Wilson Determined To Win Restored Health

Title

Wilson Determined To Win Restored Health

Creator

Gus J. Karger

Identifier

WWP16339

Date

1921 April 30

Description

A newspaper article on the health of former President Wilson.

Source

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

Language

English

Text

WASHINGTON.

—Woodrow Wilson, who, even as President of the United States, lived a retired life in the White House, sheltered from so much of the public gaze, persists as a private citizen, in his reclusive habits. The outer world sees but little of him. Save for the constant and loyal ministration of his wife, he is much alone. Those who may have some claim on his companionship do not press it, deterred by the knowledge of his unhappy physical condition; others are promptly discouraged. Mr. Wilson’s one great object, according to those who may speak on the subject with show of authority, is to speed the restoration of his health. There has been some improvement since he left the White House on March 4. Only once has he suffered a setback and that of such character as might have come to a man of healthy and robust constitution—an attack of acute indigestion, from which he quickly rallied. Since then the improvement has been slight, although encouragingly steady; his appetite is good; he sleeps well, and Mr. Wilson is able to enjoy life after his own fashion, in the seclusion of his study, surrounded by books, periodicals and newspapers, for which he has not lost his passion.

The Silent Observer

Although lacking the keen personal interest in political currents and occurences which marked his participation in public affairs, Mr. Wilson remains well informed not only with regard to surface developments but to the gossip that envelops and the sidelights that illuminate them. He is a silent observer of the labors of the Harding administration, but efforts to draw out his comment with respect to any of them have been unavailing. Mr. Wilson seems not only reconciled but anxious to be out of the public sight and—certainly for the time being—out of the public mind. The arena of political controversy does not attract him, no longer has the slightest fascination for him. Again, to quote his most intimate companion, his purpose is to recover his health; and to that purpose he is devoting all of his remarkable persistence and determination. Seductive offers to re-enter the field of American writers have left him altogether unmoved and uninterested. The Lansing articles and the Lansing book, with their critical references to his course and conduct, failed to stir him to retort. Proposals from publishing houses, carrying sums that would appear “fabulous” to the average citizen, proposals that he write about the Peace Conference, about his public career, about himself, have been met with curt replies of unconditional rejection.

Pens of Grayson and Tumulty

Mr. Wilson, it would seem, has no idea of becoming his own biographer, even in event of his complete restoration to vigor. That task is being assumed by Dr. Carey Grayson, his physician, aide and constant attendant now as in the days of his Presidential incumbency, and by Joseph P. Tumulty, who gave him eight years of loyal service during his occupancy of the White House and several before that while he was governor of New Jersey. These men have undertaken, with the consent of Mr. Wilson, to tell the story of Mr. Wilson’s public career. The former, who accompanied his chief to the Paris Conference, will permit his book to deal with personal recollections and experiences of that historic gathering and its heroic figures; the narrative of the latter will deal with the political career of Woodrow Wilson as governor of New Jersey and as President of the United States. Dr. Grayson has not heretofore been a contributor to the literature of the period and the quality of his style can not be predetermined; but if he devotes himself to the Peace Conference it is not believed that he will be able, altogether, to avoid the controversial field. Those who are well acquainted with Mr. Tumulty are of the opinion that he will be actuated by no mawkish tendency so to do. Their literary products are eagerly looked forward to, because of the general expectation that on many disputed matters these men will be able to speak virtually with the authority of their distinguished chief.

Afternoon Rides

Although Mr. Wilson holds himself aloof as much as possible from the public gaze he is yet not an altogether unknown figure on the streets of Washington. Although most of his time is devoted to resting and to reading, some to correspondence, which John R. Bolling, a brother of Mrs. Wilson, handles for him, he seeks diversion of the sort which he courted during the days of his painfully slow convalescence at the White House. In the afternoon he goes out for a ride in the same automobile that he had when he was President of the United States. It was his desire to purchase the machine and President Harding and Secretary Christian were able to acquiesce because of the arrangement with the manufacturers, whose contract calls for supply of a new White House car once a year in event the President should make the request.

During the days immediately following his retirement from the White House, crowds of curious and sympathetic sightseers gathered about his new home as the hour for departure on the afternoon jaunt drew nigh. But to-day the public curiosity is no longer in evidence; Mr. Wilson is able to come and go at his pleasure, only the chance passerby raising his hat or nodding in deference or recognition. Just before March 4 he indulged himself a few times in his liking for the theater; then for a short period he gave up this enjoyment. A little sensitive about his physical condition, he did not care to expose himself to the public’s scrutiny on entering or leaving his theater box. But, recently, the difficulty has been solved for him, and Mr. Wilson has again been seen at a vaudeville performance or two, but only a few. For instead of occupying a box, Mr. Wilson’s party reserved seats in the last row of the orchestra, which they were able to enter upon after the performance had begun and to leave before its ending, without attracting the attention of any one. But for these rare excursions to the theater Mr. Wilson’s evenings are uneventful and the hour of retirement is fixed at 9 o’clock.

His Visitors

At his home he has not been entirely without visitors, but the list is of his own selection. Among those who have recently seen him is Homer S. Cummings of Connecticut, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Bernard Baruch of New York, both of whom continue to enjoy his closest confidence. Dr. Grayson is in attendance daily; Secretary Tumulty, who has opened law offices in Washington, visits with him regularly every Sunday morning. The latter particularly keeps him in close touch with the affairs of the outside world. Mr. Wilson is described as being as active and mentally alert as ever, observant of every policy, particularly in the field of foreign relations, that seems to deviate the course of the ship of state from that which he had previously charted.

Although he has formed a law partnership with Bainbridge Colby, his former Secretary of State, with offices in New York and Washington, Mr. Wilson has undertaken no labors in the legal profession. But he was greatly pleased, it is reported, with the recent action of the New York Legislature in admitting him to practice of the law in New York State by special enactment. It is the one public compliment which has been paid him, in his seclusion, which he highly appreciates. There is no present disposition on Mr. Wilson’s part—his physical condition would prevent, even were he so disposed—to enter actively into legal or public pursuits. What he may do later on is believed to depend entirely on his health. Democratic leaders will find it convenient to consult him, if America’s foreign relations should become a political issue. And although Mr. Wilson has no inclination to assume the role of critic, the impression is not lacking that restored physical vigor and renewed attacks on his foreign policies may later on move him to public expression.



Original Format

Letter

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/D04742.pdf

Citation

Gus J. Karger, “Wilson Determined To Win Restored Health,” 1921 April 30, WWP16339, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.