Woodrow Wilson and the Great Betrayal

Woodrow Wilson and the Great Betrayal examines President Wilson's battle to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and join the League of Nations in the aftermath of World War I. Bailey documents the intense political struggle between Wilson and his opponents in Congress during 1919-1920. The book reconstructs the day-by-day developments of the treaty fight through personal correspondence, official documents, and contemporary accounts. Wilson's nationwide speaking tour to promote the treaty, his devastating stroke, and the final Senate rejection of the League of Nations receive focused attention. Through extensive research, Bailey presents the perspectives of key players including Henry Cabot Lodge, William Borah, and other Senate opponents, as well as Wilson's advisors and allies. The narrative tracks both the public debate and behind-the-scenes political maneuvering that shaped this crucial period in American diplomatic history. This account raises enduring questions about executive power, partisan politics, and America's role in international affairs. The clash between Wilson's idealistic vision and political reality remains relevant to modern foreign policy debates.

Book rating data for this title appears to be limited, with fewer than 5 reviews available across major platforms. Readers highlighted Bailey's research depth and documentation of the Senate fight over the League of Nations. Multiple reviews noted the detailed coverage of political maneuvering between Wilson and his opponents. A reader on Amazon appreciated Bailey's "clear explanation of the complex factors" that led to the treaty's rejection. Another praised the "balanced treatment of both Wilson and Lodge." Main criticism focused on Bailey's perceived bias in favor of compromise with the Lodge reservations. One review argued the book "places too much blame on Wilson's inflexibility." Review Sources: Goodreads: No ratings/reviews available Amazon: 4.0/5 (2 ratings) WorldCat: No ratings/reviews available Note: This book was published in 1945 and reader reviews are scarce online. Most academic discussion appears in historical journals rather than consumer review platforms.

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🗸 Thomas A. Bailey taught at Stanford University for 40 years and was one of America's most prominent diplomatic historians during the mid-20th century. 🗸 The book details how Wilson suffered a severe stroke while campaigning for the League of Nations, leaving him partially paralyzed and his wife Edith essentially acting as a gatekeeper to the presidency. 🗸 Despite writing extensively about Wilson's fight for the League of Nations, Bailey himself opposed U.S. membership in the United Nations when it was formed in 1945. 🗸 The "Great Betrayal" referenced in the title refers to the U.S. Senate's rejection of the Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations, which Wilson considered the crowning achievement of his presidency. 🗸 The book was published in 1945, during the final months of World War II, when the debate over America's role in international organizations was once again at the forefront of public discourse.