Vance Criswell McCormick to Woodrow Wilson

June 28th, 1917I am sorry to trouble you but would like very much to have your advice. Secretary Lansing has asked me to serve on the Administrative Committee of the Export Council along with the representatives appointed by Secretaries Redfield and Houston and Mr. Hoover. I will, of course, be glad to do this if I can better serve you and the country by giving my efforts in this direction rather than working as I now am as a free lance.
Since the beginning of the war I have been in Washington practically every week and feel that I have been of some assistance by coming in contact with the various Department heads and assisting them in every way possible. Not being officially connected with any of the Departments gives me some advantages, as information and suggestions from disinterested outsiders are often more acceptable than from other sources.
Having no official government position, I have been able to pick up information and get the real sentiment of the country much more accurately and completely than in being confined to any particular kind of work. I have also felt the importance of expending some effort along the lines of arousing loyalty toward the Administration among the members of our party in Washington, and of securing positions there for men in sympathy with your policies to create a wholesome atmosphere and to check in some measure the propaganda being carried on by many of the so-called patriots of the Republican party, who have volunteered their services in Washington and who are doing all they can to discredit the work of the Administration.
In addition to this I have been performing my regular duties as National Chairman and endeavoring to assist in the important legislative matters in Congress, as well as trying to harmonize our disgruntled Senators and Congressmen. This work, of course, is most general and not specific, but I have been and am ready at all times to devote my entire time to the cause, if necessary, and am writing you hoping you will frankly tell me if you feel I can be of more service in the work I am now doing than by taking up the work of the Export Council. If I take up the latter, do you think I should resign from the National Chairmanship, which I would, of course, be perfectly willing to do.
My whole desire is to help you and serve my country and I am ready to take my coat off at any time but I want to place my efforts where they will count the most.
I expect to return to Washington Saturday morning to give Mr Lansing an answer and, if convenient to you, would appreciate a word from you to me at the Shoreham Hotel.