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Wilson was most of all committed to a League of Nations, a peace agency that would be able to use force to preserve territorial integrity and political independence among large and small nations alike. The speech was highly idealistic, translating Wilson's progressive ideals of democracy, self-determination, open agreements, and free trade into the international realm.  Much of the speech was drafted by aide [[Walter Lippmann]]. It made several suggestions for specific disputes in Europe on the recommendation of Wilson's foreign policy advisor, [[Colonel House]], and his team of 150 advisors known as “The Inquiry.”  Politically, he made a serious blunder by not seeking advice from Republican leaders in his policy formulation; some of them, such as [[William Howard Taft]], had very similar goals in mind and could have forestalled the partisanship that caused Wilson trouble in 1919 and led to American refusal to join the league,  

Wilson was most of all committed to a League of Nations, a peace agency that would be able to use force to preserve territorial integrity and political independence among large and small nations alike. The speech was highly idealistic, translating Wilson's progressive ideals of democracy, self-determination, open agreements, and free trade into the international realm.  Much of the speech was drafted by aide [[Walter Lippmann]]. It made several suggestions for specific disputes in Europe on the recommendation of Wilson's foreign policy advisor, [[Colonel House]], and his team of 150 advisors known as “The Inquiry.”  Politically, he made a serious blunder by not seeking advice from Republican leaders in his policy formulation; some of them, such as [[William Howard Taft]], had very similar goals in mind and could have forestalled the partisanship that caused Wilson trouble in 1919 and led to American refusal to join the league,  

Wilson did not invent new terms; he pulled together the best of existing war aims, including many that had been expressed by the British and a few that originated with the Germans and the Bolsheviks, and then added a few of his own. His timing was brilliant; it was the combination that was so powerful: here was an authoritative voice, unburdened by any treaty, who proclaimed what many saw as the best possible outcome of the war, and one that would justify the horrible events by cleansing the earth and opening up a peaceful utopia. Europe went wild when he arrived in Paris, for Wilson had made himself the most trusted man in the world.

Wilson did not invent new terms; he pulled together the best of existing war aims, including many that had been expressed by the British and a few that originated with the Germans and the Bolsheviks, and then added a few of his own. [[Walter Lippmann]] helped draft the speech. Wilson's timing was brilliant; it was the combination that was so powerful: here was an authoritative voice, unburdened by any treaty, who proclaimed what many saw as the best possible outcome of the war, and one that would justify the horrible events by cleansing the earth and opening up a peaceful utopia. Europe went wild when he arrived in Paris, for Wilson had made himself the most trusted man in the world.

The promise of national self determination aroused audiences in Ireland, Eastern and Central Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and remains a powerful idea in the 21st century.

The promise of national self determination aroused audiences in Ireland, Eastern and Central Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and remains a powerful idea in the 21st century.