William G. McAdoo to Cary T. Grayson
Title
William G. McAdoo to Cary T. Grayson
Creator
McAdoo, W. G. (William Gibbs), 1863-1941
Identifier
WWP15758
Date
1919 May 9
Description
William G. McAdoo writes to Cary T. Grayson about the strain Woodrow Wilson is under at the Paris Peace Conference, and political developments at home.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Text
Dear Admiral
I cannot thank you enough for the two letters you have written me. They were most unexpected pleasures because you so rarely write to anybody. Knowing of your neglect in these matters I have written two letters myself to your wife fearing that you had neglected her!! Certainly she is a brave and splendid little woman. Nell and I admire her extravagantly. I think her cable to you is one of the most charming things I have ever read. I do not wonder you are a proud and happy man and I am sure you will be delighted beyond measure to get back to Gertrude and your two boys and especially to see the last one. Gertrude wrote Nell the other day and said that both babies were getting along splendidly.
I got back to New York about two weeks ago and have not been in Washington since I left last January. I have been making a good many speeches for the Victory Liberty Loan. The campaign closes Saturday night and we shall all be glad to get this business back of us. There is no doubt in my mind of its success.
I note what you say about the President’s difficult task and the severe strain under which he is laboring. I think he has accomplished wonders and the marvel to me is that he has been able to endure all that has been forced upon him, not only by the selfishness and conflicting interests of all involved in the extremely intricate European situation but by the base and cheap politicians in America who have exhibited a lack of patriotism which to my mimnd is appalling. I have never seen anything like the malignity and virulence of certain of the Republican leaders. It is comparable only to that exhibited by old Thad. Stevens against the South after the Civil War. I feel confident, however, that public opinion supports the President and that, in spite of the machinations of the mean and visionless men in the Senate who are opposing him, the Treaty, including the League of Nations, will be ratified. There may be delays and much hot air and vindictive criticism but the country is with the President on the fundamentals. When he gets back I hope sincerely that he will be able to go about the country, particularly as far as the Pacific, and make some speeches. Nothing will do so much to help him and the things for which he stands as to make this trip. Nell and I have been very anxious about him, fearing that he would kill himself with overwork; but we have been comforted all the time with the knowledge that you are at his side and know that you will take the very best possible care of him. I hope Edith is standing the strain well. You are all hagving a wonderfully interesting experience but it must make you gnash your teeth frequently.
I am really grieved that I cannot help the President in Europe, although I am glad, for my own sake, that he did not ask me to go. Still you know that I would subordinate my own interests or feelings any time to help the country. But as the President did not ask me, or did not seem to feel that I could be of use to him over there, my conscience has been clear. I feel no disappointment about it, as you know, because I think that as the responsibility is his, he ought to be allowed a parfectly free hand in choosing the men whose support would be of the greatest value. However, I have always been greatly disappointed that he did not take Mr. Root with him. Root has no political ambitions, is far superior in intellect and vision to any of the leading men of his party, is a firm believer in the League of Nations, and I am sure that he would have supported the President loyally and strongly and that he would have been of the greatest possible assistance to mhim in Paris. Moreover, Mr. Root’s participation in the formulation of the League of Nations and of the Peace Treaty would have cut the legs from under the Republican partizans over here and have made it difficult for them to oppose or delay ratification. However, that is all behind us and we must make the best of the situation as it is.
As for the Democractic situation over here, there seems to be a complete demoralization at Washington which is not difficult to understand in the circumstances and there is a great deal of discouragement and pessimism among a large number of the leading men of the party. I do not share this view. I believe that the situation is by no means irretrievable and if the President does some sharp and decisive fighting when he returns, and especially if he gets rid of some embarrassments and establishes a vigorous policy with respect to some of our domestic problems, Democratic success next year will be certain. However, more of this when I see you again. It will be difficult to cover the ground in a letter.
I am getting some law business and things begin to interest me again, although, of course, nothing is so interesting to a man of my temperament as public life. I have no desire, however, to get back into it. I hope Baruch is well. I wish you would tell him that I shall write him a letter in a day or two. I am just awaiting certain developments before I write to him. I am sure that he has done wonderful service over there and I know he must have been a great comfort to the President.
When you get back we will have a bully time talking over your experiences in Europe and mine here.
Give my love to Edith and the President. Nell would join me in every sort of affectionate message to them if she knew I was writing.
My health, I am glad to say, is much better. The rest I took was imperative. I really believe that I should have pegged out in six months more if I had stayed in Washington. I need a little more rest as a matter of fact but I shall probably get that later on.
Nell and the baby could not be finer. Poor little Nona, who lost her husband, is in a terrible state of mind but I hope that she will get better soon. Fortunately the baby was saved and it is getting more interesting every day.
