Wilson’s Habit of Avoiding Conversation

Wilson’s Habit of Avoiding Conversation

Unknown

WWP20736

1913 July 1

A newspaper article on President Wilson's practice of taking automobile rides.

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

English

One method of avoiding too much conversation or any conversation at all at times when he wishes to have his thoughts to himself, which the President has approved by practice in the past, is to ride on the front seat of an automobile alongside the driver. Time and again during his campaign when welcomed on arriving at some town at which he was to speak by a “reception committee” Mr. Wilson would step gingerly into the front seat beside the startled chauffeur and leave the disappointed “committee” to bundle into the tonneau by themselves. It is said that Charles F. Murphy, the Tammany leader, lost the opportunity to ride by Mr. Wilson’s side on one occasion because the Presidential candidate adopted these tactics.

Mr. Wilson harked back to this campaign custom recently when he was in New Hampshire for his ten day vacation. He rode to and from Hanover, where he golfed on the Dartmouth College links, on the front seat, while Dr. Grayson and his secret service companion, James Sloan, kept each other company on the back seat. In this case the President felt he could enjoy the Green Mountain scenery best from the front seat. In Washington of course formality requires that the President occupy the back seat in the White House automobile.

One form of amusement which the President appeals to in tired moments is the reading of detective stories. On his recent voyage down the Chesapeake Bay on the Mayflower, Mr. Wilson spent part of his time sitting on the deck reading the most recent detective yarn that had been furnished him by the librarian of the Congressional Library.

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