles Allen Culberson, Joseph D. Sayers, and Samuel W. T. Lanham.

Weary of Texas politics, House moved on to other prospects, including an attempt to make money from the discovery of oil at the Spindletop oilfield in 1901 and 1902, and the formation of the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway Company. He also began to spend more and more time in New York, severing ties with Texas. The year 1904 marked the end of House’s participation in gubernatorial elections and campaigns.

With a deep-seated desire for national political prestige, House sought Democratic presidential candidates to back and in November of 1911 met and befriended Woodrow Wilson. House used his influence to gain the votes of the Texas delegation for Wilson's candidacy. Upon Wilson's victory House ensured the appointment of several Texans to positions in the cabinet, and became the president's foreign affairs advisor.

World War I began, and House began important European missions for the president, including gaining the approval of Wilson’s Fourteen Points agenda. He was appointed one of the five American commissioners at the Fourteen Points peace conference and served as Wilson's second in command. After Wilson’s 1919 stroke and the resurgence of the Republican Party in the early 1920s, House removed himself from political and public affairs. He died in 1938 in New York City and was buried in Houston.

Source : Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. House, Edward M., http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/HH/fho66.html (accessed May 26, 2010).

Edward Mandell House (1858-1938) was a politician, land and oil speculator, and farmer who was born in Houston, Texas, and moved to Austin in 1885 to more closely monitor cotton plantations he held there.

House served as campaign director for his friend James Stephen Hogg in the tough three-way gubernatorial race of 1892, which Hogg won. House went on to serve as a political counselor and fundraiser for other Texas governors, such as Charles Allen Culberson, Joseph D. Sayers, and Samuel W. T. Lanham. Weary of Texas politics, House moved on to other prospects, including an attempt to make money from the discovery of oil at the Spindletop oilfield in 1901 and 1902, and the formation of the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway Company. He also began to spend more and more time in New York, severing ties with Texas. The year 1904 marked the end of House's participation in gubernatorial elections and campaigns.

With a deep-seated desire for national political prestige, House sought Democratic presidential candidates to back and in November of 1911 met and befriended Woodrow Wilson.

House used his influence to gain the votes of the Texas delegation for Wilson's candidacy. Upon Wilson's victory House ensured the appointment of several Texans to positions in the cabinet, and became the president's foreign affairs advisor. World War I began, and House began important European missions for the president, including gaining the approval of Wilson's Fourteen Points agenda. He was appointed one of the five American commissioners at the Fourteen Points peace conference and served as Wilson's second in command. After Wilson's 1919 stroke and the resurgence of the Republican Party in the early 1920s, House removed himself from political and public affairs. He died in 1938 in New York City and was buried in Houston.