Cary T. Grayson Diary

Title

Cary T. Grayson Diary

Creator

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938

Identifier

WWP17125

Date

1919 April 4

Source

Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia

Language

English

Text

This morning the Presidents condition was distinctly serious. The question, therefore, of what should be said to the public was one which I had to decide. The President had no objection to my announcing that he was sick in bed; in fact, he advised that I do so because, as he pointed out, he did not want any one to attiru attribute to him any indication of quitting, as only the fact that he could not sit up prevented him from continuing the work of the Peace Conference. I got in touch with the newspaper correspondents immediately and told them that the President was suffering from a severe cold and that I had put him to bed and was insisting that he remain there so that he could have the proper care and attention, which was absolutely imperative at the present time.

The President then asked me to go across the street to the British Headquarters and see Premier Lloyd-George, and explain to him why he (the President) could not be present at the morning session of the Big Four, but that he hoped that they would go on with the business, especially as the King of Belgium had promised to be present. Lloyd-George suggested that Colonel House be the substitute for the President, instead of Secretary Lansing. He said: If you have Secretary Lansing there, every other Secretary of State of all the other countries will deem it their duty to be present and it will be equal to a council of ten. Lloyd-George said to me: You have Scotch in your blood, havent you? And I said: Yes, a generation removed. He said: Thats all right. I feel satisfied that you can handle him then. I dont have to give you any advice.

The Council of Four, with Colonel House substituting held its meeting in the temporary White House as originally scheduled, and the King of the Belgians and his Prime Minister presented their views on behalf of Belgium. Nothing that was transacted, however, was brought to the attention of the President, he being allowed to remain quiet.

When the King arrived here for the morning session he said: I am very sorry to hear that the President is ill. Please take good care of him, because the world is counting on him, and give him a greeting with best wishes from me.

As the day wore on the President showed some manifestations of improvement, and I was able to give him some nourishment in the form of oyster soup and hot coffee. Afterward he fell into a sleep and his temperature was reduced to 101.

When the meeting of the Big Four adjourned, I made it a point to see Lloyd-George and asked him if he had any information to convey to the President. He told me that the King of Belgium had practically gone over everything that had been discussed at previous meetings, and that they really had made no progress. Lloyd-George further said: Tell the President that we are going to have a meeting at four oclock this afternoon. I think it is the wise thing to do, nothwithstanding the fact that I do not believe we will accomplish anything without the Presidents presence.

Colonel and Mrs. Birch, and Mrs. Willard and Miss Willard were the guests at luncheon today. Colonel Birch is our Minister to Portugal, and Mrs. Willard and Miss Willard are the wife and daughter of our Ambassador to Spain. They were, of course, much disappointed because the President could not be present on account of his illness. The President was represented by Mrs. Wilson. Colonel Birch was bubbling with good spirits and humor. I asked him how he liked the wine in Portugal and he said that when he first went there it went to his head, but later on it went to his big toe - so he had to vote dry. The Colonel told many amusing and interesting stories.

The President had a very bad night and I was called to see him a number of times in order to give him whatever relief was possible.

Original Format

Diary

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/PCST19190404.pdf

Citation

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 April 4, WWP17125, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.