Cary T. Grayson Diary

Title

Cary T. Grayson Diary

Creator

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

Identifier

WWP16241

Date

1920 April 13

Description

Cary T. Grayson reports on President Woodrow Wilson’s comments about politics and turning the office over to Vice-President Thomas Marshall after his stroke.

Source

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

Language

English

Text

TUESDAY.

I was called into the President’s room at two o’clock this morning. He was awake when I entered the room. I sat by his bedside and he talked to me for about two hours. Among the things he said was this: “When I get out of office and my health has recovered I want to devote a good deal of time to showing what a disorganization the United States Senate is.” He went on to explain the “double-dealing of some of the Senators”, and he referred particularly to the attitude of Senator Hoke Smith as well as Senators Reed and Lodge. He said that he had asked our boys to go overseas and to fight in the trenches for a principle - and for this principle many of them gave up their lives and many were wounded. Now these men in the Senate took away all this from our soldiers. He asked: “Could any self-respecting man ask our boys to go into another war? Could you expect them to make such a sacrifice, and then have a crowd in the Senate like this throw away what they had fought for?”

During the conversation he said: “I am seriously thinking what is my duty to the country on account of my physical condition. My personal pride must not be allowed to stand 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 much desire for work. (DEVELOP THIS).

The President continued: “If I am only half-efficient I should turn the office over to the Vice-President. On the other hand, iIf it is going to take much time for me to recover my health and strength, the country cannot afford to wait for me.” He asked: “What do you think?” I reviewed to him all that he was doing and how he was keeping in touch with the affairs of the Government and conducting its business. It was here that I persuaded him to hold a Cabinet meeting. I said: “If you will call a Cabinet meeting and come in contact with your advisers; and talk with them, you can then determine just what your leadership represents. If you will do this I am confident that you will find that you are doing more than you realize. You are running your office by correspondence and this naturally makes you feel greatly out of touch with things. Moreover, it gives you the impression that you are inefficient. A personal contact with your advisers will reassure you of your ability to continue to handle the situation.” The President said: “I have had nothing but discouragement from those who should support me and should cooperate with me and stand for the principles for which I stand. Because I have stood for these principles and not for the personalities, many have failed me in this crucial time. If I were well and strong I would gladly and eagerly fight for the cause stronger than ever. I will try not to be discouraged even as it is and I shall make the best of the circumstances.”

The President continued: “Colonel House’s going wrong has greatly distressed me. I once thought he was too good to be true. In Paris I first realized the change that had taken place when he suggested that I turn everything over to him and let him run things. That was my first indication that he was going wrong and had swelled up. He succumbed to flattery and to his son-in-law, Auchincloss. The latter I never trusted.” These were two big factors which could not help but bring about some change in their personal relations.

Original Format

Diary

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/D06440.pdf

Citation

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1920 April 13, WWP16241, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.