e groups were “Democrats who supported the League Covenant without changes; Republican “irreconcilables,”…who opposed the League absolutely; and Republican “Reservationists” led by Lodge, who demanded changes in the Leagues covenant as a condition of their support.” With this clause, establishing the League of Nations would be more difficult than Wilson believed. Henry Cabot Lodge used many different tactics to draw support away from President Wilson. He delayed the Senates vote in order to diminish support for the Treaty of Versailles. He insisted that the entire treaty, which consisted of 264 pages, be read aloud before the Senate. Continuing to change the reservations that he disagreed with, Senator Lodge proposed fourteen formal reservations to the Treaty of Versailles. Senator Lodge was willing to sign the Treaty of Versailles if these certain changes to the treaty were agreed upon. On March 3rd 1919, Senator Lodge collected thirty-nine signatures from members of the Senate demanding that there be changes made to this treaty. These additions to the treaty would place safeguards that would protect America’s right to protect the Monroe doctrine. This reservation made sure that domestic issues did not lead to the interpretation of the Monroe doctrine by an international organization. Now, the only way the Senate would approve the pact was if the entire document would be accepted, including Senator Lodge’s proposals. President Wilson refused to compromise with Senator Lodge and tried to save the treaty through State legislatures. He toured the country from coast to coast seeking support from the public. President Wilson gave thirty-seven speeches in only twenty-two days. However, in between speeches the President received a stroke from the stress he had endured, which put him close to death. Even after physical and nervous exhaustion, which caused him to stay in bed for severa...
