—A room in the White House. January 16th, 1920. Woodrow Wilson, a shadow of himself, is at his desk. Tumulty as usual is behind the President’s chair. The President is reading a telegram.
Wilson: Tumulty, this is bitter. Bitter.
Tumulty: Yes, Governor.
Wilson: They’re meeting beyond the sea in Paris. The League that received birth in American ideals. And the chair of America is empty, not by the declared wish of the people—I’d not believe it, were such a wish expressed—but by the strength of personal rancour in the Senate. It’s unbelievable.
Tumulty: And no one there to represent American ideals and aspirations!
Wilson: Brazil. This telegram says the Brazilian spoke for the whole American continent: that was brave and far-sighted of him. But it cuts me to the heart to think that the duty of speaking for America should rest elsewhere than on us.
Tumulty: It’s hard.
Wilson: Hard? It’s cynically false. Tumulty. I can’t believe that is the wish of the country. I will take them the Covenant with my two hands, reason with them, explain....
Tumulty (gently): No, dear Governor, you have done all that a man could do. Another effort would waste your life——
Wilson: I would give it gladly.