Cary T. Grayson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson

Title

Cary T. Grayson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson

Creator

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938

Identifier

WWP15620

Date

1919 January 21

Source

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

Language

English

Text

Dearest,

The great English writer AG Gardner dined here to-night, as I wrote you before, I asked the President when we were in London to let me ask him to come to see him (the President) which he consented to. I wished for you to hear them talk together. It was a love feast. Gardner is intensely interesting. He is as well informed on American politics and American history as any one I know at home. He came in for seven o’clock dinner and remained until Eleven o’clock, no one present but the President & Mrs W., Miss Benham and myself.

The conversation between these two men was the most interesting and wonderful I ever listened to—it covered a variety of subjects. At the dinner table they discussed Robert E. Lee and A. Lincoln at length. They expressed the belief that if their spirits met in Heaven they would not be together many seconds before each admired the other.

Then they switched to Gladstone & personal characteristics about him and the type of his mind—How his associates feared to differ with him. Peculiar way of scratching his head while speaking—(something that I very rarely do in Paris.) US Grant and what a pity, according to Gardner that he was ever President. He was not equal to the position and lost the reputation he had made as a soldier. Andrew Jackson.—Benjamin Harrison the latter,—one of the poorest Presidents, Roosevelt, Booker T. Washington,—the appointment of the negro Crum as Collector of Customs of Charleston, SC. What a challange it was to the south, Gardner, said, why did he do that, when he knew better—and his mother—Miss Bullock was a Georgia girl. He knows all the details about Americans and America politics.

They talked about English and American politicians—In a recent election in EnglandMr. Asquith stayed at home; made no speeches for his own election. He was badly defeated. His opponent was very active. The President said—that explains the difference in the English and American expressions. In England, you say, a man stands for office. In America, he runs for office. Clemenceau was discussed at much length—particularly his stubborness. He Clemenceau, said recently, since meeting President Wilson he had found one man more stubborn than himself—Many good stories were exchanged. The President was at his best in every way. France, and Germany came in for a full share of the evening’s conversation. Then, a great dissertation on the League of Nations. This was great—if not the greatest of all.—Much about Italy & Russia. The President stated why he could not take the American people and Congress into his confidence before coming over here. If so, how his motives and methods would be misinterpreted and how they would be misunderstood in Europe; and the bad effect, if he saw fit to change his mind—after arriving. That he would have been compelled to change his ideas & to some extent his plans after conferring with the leaders and people over here. If he said while in America what he proposed to do when he arrived over here. That would have antagonized many against him over before his arrival.

It was a fine evening, and I repeat I never wished for you so much because you would have loved to have heard every word. I wished for a dictograph.

Gardner, said to me, after he had said goodnight to the President that he wished that England had such a grand star of a man—Gardner has been to America but says now that he is certainly going over across.

I pray all is going well with you, my darling, I think of you constantly and love you very dearly, tenderly and with all my heart. Goodnight—.

CTG

Original Format

Letter

To

Grayson, Alice Gertrude Gordon, 1892-1961

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/D00990.pdf

Citation

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson,” 1919 January 21, WWP15620, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.