Between the Wars — Season 1, Episode 2: Return to Isolationism

Episode synopsis

The ultimate failure of Woodrow Wilson destroys himself in his desperate struggle for the League of Nations. The President and the Senate fight for control of American foreign policy: the Senate wins. Wilson is opposed by a powerful coalition of conservatives like Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, and his case to the people embarks on a grueling 8,000 mile train trip and suffers a stroke. During his illness, Mrs. Wilson acts as regent, or caretaker president for 17 months. Wilson refuses to compromise on the League of Nations and ironically is responsible for its defeat.

About Between the Wars

This classic series follows the events that sparked the greatest conflict of the century, capturing the drama, the excitement and the ideological juxtapositions of these crucial years. Former CBS News correspondent and commentator Eric Sevareid, one of the world's most respected figures in journalism, presents this extraordinary series featuring stunning original newsreels, soundtracks, and rare archival footage.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Versailles: The First Peace
• E3The First SALT Talks
• E4Radio, Racism and Foreign Policy
• E5The Great Depression and Foreign Affairs
• E6FDR and Hitler: the Rise to Power
• E7FDR and Hitler: The Dynamics of Power
• E8America in the Pacific: The Clash of Two Cultures
• E9The Recognition of Russia: A Climate of Mutual Distrust
• E10Latin America: Intervention in Our Own Backyard
• E11The Italian-Ethiopian War: Africa in World Affairs
• E12The Spanish Civil War
• E13The Phony War