David Corleto-Bales’s Reviews > The Moralist: Woodrow Wilson and the World He Made > Status Update
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 520 of 656
Early-1919. Wilson arrives in Paris after tumultuous receptions everywhere he goes. His peace commission from the U.S. has no Republicans of note, (angering the GOP). Sure of his own moral conscience, Wilson is eyed warily by the British and French. The 10 country conference starts trying to put together a treaty with the central powers. Wilson keeps his own counsel. Even Lansing doesn't really knows what he's doing.
— May 09, 2019 05:58AM
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David Corleto-Bales
is on page 600 of 656
Wilson's horrible year of 1920 lurches on. Amazingly, despite his horrendous disability, Wilson connives to be nominated for a third time. His handlers try to prevent this. James Cox gets the nomination, plunging the president into gloom. To Wilson's astonishment, Warren Harding is elected in the biggest landslide since 1820. Harding is, as H.L. Mencken points out, "dumb as a mackerel."
— May 17, 2019 06:28AM
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 590 of 656
Wilson's stroke turns him into a virtual invalid. His wife Edith, Joe Tumulty and his personal physician, Dr. Grayson mislead the public into his actual condition. Still, his mind is clear but his judgement perhaps not; he steadfastly refuses any changes to the treaty. The Democrats in the Senate gloomily plunge ahead. Lodge hints at compromise, but both he and Wilson hate each other so much it clouds the issue.
— May 16, 2019 05:37AM
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 580 of 656
Sen. Lodge and the Republicans bring up several logical points about the Versailles Treaty but their real aim is to defeat it and Wilson. Wilson believes he can win the day with oratory. He goes on a 10,000 mile speaking tour of the country in Sept. 1919 despite his flagging health. Both sides snipe at each other. On Sept. 25th, exhausted and defiant, he suffers a debilitating stroke.
— May 15, 2019 05:29AM
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 565 of 656
After probably the best description of the Versailles Conference I've ever read, the German delegates are forced to sign the treaty and a weary Wilson, (now in physical decline) heads home to face his many critics. Unable to take advice on how to deal with the Senate, it may have been moot. The Republicans are eager to make Wilson pay for the last six years.
— May 14, 2019 06:22AM
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 555 of 656
Wilson feels that the end of the Versailles Conference is imperfect at best; his moralizing has annoyed both Lloyd George and Clemenceau. His refusal to accede to Italian annexations on the Dalmatian coast alienates Italy. Republicans in the Senate are eager to bloody his nose. Wilson and his allies get ready for battle. He needs 64 votes, but only has 57. Col. House loses favor after naively undercutting WIlson.
— May 13, 2019 04:10AM
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 540 of 656
The Versailles Conference completes its work. The smaller nations recognize that Wilson's "equality of nations" has been replaced with big nation dominance as usual; the British and French get around compensation for Germany's and Turkey's colonies and territories by coming up with "mandates"; reparations will not include that. Wilson heads home to sell the treaty. First up, the Congressional leaders.
— May 10, 2019 05:48AM
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 505 of 656
The Germans agree to an armistice on Wilson's 14 points, but the other Allies worry they're too lenient. Finally, the kaiser is deposed, everyone eventually accepts the somewhat altered terms. The Democrats lose control of Congress. Wilson decides to go to the peace conference in France; the British and French worry Wilson won't be punitive enough on Germany.
— May 08, 2019 05:26AM
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 490 of 656
After the Russians leave the war at the beginning of 1918, the Germans go on a rampage in the west, getting within 50 miles of Paris before stiff resistance stops them. Over a million American troops are in France, with another million ready to come and two million more in training. The German generals tell the kaiser by late summer that they can't win the war. Quiet peace feelers are sent out through Holland.
— May 07, 2019 06:07AM
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 480 of 656
Wilson picks impressive men to run his war: McAdoo at Treasury, Pershing with the troops, Hoover as food czar, Newton Baker at the War Department. There are problems but the mobilization is unprecedented. By early-1918, 4 million soldiers are under training and a half million are in France or being sent. But, civil liberties are under threat. Propaganda and war hysteria abound.
— May 06, 2019 06:08AM
David Corleto-Bales
is on page 450 of 656
Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare in a last gamble to win the war on Feb. 1st, 1917. Robert Lansing advises the president that this has to be the last straw, but still Wilson resists. The pacifist impulse is very great. He still thinks he can somehow negotiate a peace between the fighting nations. All is dread.
— May 02, 2019 06:07AM
