Henry Morgenthau to Woodrow Wilson

Title

Henry Morgenthau to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

Morgenthau, Henry, 1856-1946

Identifier

WWP17821

Date

1913 June 12

Source

Wilson Papers, Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

Subject

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence

Text

My dear Mr President

In compliance with your request I saw Mr Schiff and explained to him what induced you to offer me the Turkish Mission and that you were not aware that our People were so strongly opposed to having any position made a distinctly Jewish one or having the impression continued that Turkey was the only country where a Jew would be received as our Countrys representative.

Mr Schiff was pleased to hear your views and I found that he shared my desire that no Jew be appointed as Turkish Ambassador.

He informed me that Secretary McAdoo had asked him over the telephone, last Sunday, to suggest a Jew for the NY SubTreasurership and that he had written McAdoo that he knew of none. Senator O’Gorman asked me the same question last Friday & I declined to suggest any one.

I wonder if they understand that this is diametrically opposed to your oft expressed policy of selecting men solely on their merits and not on account of their religion.

Why should the Jews be treated differently than any one else? Would prominent Methodists or Baptists be told here is a “Position” find one of your faith to fill it?

I wrote you frankly because I know you regret mistakes of this kind as much as any of us.

With sincere regards
Yours faithfully
Henry Morgenthau


Hon. Woodrow Wilson

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Temp00343.pdf

Tags

Citation

Morgenthau, Henry, 1856-1946, “Henry Morgenthau to Woodrow Wilson,” 1913 June 12, WWP17821, First Year Wilson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.