Lawrence C. Woods to Woodrow Wilson

Title

Lawrence C. Woods to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

Woods, Lawrence C.

Identifier

WWP25301

Date

1918 October 23

Description

An old academic friend writes to President Wilson with news of friends and family.

Source

Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers

Publisher

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum

Subject

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Princeton University

Contributor

Morgan Willer

Relation

WWP25302

Language

English

Provenance

Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.

Text

Dear Mr. President:-

I was in Washington Monday “by request”, and of course I thought of you and almost persuaded myself to phone over to see if I could not have the pleasure of a little, purely-personal chat in the evening. Among other things I wanted to talk over the laughable situation that your position in the war is creating.

Eight years ago you were practically powerless to make some changes that looked very drastic at that time at Princeton. Today, thru a fourth or fifth subordinate, you are not only making infinitely more radical changes at Princeton but thruout the entire country in all the colleges and universities. I am inclined to believe that even you would admit that most of the boys going to these places now are “attending the main tent” and are giving very little attention to the “sideshows.”

I am tempted continually to write to you of my pride, pleasure and glory in the manner as well as spirit in which you are handling the world situation. The Monday following the receipt of the second German note, there was of course uneasiness in the minds of people who did not know Woodrow Wilson. To all of my friends who expressed uneasiness, I told them not to worry the least bit. I even went so far as to say that you answer would blow the Hohenzollerns off the throne of Germany at the hands of the German people. When your reply came out Tuesday morning, therefore, there was at least one person in Pittsburgh who was not the least bit surprised. I was interested too in the way you waited to do what you expected to do and intended to do until the people of the country, including Senator Lodge, had stated their views and therefore could not possibly criticise your action. From a salesman’s standpoint, this is the perfection of salesmanship - making the other fellow think he has decided the whole thing himself.

Judge Jim MacFarlane, ‘78, stopped me at the Club yesterday and said, “I am a Republican and differ on many points with the President, but his course thruout this entire war has given me increasing confidence and admiration for the perfect way in which he is handling the situation.”

Hon. W.W. No.2

In a letter just received from Bill Grandin, ‘92, he winds up a business note by this postscript - “Remember what I wrote you a number of years ago about Wilson if given a chance - Well, I have not had occasion to change my opinion! The fact is he is so careful he forgets to make mistakes. Hasn’t it been a God-send to have had him here.”

Of course I know that you were just as distinctly raised up for this day and generation of this world crisis as any man ever was raised up in the world’s history. And, curiously enough, you were especially trained and tried for this work.

But I did not start to write that kind of a letter to you.
Lawrence entered Princeton this Fall and immediately volunteered for the Officers Training Camp at Lee, and so his Princeton course lasted about three weeks. While I am sorry, I am of course glad to have the boy show such spirit. My daughter, Mary Louise, is at Rosemary Hall, preparing for Vassar in another year. I know they would both join with Mrs. Woods and myself in warmest regards if they were here.

Ed. is up to his neck in Red Cross work here in connection with the epidemic. He hopes to prevent its seriously crippling the war industries in this important center.

Please do not acknowledge this letter. I hope your secretaries won’t let you see it if they think best.

Cordially and sincerely yours,
Lawrence C. Woods


Hon. Woodrow Wilson
The White House
Washington, DC

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WWI1269.pdf

Collection

Citation

Woods, Lawrence C., “Lawrence C. Woods to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 October 23, WWP25301, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.