Act 4 — Scene I.

—The President’s Chamber in the White House, Autumn, 1918.

Woodrow Wilson, lean, single-purposed, masterful, is signing State documents with inflexible pen. Joseph Tumulty, a chubby little man, is leaning affectionately on the back of the President’s chair, following the movements of his pen with dog-like veneration. The President, still writing, breaks the silence without looking up.

Wilson: Tumulty.

Tumulty: Yes, Governor.

Wilson: I wouldn’t have you think I’m insensible to the merits of your proposals—but I can’t accept them. In the bargainings and shifts of the Allies I must be unfettered, if necessary blindly followed, by the American delegation. Otherwise there’ll be another Congress of Vienna.... It’s not that I criticise our Allies, I would be loath to do that; but I understand their passions and distress. Firmness on our part may perhaps redress the balance.... Where’s Lansing? (The Secretary of State comes in.)

Lansing: Good morning, Mr. President.

Wilson (wistfully): Why—you’re mighty formal, Lansing. I’ve not to convince you again, I trust. Why, Lansing——

Lansing: I hold, as you know, that with the Republicans in a majority in both Houses, it’s an act of, I won’t say folly, Mr. President, but an act of ill-judgment to have them uncommitted to the terms of peace.

Wilson: I’m taking Hoover and White.

Lansing: White means nothing, and Hoover is only an expert. Lodge, Root, Leonard Wood should all go with you as delegates.

Wilson: No, Mr. Secretary. (Tumulty bows his head as if to a blow.) No, a thousand times.

Lansing: They’ll tear up your work otherwise. I speak as your friend, Mr. President. Myself as you know I don’t think extravagantly well of your plan for a League of Nations. I’ve never disguised that. Though a fine ideal it isn’t practical——But setting my views aside, and speaking as a friend to the proposal, because it’s your proposal, I feel bound to say that, if the Republicans aren’t pledged to it in advance, it will never pass Congress.

Wilson (affectionately): Lansing, you’re so logical and clear there seems to be no escape from your reasoning. I’ve no doubt you size up the Republican intentions mighty well. But you’re wrong for all that; and where you go wrong is right at the beginning. Don’t you see the choice of evils before me? If I don’t take the Republicans they may try to wreck my work when it’s done, true; but if I do take them the work won’t be done at all.

Lansing (stiffly): I can’t allow that, Mr. President. They’re good, patriotic Americans.

Wilson: Who says they aren’t? Who suggests for one moment that they won’t do their best for America and the Allies? But will they do the best for the world? (Lansing is silent.) Will they tie the world up in a League against war; or will they inflict a vindictive peace, that’ll do no more than sow the seeds of another?

Lansing: You distrust their patriotism?

Wilson: Never. I distrust their passions. Or say I’m wrong. Say their conception of the peace is the proper one, and mine a delusion. How can we work together? The Delegation couldn’t be depended on to agree in the smallest particular. I should just be playing a lone hand; and the Allies, knowing my house to be divided against itself, would put me aside in the Conference like a cipher. No, Lansing. I’ll go to Paris with those on whom I can rely. I’ll so tie up the peace with the League, that the one can’t live without the other; and if, as you prophesy, I find myself deserted by Congress, I’ll go over their heads to the American people in whose ideals the thing has its roots. That is my final decision.

Lansing: I hope you’ll not regret it.

(He takes his leave. The others follow him with their eyes. The President gives a half laugh.)

Wilson: Ah, if one could only add to the good qualities one’s friends possess, the good qualities one would have them possess.... (He sighs). These Commissions (holding up the papers he has signed), they’re all in order now?

Tumulty: Yes, Governor.

Wilson: Deliver them yourself. (He reads out the names as he hands them over.) House ... Lansing ... White.

The Scene Closes.