Woodrow Wilson to Arthur Brisbane
Title
Woodrow Wilson to Arthur Brisbane
Creator
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Identifier
WWP19588
Date
1917 April 25
Description
Woodrow Wilson writes Arthur Brisbane to assure him that the Espionage Act will not apply to the President or any of his official acts.
Source
Eleanor Wilson McAdoo Papers, University of California, Santa Barbara
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Espionage--Law and legislation
Contributor
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum staff
Language
English
Text
My dear Mr. Brisbane:
I sincerely appreciate the frankness of your interesting letter of April twentieth with reference to the so-called Espionage Bill now awaiting action of the Congress.
I approve of this legislation but I need not assure you and those interested in it that, whatever action the Congress may decide upon, so far as I am personally concerned, I shall not expect or permit any part of this law to apply to me or any of my official acts, or in any way to be used as a shield against criticism.
I can imagine no greater disservice to the country than to establish a system of censorship that would deny to the people of a free republic like our own their indisputable right to criticise their own public officials. While exercising the great powers of the office I hold, I would regret in a crisis like the one through which we are now passing to lose the benefit of patriotic and intelligent criticism.
In these trying times one can feel certain only of his motives, which he must strive to purge of selfishness of every kind, and await with patience for the judgment of a calmer day to vindicate the wisdom of the course he has tried conscientiously to follow.
Thank you for having written me.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wilson
I sincerely appreciate the frankness of your interesting letter of April twentieth with reference to the so-called Espionage Bill now awaiting action of the Congress.
I approve of this legislation but I need not assure you and those interested in it that, whatever action the Congress may decide upon, so far as I am personally concerned, I shall not expect or permit any part of this law to apply to me or any of my official acts, or in any way to be used as a shield against criticism.
I can imagine no greater disservice to the country than to establish a system of censorship that would deny to the people of a free republic like our own their indisputable right to criticise their own public officials. While exercising the great powers of the office I hold, I would regret in a crisis like the one through which we are now passing to lose the benefit of patriotic and intelligent criticism.
In these trying times one can feel certain only of his motives, which he must strive to purge of selfishness of every kind, and await with patience for the judgment of a calmer day to vindicate the wisdom of the course he has tried conscientiously to follow.
Thank you for having written me.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wilson
Original Format
Letter
To
Brisbane, Arthur, 1864-1936
Files
Citation
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, “Woodrow Wilson to Arthur Brisbane,” 1917 April 25, WWP19588, Eleanor Wilson McAdoo Collection at the University of California-Santa Barbara, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.