Henry Cabot Lodge: Lodge, a Republican Senator from Massachusetts, was one of the most prominent reservationists and served as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He proposed several reservations, including the Lodge Reservations, which sought to maintain American independence in foreign policy decisions and limit the powers of the League of Nations, an international organization established by the Treaty of Versailles to promote peace.
William E. Borah: Borah, a Republican Senator from Idaho, was a strong advocate of American isolationism and opposed the treaty without significant revisions. He argued that the treaty violated American principles of self-determination and would entangle the United States in European conflicts.
Hiram Johnson: Johnson, a Republican Senator from California, shared Borah's isolationist views and strongly opposed the Treaty of Versailles. He believed that the treaty would undermine American sovereignty and compromise the nation's interests.
Frank Brandegee: Brandegee, a Republican Senator from Connecticut, was another notable reservationist. He supported amendments to the treaty to safeguard American interests and autonomy in international affairs.
Robert La Follette: La Follette, a Republican Senator from Wisconsin, expressed reservations about the League of Nations and argued for changes to ensure that the organization would not have the power to involve the United States in conflicts without the consent of Congress.
The reservationists held a significant influence in the Senate and ultimately played a decisive role in shaping the debate over the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles. Their insistence on reservations led to the defeat of the treaty in its original form and resulted in further negotiations between the United States and the Allied Powers. Eventually, the treaty was ratified with certain reservations, reflecting the concerns raised by the reservationists.