Grayson Makes Record in Post at White House
Title
Grayson Makes Record in Post at White House
Creator
Unknown
Identifier
WWP20761
Date
1913 September 4
Description
An article praising Cary T. Grayson and his relationship to President Wilson.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
WASHINGTON
—It’s a sweet little job, these days, being private and personal physician to the President of the United States. From a medical viewpoint, it’s not a particularly trying post; but the position embraces about fifty-seven other tasks all calling for the tact, memory and general ability of a corporation counsel.
Slipping in and out of the White House, a little man with a keen incisive eye and manner of speech, but withal an affability of manner which immediately attracts attention, can often be seen these days. His name is Cary T. Grayson, and his name carries with it the initials, “USN,” which means he is a member of the Medical Corps of the Navy.
Grayson is the man who brought the position of Presidential doctor out of obscurity and elevated it to a post of honor, dignity and efficiency in White House circles. Before Grayson came, a White House doctor was a mysterious personage, little known and less cared about. Grayson combines this position with the one left vacant by the late Major Archibald Butt, and fills both with complete satisfaction.
On the whole, the practice of medicine on the President of the United States is the least of Grayson’s tasks. He’s a sort of confidential family adviser to President Wilson, and he also regulates the President’s office hours—and sometimes his statements to reporters. When the President is away from Washington, Grayson is oftentimes the sole connecting link between the head of the American nation and the representatives of the American press.
Eyes Have Humorous Twinkle.
In more ways than one, this black-haired, pleasant-faced, affable-mannered, efficient man has attained distinction and a record during the time Woodrow Wilson has occupied the White House. He is usually spoken of as “Dr. Cary T. Grayson, USN, the President’s personal physician,” but that’s merely the correspondents’ method of repaying in formality the informal, gracious kindnesses of the President’s doctor.
In size, Grayson is a small man, but that doesn’t apply to his ability. He has a long, straight nose, jet black hair and deep-set eyes that twinkle with humorous appreciation half the time. Sometimes they don’t twinkle, but that’s when Grayson is “on the road” with his distinguished patient, and the responsibility of his position at such a time is apt to take the twinkle from any one’s eyes.
At the time of a national crisis, the post of President’s physician is one which requires the most infinite tact, combined with high-class professional skill. Then it is that Dr. Grayson’s value as a diplomat as well as a practitioner comes to the fore.
The President is an indefatigable worker and like all men of his temperament he has the habit of neglecting his personal health when involved in a deep and delicate problem. Grayson, however, is always hovering in the background, guarding him against overwork, driving him forth to the golf links or for an automobile ride, urging plenty of sleep, a careful diet and all the other details necessary to a President’s health.
“On the Road” He Is Grave.
These are part of his duties when the President is at home. Grayson’s duties at such times become comparatively light and he is enabled to take up his other work at the Naval Hospital, at Washington, where he has a regular quota of patients who demand his attention so long as he remains in the city.
But when the President takes to his private car for a swift whirl to New York, to Cornish or elsewhere, Grayson suddenly stands forth as the czar of the Executive’s private car. Grayson is strong on the point of exercise. He insists that the President take exercise at any and all times, and the President, fortunately, when the matter is brought to his attention, is always willing to exercise.
Sometimes this means of keeping him in condition causes the President’s Secret Service bodyguard some unpleasant minutes. At times, en route, the President will leave the shelter of his private car, when the train makes a brief stop, to pace the platform. This is naturally a great relief from the tedium of remaining “indoors” for hours on end, but it contains elements of danger which are disquieting to the Secret Service guards.
Alive to All Perils.
It often happens that Mr. Wilson will alight from his car at a small town, where perhaps there are but one or two policemen to hold back the crowd. Very often, the policeman, overcome with the novelty of gazing upon the President of the United States, right there in the flesh and in their midst, will become altogher oblivious of the fact that the crowd, which is pressing in, may contain some dangerous crank.
At such times, the Secret Service guards turn policemen as well as bodyguards. They bring the local “coppers” to their senses with a jerk and, understanding well the psychology of crowds, help push back the populace so that the President can walk with comparitve safety.
At a town like Cornish, where the President goes for his rest in the summer, Dr. Grayson frequently turns newspaper correspondent. All the big press associattions keep a man constantly with the President when he is away, and, chiefly because of the absence of Secretary Tumulty, Dr. Grayson is the only one really in touch with the President who can refer questions to Mr. Wilson for an answer.
Dr. Grayson, on such a trip, is being constantly interviewed, not only for the President’s comments on international situations and the like, but also concerning the President’s plans for visits and plans concerning his automobile rides, which in many cases, Dr. Grayson and the President alone know in advance.
Auto Rides Kept Secret.
There is one time in such trips, however, when the doctor cannot be useful to the newspaper men. That is when the President goes riding about the countryside. The Executive has given strict orders that at such times he is not to be followed, and the newspaper men charged with the task of keeping in touch with him at all times are obliged to disboey the President’s instructions and trail along for a mile or so behind him just to make sure that they are not seen.
