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Inbox Retroactive Morality

By Richard L. Handelsman ’67
Published online June 28, 2020
0
SEND A RESPONSE TO INBOX

In Response to: Princeton Renames Wilson School and Residential College, Citing Former President’s Racism

Re: Damning Woodrow Wilson for his “racist thinking and policies.”

The Constitution prohibits Congress and the states from passing ex post facto laws: Sadly, the same ban applies neither to private institutions nor to morality.

Richard L. Handelsman ’67
West Palm Beach, Fla.

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Being Mestizo
Gary R. Walters ’64 *75
Wilson’s Party
Charles S. Rockey Jr. ’57
History as ‘More or Less Gray’
Jean-Pierre Cauvin ’57 *68
What Would Woodrow Do?
Charlie Bell ’76
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Laurence C. Day ’55
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Andrea M. Matthews ’78
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Joe Illick ’56
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John Brittain ’59
Removing Wilson’s Name
James B. Fletcher ’54
Example of Presentism
J.W. Donner ’49
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Richard W. Corkhill ’53
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Richard Schimel ’75
A Tempest But Not in a Teapot
Norman Ravitch *62
Wilson Is Not Alone
Bob Hazard ’56
An Elegant Solution
Charles Scribner III ’73 *77
Oppose Racism Through Actions
William Hannum ’54
Progressives and the War on History
Ken Buck ’81
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Paul Firstenberg ’55
Symbolic Gestures and the Need for Change
Mimi Stokes (formerly Katzenbach) ’76
Seeking More Information About the Wilson Decision
Chester S. Logan ’51
A ‘Lasting Memorial’
David Nimick ’46
On Eliminating Historical Figures
Richard L. Hames *67
Where Princeton Is, Where It Is Going
Tony Tolles ’73
Imperfect Leaders
Mark I. Davies ’65 *71
Feeble Excuses
Eric Geller ’83
Scholars’ Views of Wilson’s Legacy
James W. Anderson ’70
Applauding the Dropping of Wilson’s Name
Chris Douglas ’88
Wrong Issue in the Wilson Case
Norman Ravitch *62
On the Ethics of Naming
Benjamin Lehrer ’03
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John A. Gardiner ’59
No Leader Is Without Sin
Larry Leighton ’56
Telling the Whole Story
L. Marc Zell ’74
Great Contributions and Just Criticism
Lemoine Skinner III ’66
Honoring Edith Wilson
Paul Hertelendy ’53
Wilson’s Influence on University History
Nicholas Piacente ’13
Another Naming Suggestion
Vijay Thadani ’76
‘Change Has Finally Arrived’
Michael A. Watkins ’77
‘No Nation Chooses Its History’
John D. Puskas ’82
Judging Our Forefathers
Georgia Breen-Clapham ’79
Naming Suggestion
George Heitmann *63
Retroactive Morality
Richard L. Handelsman ’67
Support From a Wilson Lodge Alum
Roy Neil Graves II ’61
Another Example of Wilson’s Social Injustice
James (Jim) Lane ’92
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Martin Sklar ’81
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James O. Ward ’77
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Featured Content

On the Campus

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The University will support remote learning for those who choose not to return to campus
On the Campus

Campus Grows With McCosh Makeover, New Residential Colleges

On the Campus

Princeton Adds To Its Endowment in 2020, But Uncertainty Remains

Alumni News

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Alumni News

This Princeton Family Recorded a Beatles Cover Album

Ten Wilson family members, including four Princeton alumni, appear on ‘Meet the Weatles’
On the Campus

Museum Unveils Design for New Home, Aims to Reopen in 2024

The building itself is composed of nine interlocking cubes, or pavilions
Alumni News

Joshua Weitz ’97 Is Mapping the Risk of COVID-19

The user-friendly tool helps people make informed decisions about social interactions
Alumni News

Essay: Former ‘People’ Editor Recalls Tea With Princess Diana

‘If it is possible to be both professional and flirtatious, she was’

Submit a Letter to the Editor

Join the conversation by sending a letter using our online form.
Submit

Related Inbox Letters

Being Mestizo
Gary R. Walters ’64 *75
Wilson’s Party
Charles S. Rockey Jr. ’57
History as ‘More or Less Gray’
Jean-Pierre Cauvin ’57 *68
What Would Woodrow Do?
Charlie Bell ’76
With Wilson, It Was More Than Racism
Laurence C. Day ’55
At Last
Andrea M. Matthews ’78
On Respectful Listening and Change
Joe Illick ’56
Flippant Cover Line
John Brittain ’59
Removing Wilson’s Name
James B. Fletcher ’54
Example of Presentism
J.W. Donner ’49
Wilson’s ‘Body of Work’
Richard W. Corkhill ’53
Princeton’s Early Presidents
Richard Schimel ’75
A Tempest But Not in a Teapot
Norman Ravitch *62
Wilson Is Not Alone
Bob Hazard ’56
An Elegant Solution
Charles Scribner III ’73 *77
Oppose Racism Through Actions
William Hannum ’54
Progressives and the War on History
Ken Buck ’81
The Board’s Obligation
Paul Firstenberg ’55
Symbolic Gestures and the Need for Change
Mimi Stokes (formerly Katzenbach) ’76
Seeking More Information About the Wilson Decision
Chester S. Logan ’51
A ‘Lasting Memorial’
David Nimick ’46
On Eliminating Historical Figures
Richard L. Hames *67
Where Princeton Is, Where It Is Going
Tony Tolles ’73
Imperfect Leaders
Mark I. Davies ’65 *71
Feeble Excuses
Eric Geller ’83
Scholars’ Views of Wilson’s Legacy
James W. Anderson ’70
Applauding the Dropping of Wilson’s Name
Chris Douglas ’88
Wrong Issue in the Wilson Case
Norman Ravitch *62
On the Ethics of Naming
Benjamin Lehrer ’03
Service and Today’s Princeton
John A. Gardiner ’59
No Leader Is Without Sin
Larry Leighton ’56
Telling the Whole Story
L. Marc Zell ’74
Great Contributions and Just Criticism
Lemoine Skinner III ’66
Honoring Edith Wilson
Paul Hertelendy ’53
Wilson’s Influence on University History
Nicholas Piacente ’13
Another Naming Suggestion
Vijay Thadani ’76
‘Change Has Finally Arrived’
Michael A. Watkins ’77
‘No Nation Chooses Its History’
John D. Puskas ’82
Judging Our Forefathers
Georgia Breen-Clapham ’79
Naming Suggestion
George Heitmann *63
Retroactive Morality
Richard L. Handelsman ’67
Support From a Wilson Lodge Alum
Roy Neil Graves II ’61
Another Example of Wilson’s Social Injustice
James (Jim) Lane ’92
Surrender to the Mob?
Martin Sklar ’81
Political Correctness at Princeton?
James O. Ward ’77
Changing the Name of Wilson College and the School of Public and International Affairs
Randy Nichols ’73 *81

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