Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP16223
Date
1920 March 20
Description
Grayson records his interactions with Woodrow Wilson 20 March 1920 through 22 June 1920 including his reaction to the vote by the Senate and his pleasure at Bainbridge Colby being in the position of Secretary of State.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Saturday
The President slept all night. The Senate vote rejecting Treaty 35–49 were read to him at 9 o’clock by Mrs. Wilson—This morning he is very blue & depressed. Said to me, don’t I feel like going back to bed and staying there.Weather is too bad for the President to go out for a motor ride—threatening rain or snow—cold.
—Tuesday Afternoon
He was speaking of lack of true oratory these days. He Quoted from Daniel Webster speaking of England—“whose morning drum beat following the sun and circles the earth with the martial airs of England.”He was moved almost to tears upon repeating these words.
—Wednesday
When I said good morning, It is a beautiful Spring day—and warm—He replied I don’t know whether it is warm or cold. I feel so weak and useless. I feel that I’d like to go to bed & stay there until I either get well or die.
I cannot make a move except making a definite resolve to do so.
Monday
The hope of nations is the birth of the Spirit of the times—Those that oppose it will go down in history along with Gates & B. Arnold.
DThe things you do—confession is suicide & suicide is confessionHoover—no courageleast resistanceowes histo Dem party—People are tired of both parties—Hoover strength that he is independent—no party—2. A.M. & sitting by his bed
Tuesday
When I get out of office & well I want to devote time to showing what a disorganization the Senate is—(2) I am thinking what is my duty to the country—on account of my physical condition. My personal pride must not be allowed to get in the way of my duty to the country—When I am well I feel eager for work—I judge my condition because now I do not have any desire for work.
What do you think.If I am only half efficient, I must get turn the office to the V.P.
If it is going to take months much time for me to recover my strength the country cannot afford to wait for me.House going wrong has distressed me. I once thought he was too good to be true.“In Paris I first dised him when he suggested that I turn everything to him & let him run things”—That was my first sign he had gon was going wrong.
His son-in law—Auchincloss whom I never trusted or & his wife Mrs House—big cause.
5 cabinet meeting
Tuesday—Cabinet meeting at 3 o’clock afternoon. He said to me afterwards, “Colby is the flower of the cabinet. He has a mind that grasps, is constructive—WednesdayFirst cabinet meeting—The P.Lane was the to leak of the cabinet—He is the flower of the cabinet—B.C.
—WTuesdayFriday
This morning the President sent for his little partner Gordon Grayson at ten o’clock. He had a pony & cart in the back lawn of the White House. Gordon, with Davidge and Jackson, had his first lesson in driving. He enjoyed it. Seemed perfectly at home with the reins in one hand and a cooky cake in the other. The President said as he would drive around the grounds and pass by the porch where he was sitting Gordon—would look at him with a twinkle—as much as say can you beat this?
Saturday
missed his Emulsion—Sunday. .Bright morning—sunshine—The P said—Shall I go riding this A.M. “If for medicine, yes—if for pleasure—no—”Medicine labelled shake well before using—The P. “Shake well while riding”
What are marvels to us are common place things to Gordon—air plain flying over White House while sitting on front porch.
I’ll accept Judgeship— if I choose to study law
—Thursday
Hadly of Yale—said “You can always tell a Harvard man, but you can’t tell him much.”Speaking of Mrs. W. to me—I’m going to send you two north of N of the pole—if you continue to complain of the heat.”We are trying to persuade him to go away from W. for the summer.This is the first really warm day of Spring.
CTG Jr first visit to the W House. The P & Mrs W were seated on South porch having tea—The little fellow was excited—but as the P said—as serious as a judge.
After dinner he and I were sitting in his bed room. Mitchell Palmer talks too much. His ambition is to keep before the public; after it is over here, go to NY to practice law. Why he would not accept Secy War—Not on account of being Quaker. I should not have offered it. That was one on me.
When I offered Bryan Sec’y of State, he wanted to know if he could go on speaking to make money.
Sunday
After dinner before open fire. Discussing how to raise children—teach them to obey—He remembers well the first night he slept in a dark room—When his daughter Margaret, was a year old, she refused to sleep alone except with the light burning—she was told she must do it. She cried for about an hour, Mrs W. was out in the hall listening thru key hole. This was one of the hardest times in W.W. life
Hoped with all his heart McAdoo’s would not go to Europe.
