This is John Batcher, conversation with the author Neil Lankto for his book The Approaching Storm Roosevelt

Wilson Adams and their clash over America's future.

All three saw themselves as progressives. The war in Europe, however, is of interest. Roosevelt

wanted to fight it. He wanted to fight it as a general, as a rough writer, as a president. Wilson did not. That clash led to all kinds of dynamics in the

American political scene. Here Neolankto takes us to Roosevelt's court fight over a liable case that allows him to survive

and challenge Wilson again and again, everyone expecting him to run in 16. He did not. Here's Neill Lankto on Roosevelt's

frustration. What is worse than war. More of this later tonight.

Those who are more of this later tonight.

Those who are left, the Republicans left in the party at this point,

tended to lean more towards the conservative end,

and they still saw Roosevelt as a thorn in their side. However, they were aware that

Roosevelt would have a lot to do with the 1916 election as far as who he decided to support

if he decided to run again. So they did not want to completely cut him off. But the Barnes trial as you mentioned is really interesting because Roosevelt's fighting for his political life. He loses this case.

It is going to cost an enormous amount of money.

And it'll be very damaging in the public eye.

And he gives it basically a virtuoso performance

at the Barnes trial.

He's on a stand for several days and he gets in the front page and he pretty much he wins this trial in the public eye and of course he eventually will he will be he will be acquitted also in the in the

libel charge as well so it is a successful time for him in that regard but he's

very frustrated with how Wilson's handling this crisis and he does believe that he makes a he makes a statement at the time that there are things worse than war in other words it's like losing our self as a nation and losing our pride in our respect around the globe is worse than us going to war at this point.

On the other hand, we were not military prepared to go to war so that's always another part of the picture that has to be considered.

Jane Adams has an ally, William Jennings Bryan, then Secretary of State.

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