Herbert Bayard Swope to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Herbert Bayard Swope to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Swope, Herbert Bayard, 1882-1958
Identifier
WWP16308
Date
1920 October 20
Description
Herbert B. Swope expresses the need to appropriately thank Bernard Baruch for his efforts before, during, and after the war in this letter to Woodrow Wilson.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
My dear Mr. President
PersonalIf any doubt existed on the subject of your health it would be removed immediately upon reading the virile and helpful statements that recently have come from you on the political situation. I congratulate you on your recovery, and I congratulate the country that you have been spared to it, so that it may profit by your counsel and guidance for, I hope, many years to come.
I think you know my own sentiments toward you well enough to realize how deep a source of pleasure it is to be of service in your behalf. I am bold enough to believe that in offering you the suggestion, which I am embodying in this letter and which is its principal excuse, you will agree that I am proving of assistance in calling to your mind what is probably an oversight. That oversight lies in the fact that, apart from your personal expressions of appreciation, there has been no recognoition whatsoever of an official nature given Baruch for the work he did before, during and after the war. It would be supererogatory for me to attempt to characterize his efforts. You nknow best how singleminded, how devotional, how idealistic and how honest they were and, too, how finally effective were the results he achieved. When I see a man of the type of Cravath honored by a D.
S.
M., I am forced to the conclusion that the only reason Baruch has not been similarly distinguished is because, in the heavy pressure upon your time, you have had no opportunity to give the matter thought.Baruch is not aware I am writing this letter, and we both know him well enough to be certain he would oppose it if he had such knowledge. I am moved to take this action, however, because I believe you would want me to and because I am convinced that some public expression of approval is the least to which he is entitled as compensation for his years of unselfish and sacrificing service. It is true that you yourself, perhaps the most deserving of all for such recognition, have received none, but your reward will be given by history, which will write your name down beside that of Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington.
From a personal standpoint I regret you were unable to see your way clear toward accepting the proposition Ralph Pulitzer laid before you a month or two ago, for the idea was largely mine, but I realize that the method you have devised of utilizing your efforts after you leave the White House is possibly even more effective than the one The World offered you, and so I am content with your choice, as I know it has been made after a painstaking examination as to which plan offers you the greatest opportunity to be of aid to the country and to the world.
Pray remember me to Mrs. Wilson, and believe me to be always with admiration and respect,
Faithfully yours,
Herbert B. Swope
PersonalIf any doubt existed on the subject of your health it would be removed immediately upon reading the virile and helpful statements that recently have come from you on the political situation. I congratulate you on your recovery, and I congratulate the country that you have been spared to it, so that it may profit by your counsel and guidance for, I hope, many years to come.
I think you know my own sentiments toward you well enough to realize how deep a source of pleasure it is to be of service in your behalf. I am bold enough to believe that in offering you the suggestion, which I am embodying in this letter and which is its principal excuse, you will agree that I am proving of assistance in calling to your mind what is probably an oversight. That oversight lies in the fact that, apart from your personal expressions of appreciation, there has been no recognoition whatsoever of an official nature given Baruch for the work he did before, during and after the war. It would be supererogatory for me to attempt to characterize his efforts. You nknow best how singleminded, how devotional, how idealistic and how honest they were and, too, how finally effective were the results he achieved. When I see a man of the type of Cravath honored by a D.
S.
M., I am forced to the conclusion that the only reason Baruch has not been similarly distinguished is because, in the heavy pressure upon your time, you have had no opportunity to give the matter thought.Baruch is not aware I am writing this letter, and we both know him well enough to be certain he would oppose it if he had such knowledge. I am moved to take this action, however, because I believe you would want me to and because I am convinced that some public expression of approval is the least to which he is entitled as compensation for his years of unselfish and sacrificing service. It is true that you yourself, perhaps the most deserving of all for such recognition, have received none, but your reward will be given by history, which will write your name down beside that of Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington.
From a personal standpoint I regret you were unable to see your way clear toward accepting the proposition Ralph Pulitzer laid before you a month or two ago, for the idea was largely mine, but I realize that the method you have devised of utilizing your efforts after you leave the White House is possibly even more effective than the one The World offered you, and so I am content with your choice, as I know it has been made after a painstaking examination as to which plan offers you the greatest opportunity to be of aid to the country and to the world.
Pray remember me to Mrs. Wilson, and believe me to be always with admiration and respect,
Faithfully yours,
Herbert B. Swope
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Swope, Herbert Bayard, 1882-1958, “Herbert Bayard Swope to Woodrow Wilson,” 1920 October 20, WWP16308, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.