Which president promised to keep us out of war but then had to lead us through World War I?

The president who promised to keep the United States out of war but then had to lead the nation through World War I was Woodrow Wilson. Initially, Wilson adopted a policy of neutrality, reflecting the widespread isolationist sentiment within the United States at that time. He had campaigned for his second term with the slogan "He kept us out of war," which referred to his efforts to maintain neutrality during the early years of World War I. However, as the war progressed, a number of factors, including Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram (in which Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico against the United States), compelled Wilson to change his stance. On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany, saying that the world must be "made safe for democracy." The United States officially entered World War I shortly thereafter.

Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. His presidency is particularly noted for its significance during World War I and for his post-war efforts to establish the League of Nations, a precursor to the United Nations. Wilson held a strong belief in internationalism and the idea of a global community governed by laws, which he saw as a way to prevent future conflicts. During his administration, he also implemented significant domestic reforms known as the New Freedom, which included measures to regulate business and finance, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve System. Despite his progressive reforms at home and his vision for international cooperation, Wilson's presidency is also criticized for his views on racial segregation and civil liberties, as he allowed segregationist policies to be put in place in federal agencies and suppressed dissent during the war.