With love for yourself, Colonel House and Baruch, I am, as always
Affectionately your friend,
WG McAdoo
Admiral Cary T. Grayson,
Paris, France
I cannot thank you enough for the two letters you have written me. They were most unexpected pleasures because you so rarely write to anybody. Knowing of your neglect in these matters I have written two letters myself to your wife fearing that you had neglected her!! Certainly she is a brave and splendid little woman. Nell and I admire her extravagantly. I think her cable to you is one of the most charming things I have ever read. I do not wonder you are a proud and happy man and I am sure you will be delighted beyond measure to get back to Gertrude and your two boys and especially to see the last one. Gertrude wrote Nell the other day and said that both babies were getting along splendidly.
I got back to New York about two weeks ago and have not been in Washington since I left last January. I have been making a good many speeches for the Victory Liberty Loan. The campaign closes Saturday night and we shall all be glad to get this business back of us. There is no doubt in my mind of its success.
I note what you say about the President’s difficult task and the severe strain under which he is laboring. I think he has accomplished wonders and the marvel to me is that he has been able to endure all that has been forced upon him, not only by the selfishness and conflicting interests of all involved in the extremely intricate European situation but by the base and cheap politicians in America who have exhibited a lack of patriotism which to my mimnd is appalling. I have never seen anything like the malignity and virulence of certain of the Republican leaders. It is comparable only to that exhibited by old Thad. Stevens against the South after the Civil War. I feel confident, however, that public opinion supports the President and that, in spite of the machinations of the mean and visionless men in the Senate who are opposing him, the Treaty, including the League of Nations, will be ratified. There may be delays and much hot air and vindictive criticism but the country is with the President on the fundamentals. When he gets back I hope sincerely that he will be able to go about the country, particularly as far as the Pacific, and make some speeches. Nothing will do so much to help him and the things for which he stands as to make this trip. Nell and I have been very anxious about him, fearing that he would kill himself with overwork; but we have been comforted all the time with the knowledge that you are at his side and know that you will take the very best possible care of him. I hope Edith is standing the strain well. You are all hagving a wonderfully interesting experience but it must make you gnash your teeth frequently.
I am really grieved that I cannot help the President in Europe, although I am glad, for my own sake, that he did not ask me to go. Still you know that I would subordinate my own interests or feelings any time to help the country. But as the President did not ask me, or did not seem to feel that I could be of use to him over there, my conscience has been clear. I feel no disappointment about it, as you know, because I think that as the responsibility is his, he ought to be allowed a parfectly free hand in choosing the men whose support would be of the greatest value. However, I have always been greatly disappointed that he did not take Mr. Root with him. Root has no political ambitions, is far superior in intellect and vision to any of the leading men of his party, is a firm believer in the League of Nations, and I am sure that he would have supported the President loyally and strongly and that he would have been of the greatest possible assistance to mhim in Paris. Moreover, Mr. Root’s participation in the formulation of the League of Nations and of the Peace Treaty would have cut the legs from under the Republican partizans over here and have made it difficult for them to oppose or delay ratification. However, that is all behind us and we must make the best of the situation as it is.
As for the Democractic situation over here, there seems to be a complete demoralization at Washington which is not difficult to understand in the circumstances and there is a great deal of discouragement and pessimism among a large number of the leading men of the party. I do not share this view. I believe that the situation is by no means irretrievable and if the President does some sharp and decisive fighting when he returns, and especially if he gets rid of some embarrassments and establishes a vigorous policy with respect to some of our domestic problems, Democratic success next year will be certain. However, more of this when I see you again. It will be difficult to cover the ground in a letter.
I am getting some law business and things begin to interest me again, although, of course, nothing is so interesting to a man of my temperament as public life. I have no desire, however, to get back into it. I hope Baruch is well. I wish you would tell him that I shall write him a letter in a day or two. I am just awaiting certain developments before I write to him. I am sure that he has done wonderful service over there and I know he must have been a great comfort to the President.
When you get back we will have a bully time talking over your experiences in Europe and mine here.
Give my love to Edith and the President. Nell would join me in every sort of affectionate message to them if she knew I was writing.
My health, I am glad to say, is much better. The rest I took was imperative. I really believe that I should have pegged out in six months more if I had stayed in Washington. I need a little more rest as a matter of fact but I shall probably get that later on.
Nell and the baby could not be finer. Poor little Nona, who lost her husband, is in a terrible state of mind but I hope that she will get better soon. Fortunately the baby was saved and it is getting more interesting every day.
With love for yourself, Colonel House and Baruch, I am, as always
Affectionately your friend,
WG McAdoo
Admiral Cary T. Grayson,
Paris, France
Original Format
Letter
To
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
McAdoo, W. G. (William Gibbs), 1863-1941, “William G. McAdoo to Cary T. Grayson,” 1919 May 9, WWP15758, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.