Season 1 1978

President Woodrow Wilson's idealistic hopes for world peace through collective security class at Versailles with the harsh old-world real politik of Europe, which seeks to punish Germany for the First World War. The resultant punitive treaty sows the seeds of World War II. Wilson is forced to compromise his ideals, but he returns home to fight for ratification of the League of Nations

Woodrow Wilson and the Senate fight for control of American foreign policy, and the Senate wins. Wilson is opposed by a powerful coalition of conservatives like Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, and brings his case to the people as he embarks on a grueling 8,000 mile train trip. Wilson refuses to compromise on the League of nations and, ironically, is responsible for its defeat.

In 1921, the world's first major disarmament conference limits the postwar arms race, and the most important strategic weapon of the times - the battleship. General Billy Mitchell demonstrates the superiority of air power by bombing obsolete battleships in Chesapeake Bay. While the American military remains unconvinced, Japanese observers are extremely impressed, as the would later demonstrate at Pearl Harbor.

The United States Enters WWI
Woodrow Wilson and the League
Women Get the Vote
President Harding
President Coolidge
The Billy Mitchel Court Martial
President Coolidge Steps Down