While I was sick in bed Thursday & Friday he motored too far—to La Plata, Md. over-fatigued—To-day he has ordered car for 2 PM I dissuaded him—In bed most of A.M.—feeling played out.
While I was sitting by him this evening in in his bed room before an open wood fire—He remarked about the future the world—“Upon the President elected this year—this fall, depends whether the U.S. shall be the leader of the world or back among the straglers—The duty of the Democratic party—Does not know who he would pick for President now—if he had the choosing.
Johnson as President woul
The Treaty would not have not been defeated if the Democrats had not gotten weak kneed and kept talking compromise from the very beginning—which talked gave encouragement to the Republicans—The League of Nations and the peace Treaty is bigger than any party.
Monday
Gordon spent the morning at the White House. Told the P he had rompers in his pockets. They went motoring in the afternoon—Feeling better than yesterday—but very depressed—at times, nervous cough—loss of appetite. action of l lg not as good.
Discussed Col. House—what a fizzle he had made—When he said in Paris “Let me handle it”—Auchincloss but echoed House sentiments—Prostatic trouble—blue—suppository. Dr EP.
D visited.
Dr Axson visited—much depressed. This may be my last day. Urinary disturbance.
Suppository—
Tuesday
The P Seated in his rooom after dinner 7.30—alone—I had a very satisfactory talk with Colby yesterday. (He left last night for San Francisco—to attend the Dem.—Convention. His mind runs along the same channel with mine.
Do you think he will ever be President. Yes, I hope so.
Norman Davis is a man for whom I have an admiration & great confidence in. They would not put anything over him while he was on the other side, in France.
He should make a good speaker—has good sound ideas & can express himself. He has a good voice.“I hope no more of my friends will turn out like House. He is not the House I used to know. It darkens my life.
Mcombs is crazy, jealosy—dominates him—The way he treated his wife as reported was shameful. Sex jealousy is the most savage thing in a man’s life—My sight of Herbert Hoover was a disappointment. Could not look you in the eye. He s has thoroughly discredited himself—Merl Smith appointed 3rdAsst. Secy of State—I let Colby & Davis make the selection. They tell me he has won his spurs in the war—I hope he takes after his mother. I knew his Father.
Baruch’s good judgment of men.
The President slept all night. The Senate vote rejecting Treaty 35–49 were read to him at 9 o’clock by Mrs. Wilson—This morning he is very blue & depressed. Said to me, don’t I feel like going back to bed and staying there.Weather is too bad for the President to go out for a motor ride—threatening rain or snow—cold.
—Tuesday Afternoon
He was speaking of lack of true oratory these days. He Quoted from Daniel Webster speaking of England—“whose morning drum beat following the sun and circles the earth with the martial airs of England.”He was moved almost to tears upon repeating these words.
—Wednesday
When I said good morning, It is a beautiful Spring day—and warm—He replied I don’t know whether it is warm or cold. I feel so weak and useless. I feel that I’d like to go to bed & stay there until I either get well or die.
I cannot make a move except making a definite resolve to do so.
Monday
The hope of nations is the birth of the Spirit of the times—Those that oppose it will go down in history along with Gates & B. Arnold.
DThe things you do—confession is suicide & suicide is confessionHoover—no courageleast resistanceowes histo Dem party—People are tired of both parties—Hoover strength that he is independent—no party—2. A.M. & sitting by his bed
Tuesday
When I get out of office & well I want to devote time to showing what a disorganization the Senate is—(2) I am thinking what is my duty to the country—on account of my physical condition. My personal pride must not be allowed to get in the way of my duty to the country—When I am well I feel eager for work—I judge my condition because now I do not have any desire for work.
What do you think.If I am only half efficient, I must get turn the office to the V.P.
If it is going to take months much time for me to recover my strength the country cannot afford to wait for me.House going wrong has distressed me. I once thought he was too good to be true.“In Paris I first dised him when he suggested that I turn everything to him & let him run things”—That was my first sign he had gon was going wrong.
His son-in law—Auchincloss whom I never trusted or & his wife Mrs House—big cause.
5 cabinet meeting
Tuesday—Cabinet meeting at 3 o’clock afternoon. He said to me afterwards, “Colby is the flower of the cabinet. He has a mind that grasps, is constructive—WednesdayFirst cabinet meeting—The P.Lane was the to leak of the cabinet—He is the flower of the cabinet—B.C.
