AJ Hibbett to Cary T. Grayson
Title
AJ Hibbett to Cary T. Grayson
Creator
Hibbett, AJ
Identifier
WWP16049
Date
1919 October 27
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Dear Sir: -
About two months before the second inauguration of President Wilson as president of the United States I sent him a hat made by me of rye straw and he wrote me a personal letter acknowledging the receipt of the hat. I made several attempts to obtain a picture of Mr. Wilson with the hat on his head or in his hand but his secretary Mr. Tumulty replied that the president was too busy with the duties of his office to comply with my simple request.
I now appeal to you as the highest authority on the president’s physical condition, and ask that, if he is able to withstand the fatigue, to have him sit for the above mentioned picture. I would not expect an autocratic and aristocratic ruler of many countries of the Old World to comply with this simple request, but I do not hesitate to ask it of the president of the most democratic country in the world.
I think I deserve the said picture for the following reasons: - The rye straw of which the hat is made grew west of the Mississippi River and reflects the color of the gold of California which state gave the deciding vote in the last presidential election. It was made in a southern state - Mississippi - one of the Solid South that cast its entire vote for him. It was made entirely by me who was named for Andrew Jackson the last democratic president who succeeded himself in office before Mr. Wilson. The President is often mentioned as a former school teacher, and I have followed that vocation for fifty years.
I made the hat in Hattiesburg Mississippi and sent it from there. I am here on a visit. I desire one-half dozen of said pictures, and trust you will have them made for me while the president is at leisure. Hoping you will restore the president’s condition to ite normal condition, and comply with my democratic request, I am, very truly, yours,
A. J. Hibbett,
#909 26th Ave.
Tampa, Fla.
About two months before the second inauguration of President Wilson as president of the United States I sent him a hat made by me of rye straw and he wrote me a personal letter acknowledging the receipt of the hat. I made several attempts to obtain a picture of Mr. Wilson with the hat on his head or in his hand but his secretary Mr. Tumulty replied that the president was too busy with the duties of his office to comply with my simple request.
I now appeal to you as the highest authority on the president’s physical condition, and ask that, if he is able to withstand the fatigue, to have him sit for the above mentioned picture. I would not expect an autocratic and aristocratic ruler of many countries of the Old World to comply with this simple request, but I do not hesitate to ask it of the president of the most democratic country in the world.
I think I deserve the said picture for the following reasons: - The rye straw of which the hat is made grew west of the Mississippi River and reflects the color of the gold of California which state gave the deciding vote in the last presidential election. It was made in a southern state - Mississippi - one of the Solid South that cast its entire vote for him. It was made entirely by me who was named for Andrew Jackson the last democratic president who succeeded himself in office before Mr. Wilson. The President is often mentioned as a former school teacher, and I have followed that vocation for fifty years.
I made the hat in Hattiesburg Mississippi and sent it from there. I am here on a visit. I desire one-half dozen of said pictures, and trust you will have them made for me while the president is at leisure. Hoping you will restore the president’s condition to ite normal condition, and comply with my democratic request, I am, very truly, yours,
A. J. Hibbett,
#909 26th Ave.
Tampa, Fla.
Original Format
Letter
To
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
Hibbett, AJ, “AJ Hibbett to Cary T. Grayson,” 1919 October 27, WWP16049, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.