twisted elaborately about her head, must have
Powers. Though the United States conceived of
created a stir in the press box. But her experiences
the idea for the League of Nations and signed the
in Geneva twenty years earlier made her uniquely
covenant, it never officially joined. However, the
qualified for the job. There she had watched
country was an active participant in the United
the proceedings with great emotion and closely
Nations. World War II had taught Americans an
observed the League members and what she
important lesson. They could no longer remain
called “those countenances, indicators of the inner
neutral bystanders in a troubled world.
motions of the Mind revolving there—to maintain Oakley was delighted with her joint role as artist
order, control passion, develop understanding,
and documentarian and enjoyed the trappings
and preserve Life on this Planet.”17 From her
that came with her newspaper credentials. “I have
notes and sketches, she made formal drawings
never before been a newspaper representative,”
of many of the participants and would return
she said, “and I find my Press button and all Press
again during September and October in 1928 and
privileges very impressive and important, and I am
1929 to continue her study making. In 1932, the
enjoying them to the full.”19 As a member of the
portraits were published in a portfolio titled “Law
press, she was entitled to join the other journalists
Triumphant.”
in the press box, where limited seating was The need for a collective body of representatives
available on a first-come, first-served basis. Using
from the world’s nations was first proposed on
her maturity and gender to her advantage, she
January 8, 1918, as part of President Woodrow
was often provided with a prime location despite
Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” message laying
the box being full. On one occasion, she noted
out the conditions to achieve world peace.
that “‘the house’ was packed, but the polite usher
Closing the list, point fourteen states, “A general
gave me a good seat, right in the middle bloc
association of nations should be formed on the
reserved for ‘distinguished guests’ of the different
basis of covenants designed to create mutual
Delegations.”20 She also enjoyed sitting next to
guarantees of the political independence and
international journalists who seemed intrigued by
territorial integrity of States, large and small
her presence and she in theirs. The London Times
equally.”18 The first session of the Council of the
reporter “proved very interesting and interested
League of Nations met in Paris on January 16,
and asked many questions.” But, she noted with a
1920, seven months after the Treaty of Versailles
note of superiority, he “had not been at Geneva.”21
ended the war between Germany and the Allied 11