Channels, Spring 2019

Channels • 2019 • Volume 3 • Number 2 Page 43 Politically, Wilson sought to accomplish incredible amounts of his progressive policy agenda. Wilson turned away fromWashington’s neutrality stance, even after Europe pulled the United States into a bloody war. Wilson sought a more peaceful world with stronger integration of the nation-states on the global stage. The idea was noble and laid the groundwork for the United Nations. However, where President Wilson failed was in securing Senate ratification of the treaty he helped develop. Even though the U.S. Senate was led by the opposing party (Republican Party under Senator Harry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts), President Wilson’s inability to garner enough support to include the United States in the League of Nations exposed the shortcomings of President Wilson’s leadership, political capital, and presidential powers. Moreover, this highlighted the first attempt by a president to truly obtain an international forum for various countries to come together and speak their minds rather than resorting to war to solve conflicts between countries. The Senate’s disapproval of the League of Nations Treaty serves as an important reminder and example of their role within foreign policy; the Senate’s position also displayed the isolationist tendencies of many Americans during that period. Franklin D. Roosevelt, president of the United States during the first half of World War II, also changed America’s standing on the world stage and the role of the oval office in foreign affairs. President Roosevelt followed the neutral policy towards Europe like many of his predecessors, but with a few caveats. He called for an exchange of goods with Great Britain and France, namely, American arms. This agreement became to be known as the Atlantic Charter, which was essentially a “ Treaty Agreement between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill that committed their countries to peace, [and recognized] the right of self-determination for all nations.” 53 The Atlantic Charter became the foundation on which the United Nations would be founded. In fact, on January 1, 1942, President Roosevelt further changed the course of global forums, first coining the term ‘United Nations.’ 54 Following conclusion of World War II, representatives from nearly fifty nations met in the United States to draw up the United Nations Charter; after being ratified, the United Nations was officially established. 55 Many in the Democratic Party saw this as a major progressive victory, specifically on the part of Presidents Wilson, Roosevelt, and Truman. President Roosevelt, though, violated his constitutional authority in that he allowed older-aged destroyers to be transferred to the Allied powers absent congressional authorization. President Roosevelt claimed executive powers afforded him the ability to make such trade agreements, but in reality, he needed congressional approval, given the extent of financial considerations. The United States was also not at war, further limiting the president. However, in 1941, Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, “which authorized the president to manufacture any defense article and to ‘sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of’ the defense articles to any country whose defense he deemed vital to the defense of the United States.” 56 After pursuing neutrality in Europe following the outbreak of war like many of his predecessors, the United States found itself called to action following the surprise attack by Axis-ally, Japan, on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. On December 8, President Roosevelt secured a war declaration from the U.S. Congress, as well as a mandate from the American people, seeking for the United States and the Allied nations to win a swift victory. President Roosevelt capitalized on the new- 53 Barratt, David. “Atlantic Charter.” Salem Press Encyclopedia , 2013. 54 The United Nations. “History of the UN.” The United Nations , 2017, http://www.un.org/en/sections/history/history-united-nations/. 55 Ibid. 56 Fisher, Presidential War Power , 77.