—WTuesdayFriday
This morning the President sent for his little partner Gordon Grayson at ten o’clock. He had a pony & cart in the back lawn of the White House. Gordon, with Davidge and Jackson, had his first lesson in driving. He enjoyed it. Seemed perfectly at home with the reins in one hand and a cooky cake in the other. The President said as he would drive around the grounds and pass by the porch where he was sitting Gordon—would look at him with a twinkle—as much as say can you beat this?
Saturday
missed his Emulsion—Sunday. .Bright morning—sunshine—The P said—Shall I go riding this A.M. “If for medicine, yes—if for pleasure—no—”Medicine labelled shake well before using—The P. “Shake well while riding”
What are marvels to us are common place things to Gordon—air plain flying over White House while sitting on front porch.
I’ll accept Judgeship— if I choose to study law
—Thursday
Hadly of Yale—said “You can always tell a Harvard man, but you can’t tell him much.”Speaking of Mrs. W. to me—I’m going to send you two north of N of the pole—if you continue to complain of the heat.”We are trying to persuade him to go away from W. for the summer.This is the first really warm day of Spring.
CTG Jr first visit to the W House. The P & Mrs W were seated on South porch having tea—The little fellow was excited—but as the P said—as serious as a judge.
After dinner he and I were sitting in his bed room. Mitchell Palmer talks too much. His ambition is to keep before the public; after it is over here, go to NY to practice law. Why he would not accept Secy War—Not on account of being Quaker. I should not have offered it. That was one on me.
When I offered Bryan Sec’y of State, he wanted to know if he could go on speaking to make money.
Sunday
After dinner before open fire. Discussing how to raise children—teach them to obey—He remembers well the first night he slept in a dark room—When his daughter Margaret, was a year old, she refused to sleep alone except with the light burning—she was told she must do it. She cried for about an hour, Mrs W. was out in the hall listening thru key hole. This was one of the hardest times in W.W. life
Hoped with all his heart McAdoo’s would not go to Europe.
While I was sick in bed Thursday & Friday he motored too far—to La Plata, Md. over-fatigued—To-day he has ordered car for 2 PM I dissuaded him—In bed most of A.M.—feeling played out.
While I was sitting by him this evening in in his bed room before an open wood fire—He remarked about the future the world—“Upon the President elected this year—this fall, depends whether the U.S. shall be the leader of the world or back among the straglers—The duty of the Democratic party—Does not know who he would pick for President now—if he had the choosing.
Johnson as President woul
The Treaty would not have not been defeated if the Democrats had not gotten weak kneed and kept talking compromise from the very beginning—which talked gave encouragement to the Republicans—The League of Nations and the peace Treaty is bigger than any party.
Monday
Gordon spent the morning at the White House. Told the P he had rompers in his pockets. They went motoring in the afternoon—Feeling better than yesterday—but very depressed—at times, nervous cough—loss of appetite. action of l lg not as good.
Discussed Col. House—what a fizzle he had made—When he said in Paris “Let me handle it”—Auchincloss but echoed House sentiments—Prostatic trouble—blue—suppository. Dr EP.
D visited.
Dr Axson visited—much depressed. This may be my last day. Urinary disturbance.
Suppository—
Tuesday
The P Seated in his rooom after dinner 7.30—alone—I had a very satisfactory talk with Colby yesterday. (He left last night for San Francisco—to attend the Dem.—Convention. His mind runs along the same channel with mine.
Do you think he will ever be President. Yes, I hope so.
Norman Davis is a man for whom I have an admiration & great confidence in. They would not put anything over him while he was on the other side, in France.
He should make a good speaker—has good sound ideas & can express himself. He has a good voice.“I hope no more of my friends will turn out like House. He is not the House I used to know. It darkens my life.
Mcombs is crazy, jealosy—dominates him—The way he treated his wife as reported was shameful. Sex jealousy is the most savage thing in a man’s life—My sight of Herbert Hoover was a disappointment. Could not look you in the eye. He s has thoroughly discredited himself—Merl Smith appointed 3rdAsst. Secy of State—I let Colby & Davis make the selection. They tell me he has won his spurs in the war—I hope he takes after his mother. I knew his Father.
Baruch’s good judgment of men.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1920 March 20, WWP16223, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.