Printed speech in booklet form, “Address of the President of the United States, Delivered at a Joint Session of the Two Houses of Congress, April 19, 1916,” 6 x 9.25, seven pages, issued by the Government Printing Office. Signed on the final page of text in black ink by Wilson. In fine condition, with uniform mild toning to inside pages, and a bit of light bowing to covers. Less than a month before Wilson delivered this address to Congress, Germany sparked an international diplomatic crisis when one of their submarines sank the French cross-channel ferry Sussex, resulting in 80 casualties, 25 of which were American civilians. Referring back to the disastrous sinking of the Lusitania in World War I—“so singularly tragical and unjustifiable as to constitute a truly terrible example of the inhumanity of submarine warfare as the commanders of German vessels have...been conducting it”—Wilson passionately condemned the German actions, threatening to sever diplomatic relations between the two nations if it continued. Five days later, Germany abandoned its U-boat campaign around Britain and the Mediterranean in response. When they reintroduced the policy the following February, Wilson made good on his threat, declaring war on April 2, 1917. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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