Wilson, Prohibition and Beer

Today's Washington Times has a nice little piece promoting an exhibit at the Woodrow Wilson House here in DC that highlights the president's opposition to Prohibition, mostly because

[f]or decades, President Woodrow Wilson has received much of the blame for starting Prohibition, a movement that banned the establishment of saloons to reduce drinking among Americans.

Now, Mark Benbow, a historian at the Woodrow Wilson House in Northwest, wants to set the record straight about the former president's role in the movement.

"Prohibition started during his presidency [so people think] it must be his fault," he said. But "it wasn't him and it wasn't his fault.

I'm no fan of internationalist Wilson, but you won't see me bash him here, mostly because as soon as I post this I'm going to call the WWH and try to score a ticket to Tuesday's "invitation-only, 1920s-style holiday celebration where beer will be the featured beverage". But you can be sure I'll update the post with some New World Order/stroke banter if I get dissed. (What? You think Bob Woodward wouldn't do the same exact thing?)

More information on the adjacent Brewmaster's Castle, the former home of America's oldest brewer, Christian Heurich (celebrated in the eponymnous brew "Old Heurich"), which is partnering with the WWH to promote the Wilson event and DC's rich beer history here.

Times piece here. Official WWH exhibition page here.