Letters from an American – November 11, 2025
Host: Heather Cox Richardson
Episode Date: November 12, 2025
Episode Overview
On this special Veterans Day episode, historian Heather Cox Richardson explores the origins and ongoing significance of Armistice Day—now Veterans Day—in U.S. history. She draws a vivid historical arc from the end of World War I and the failed hopes for lasting peace, through the mid-twentieth-century rise of a rules-based international order, and into the present moment's challenges from autocratic powers. Using powerful anecdotes, quotes, and legislative milestones, Richardson offers a thoughtful reflection on America's evolving approach to war, peace, and international engagement.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Origins of Armistice Day
- Historical Moment: The WWI armistice, signed for the "11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" (00:00), marked a temporary end to fighting in Europe but not the official end of World War I, which came with the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919.
- President Wilson’s Reflections:
- 1919: Wilson speaks of “solemn pride” and "gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and… because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations." (01:05)
- Wilson is disappointed that the ultimate sacrifice of soldiers did not shift U.S. foreign policy toward greater international engagement.
2. America’s Rejection of International Engagement
- League of Nations:
- Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge leads opposition; U.S. does not join Wilson’s “brainchild”—the League of Nations—stifling hopes for a new international order (01:40).
- Wilson’s 1923 Radio Address:
- First live nationwide broadcast in U.S. history.
- Notable Quote (at 02:10):
"The anniversary of Armistice Day should stir us to a great exaltation of spirit… as Americans remembered that it was their example that had… lifted the nations of the world to the lofty levels of vision and achievement upon which the great war for democracy and right was fought and won."
- Wilson laments American isolation:
"We turned our backs upon our associates and refused to bear any responsible part in the administration of peace… withdrawing into a sullen and selfish isolation, which is deeply ignoble because manifestly cowardly and dishonorable." (02:55)
- Predicts eventual U.S. return to world affairs.
3. Congressional Commemoration and the Pursuit of Peace
- 1926 Resolution:
- Congress calls for November 11 to be commemorated with "thanksgiving and prayer… to perpetuate peace through goodwill and mutual understanding between nations." (03:30)
- 1938 Legislation:
- Armistice Day becomes a national holiday dedicated to world peace—tragically overtaken by WWII just three years later (04:10).
4. Post-WWII – The Rules-based International Order
- Lessons of WWII:
- Devastation galvanizes support for preventing wars through international cooperation and rules.
- Creation of International Institutions:
- United Nations (1945): Forum for nations to resolve disputes peacefully.
- NATO (1949): Mutual defense pact—“any attack on a NATO country will be considered an attack on all of them.” (05:00)
- Broader International Ties:
- Richardson notes these efforts “preserved decades of relative peace compared to the horrors of the early 20th century.”
5. Modern-day Challenges
- Autocratic Pushback:
- The idea of a rules-based world order is now “under attack as autocrats increasingly reject the idea … and claim the right to act however they wish.” (05:58)
- Significance of Veterans Day:
- In 1954, Congress rebrands Armistice Day as Veterans Day to honor all U.S. armed forces, not just those from WWI.
6. Eisenhower’s Reflections
- Eisenhower’s Proclamation:
- Notable Quote (at 06:15):
"Let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly on the seas, in the air and on foreign shores to preserve our heritage of freedom. And let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain."
- Links honoring veterans to the ongoing struggle for peace.
- Notable Quote (at 06:15):
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Woodrow Wilson on American withdrawal after victory:
“We turned our backs upon our associates and refused to bear any responsible part in the administration of peace... withdrawing into a sullen and selfish isolation which is deeply ignoble because manifestly cowardly and dishonorable.” (02:55)
-
Congress, 1926:
“…since November 11, 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary and far reaching war in human annals…[the anniversary] should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through goodwill and mutual understanding between nations.” (03:30)
-
Eisenhower on the meaning of Veterans Day:
“Let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.” (06:15)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00-01:15 – Description of Armistice Day’s origins; Wilson’s 1919 vision
- 01:15-02:40 – American rejection of WWI internationalism; Wilson’s radio speech
- 02:40-03:30 – Wilson’s criticism of isolationism; call to responsibility
- 03:30-04:10 – Congressional resolutions and remembrances
- 04:10-05:15 – WWII, founding of United Nations and NATO
- 05:15-06:00 – Modern threats to the rules-based order
- 06:00-07:11 – Veterans Day, Eisenhower’s proclamation for enduring peace
Tone and Style
Richardson speaks in a measured, historical, and evocative tone—emphasizing solemn reflection on past sacrifices, disappointment in moments of retreat from global responsibility, and a renewed sense of duty to peace and international partnership. She interweaves narrative, legislative moments, and memorable presidential rhetoric to emphasize both the cost of war and the value of ongoing engagement.
This episode offers a poignant reminder of the true meaning behind Veterans Day and the larger stakes of America’s choices about war, peace, and its place in the world.