Council on Foreign Relations
In September 1917, in the aftermath of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson initiated an academic endeavor known as "The Inquiry." This working fellowship consisted of approximately 150 scholars, with the primary goal of providing Wilson with insights and options for the postwar world, specifically in light of a potential defeat of Germany. Directed by Wilson's close confidant, "Colonel" Edward M. House, and supplemented by Walter Lippmann, who served as Head of Research, this team convened to devise a comprehensive strategy for a stable postwar environment. Their work culminated in over 2,000 detailed documents that analyzed global political, social, and economic conditions, laying the groundwork for Wilson's renowned Fourteen Points—a visionary proposal for lasting peace following the conflict. The scholars' expertise and intensive research directly influenced the peace discussions held at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, where their perspectives were sought after and integrated into the discourse....