Cleveland H. Dodge to Woodrow Wilson

I wish that I had the wonderful gift which you have, of expressing your meaning in words. I would like to tell you what I think of you, but I can very feebly express what I want to say. I have for good reasons kept away from Washington this Summer, but you have constantly been in my thoughts and I thank God that, if what I hear is true, you are standing the awful strain so well.

A man who has just returned from Canada, told me today that he had met a prominent Canadian official who said to him, that this awful war had only produced one great man & that was President Wilson. Reckon he is right. Men who have been your bitterest enemies politically have gone out of their way yesterday & today, to let me know how highly they thought of your letter to the Pope. You have won the whole American people to a remarkable degree. All party lines seem to have been forgotten, & it is a joy to realize how you are making use of the best talents of the country, regardless of party lines or affiliations. Isn't it glorious to realize how wonderfully the great American people, under your leadership, have proved themselves to be thoroughly sound at heart.

Many well informed men in New York think that the war will be over this winter, but whether that proves true or not, it hardly seems possible that the Austrians and Germans can hold out much longer, & if your great letter can only reach their hearts and minds, the inevitable effect will come.

We have had my married daughter Julia Rea & her four children with us all Summer & they have been a great joy. We have good news of Bayard & his family at Beirut & of Elizabeth at Constantinople, but all the recent reports from Turkey & Syria indicate that the suffering of the peoples there are indescribably awful. The Turks are treating the Americans very well.

Pray forgive this long letter & believe me with warm regards from all of us to all of you -