EDWARD MANDELL HOUSE
The majority of the country strongly favored American participation in the League of Nation provided there were some reservations that made it explicitly clear, the American troops could not be committed without the approval of Congress and that nothing would impinge on U. S. domestic sovereignty. Wilson wanted no exceptions or reservations to the treaty he had negotiated and would not compromise in any way. The issues were soon forgotten in what had become a test of will and power between the Senate and the President. The treaty was never ratified and without the United States, the League of Nations collapsed.
Periodically in American history, there has been a struggle between the Executive Branch and the Senate for dominance. The Senate’s power is negative however. It can block things, but cannot directly make them happen. The President can do both.
Over time, this has been a good description of the difference between the Democratic and Republican parties.
The President was also getting ominous news from England. See {41111}
Edward Mandell House was an American diplomat, and an advisor to President Woodrow Wilson. He was known by the nickname Colonel House, although he had performed no military service. He was a highly influential back-stage politician in Texas before becoming a key supporter of the presidential bid of Wilson in 1912. Having a self-effacing manner, he did not hold office but was an "executive agent", Wilson's chief advisor on European politics and diplomacy during World War I (1914–18) and at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. In 1919 Wilson, suffering from a series of small strokes, broke with House and many other top advisors, believing they had deceived him at Paris.
