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Woodrow Wilson: Advisers The only analysis of Wilson’s foreign policy advisers possible is that they were ultimately irrelevant. Woodrow Wilson was the Dirty Harry of international affairs: He liked to work alone. This trait would later destroy any chances of the Senate ratifying the Treaty of Versailles. Wilson’s advisers were incidental to the formulation of his policies, especially on important matters. Even though he nominated William Jennings Bryan, the “uncrowned king of the Democratic Party,” Wilson frequently ignored Bryan’s advice. During his years in service Bryan “proved to be loyal, cooperative, and self-effacing. He was a better-than-expected secretary of state, and he managed to keep his head, particularly during the European War, when some of his more highly esteemed colleagues were losing theirs.” (544). But Wilson’s policies eventually forced Bryan to resign, although Bryan would later support the administration during the war. Wilson never grasped the idea that “two heads are better than one,” and avoided his critics. Thus, when he traveled to Paris in 1919 to negotiate the Treaty of Versailles, he took along only his friends. No Republicans were included, even though they could (and did) block ratification of whatever treaty Wilson negotiated. Instead, Wilson believed that the forthrightness of the ideals represented in the League of Nations would compel the Senate to approve the treaty. More than a third of the Senate disagreed, and the League would end up in the dustbin of history. In this respect, Wilson was unlike Dirty Harry. He didn’t know his limitations. |
Advisers
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