Thomas J. Knock

Thomas J. Knock is a Professor of History and Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor at Southern Methodist University (SMU). He specializes in 20th-century American politics and foreign policy, focusing on themes like Wilsonianism, progressive vs. conservative internationalism, and Cold War liberalism. His research explores the intersection of domestic reform and foreign policy, particularly through studies of Woodrow Wilson and George McGovern.

Knock holds a Ph.D. in History from Princeton University (1982), along with M.A. degrees from Princeton (1979), Boston College (1975), and a B.A. from Miami University (1973). He has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Perrine Phi Beta Kappa Prize (2014) and the Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professorship (2009–2011). He has served on the Editorial Board of Presidential Studies Quarterly since 1999 and the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library since 1998.

His major works include To End All Wars (1992), which reinterprets the League of Nations debate, and The Rise of a Prairie Statesman (2016), a biography of George McGovern. Knock has also contributed to documentaries on U.S. presidential history, including Woodrow Wilson (PBS, 2002) and Bright Shining Moment (2005).

His current work focuses on a biography of George McGovern, examining Cold War liberalism and anti-war movements. Knock’s research emphasizes the enduring legacy of Wilsonian ideals and their tensions with domestic political agendas.