Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP20699
Date
1913 March 3
Description
Note by Cary T. Grayson about meeting President-elect Woodrow Wilson at the White House.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
INAUGURATION -- ADMIRAL GRAYSON.
Mr. Wilson came down to Washington the day before Inauguration. The first time I saw him he and Mrs. Wilson came to the White House in response to an invitation from President and Mrs. Taft on the afternoon of March 3, 1913, for tea. The picture will always be vivid in my mind - how clear-cut Mr. Wilson’s features were, how intensely determined he was - completely calm and at ease. It was on this occasion that I had the first glimpse of Mrs. Wilson’s cordial, beautiful smile. This was the first thing I noticed about her. Mr. Wilson while conversing with Miss Helen Taft, who was a student at Bryn Mawr, said: “We have many things in common in Bryn Mawr College.” They discussed Bryn Mawr at length. Mr. Taft talked for quite a while to Mrs. Wilson, and Mrs. Taft spent most of her time in conversation with Mrs. Wilson telling her about the White House. President Taft told them that it was a good house to live in and that he regretted that his rent bill was up and he had to move. And he then gave one of his chuckle laughs. He expressed the hope that they would enjoy living there as much as he had.
Mr. Wilson came down to Washington the day before Inauguration. The first time I saw him he and Mrs. Wilson came to the White House in response to an invitation from President and Mrs. Taft on the afternoon of March 3, 1913, for tea. The picture will always be vivid in my mind - how clear-cut Mr. Wilson’s features were, how intensely determined he was - completely calm and at ease. It was on this occasion that I had the first glimpse of Mrs. Wilson’s cordial, beautiful smile. This was the first thing I noticed about her. Mr. Wilson while conversing with Miss Helen Taft, who was a student at Bryn Mawr, said: “We have many things in common in Bryn Mawr College.” They discussed Bryn Mawr at length. Mr. Taft talked for quite a while to Mrs. Wilson, and Mrs. Taft spent most of her time in conversation with Mrs. Wilson telling her about the White House. President Taft told them that it was a good house to live in and that he regretted that his rent bill was up and he had to move. And he then gave one of his chuckle laughs. He expressed the hope that they would enjoy living there as much as he had.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1913 March 3, WWP20699, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.