There is a crossroads just outside of Cornish which used to be a puzzling matter for the correspondents. They were forced to go out ahead of the President at times to escape detection and soon they caught on to the trick of hiding their automobile in the woods at the crossroads to wait for the passing of the White House car. As soon as it was seen which road the President had taken the destination could almost immediately be established.
Dr. Grayson, however, must always be officially ignorant of the destination the President is taking, and on that point he can give his journalistic friends no help. He usually accompanies the President on such trips, but he doesn’t often disclose incidents of the trip.
Such is Cary T. Grayson, the “President’s Own Doctor,” and if it was put up to the White House correspondents here at Washington they’d be in favor of making the job of President’s physician permanent for the rest of Cary T. Grayson’s term on the active list of the navy.
—It’s a sweet little job, these days, being private and personal physician to the President of the United States. From a medical viewpoint, it’s not a particularly trying post; but the position embraces about fifty-seven other tasks all calling for the tact, memory and general ability of a corporation counsel.
Slipping in and out of the White House, a little man with a keen incisive eye and manner of speech, but withal an affability of manner which immediately attracts attention, can often be seen these days. His name is Cary T. Grayson, and his name carries with it the initials, “USN,” which means he is a member of the Medical Corps of the Navy.
Grayson is the man who brought the position of Presidential doctor out of obscurity and elevated it to a post of honor, dignity and efficiency in White House circles. Before Grayson came, a White House doctor was a mysterious personage, little known and less cared about. Grayson combines this position with the one left vacant by the late Major Archibald Butt, and fills both with complete satisfaction.
On the whole, the practice of medicine on the President of the United States is the least of Grayson’s tasks. He’s a sort of confidential family adviser to President Wilson, and he also regulates the President’s office hours—and sometimes his statements to reporters. When the President is away from Washington, Grayson is oftentimes the sole connecting link between the head of the American nation and the representatives of the American press.
Eyes Have Humorous Twinkle.
In more ways than one, this black-haired, pleasant-faced, affable-mannered, efficient man has attained distinction and a record during the time Woodrow Wilson has occupied the White House. He is usually spoken of as “Dr. Cary T. Grayson, USN, the President’s personal physician,” but that’s merely the correspondents’ method of repaying in formality the informal, gracious kindnesses of the President’s doctor.
In size, Grayson is a small man, but that doesn’t apply to his ability. He has a long, straight nose, jet black hair and deep-set eyes that twinkle with humorous appreciation half the time. Sometimes they don’t twinkle, but that’s when Grayson is “on the road” with his distinguished patient, and the responsibility of his position at such a time is apt to take the twinkle from any one’s eyes.
At the time of a national crisis, the post of President’s physician is one which requires the most infinite tact, combined with high-class professional skill. Then it is that Dr. Grayson’s value as a diplomat as well as a practitioner comes to the fore.
The President is an indefatigable worker and like all men of his temperament he has the habit of neglecting his personal health when involved in a deep and delicate problem. Grayson, however, is always hovering in the background, guarding him against overwork, driving him forth to the golf links or for an automobile ride, urging plenty of sleep, a careful diet and all the other details necessary to a President’s health.
“On the Road” He Is Grave.
These are part of his duties when the President is at home. Grayson’s duties at such times become comparatively light and he is enabled to take up his other work at the Naval Hospital, at Washington, where he has a regular quota of patients who demand his attention so long as he remains in the city.
But when the President takes to his private car for a swift whirl to New York, to Cornish or elsewhere, Grayson suddenly stands forth as the czar of the Executive’s private car. Grayson is strong on the point of exercise. He insists that the President take exercise at any and all times, and the President, fortunately, when the matter is brought to his attention, is always willing to exercise.
Sometimes this means of keeping him in condition causes the President’s Secret Service bodyguard some unpleasant minutes. At times, en route, the President will leave the shelter of his private car, when the train makes a brief stop, to pace the platform. This is naturally a great relief from the tedium of remaining “indoors” for hours on end, but it contains elements of danger which are disquieting to the Secret Service guards.
Alive to All Perils.
It often happens that Mr. Wilson will alight from his car at a small town, where perhaps there are but one or two policemen to hold back the crowd. Very often, the policeman, overcome with the novelty of gazing upon the President of the United States, right there in the flesh and in their midst, will become altogher oblivious of the fact that the crowd, which is pressing in, may contain some dangerous crank.
At such times, the Secret Service guards turn policemen as well as bodyguards. They bring the local “coppers” to their senses with a jerk and, understanding well the psychology of crowds, help push back the populace so that the President can walk with comparitve safety.
At a town like Cornish, where the President goes for his rest in the summer, Dr. Grayson frequently turns newspaper correspondent. All the big press associattions keep a man constantly with the President when he is away, and, chiefly because of the absence of Secretary Tumulty, Dr. Grayson is the only one really in touch with the President who can refer questions to Mr. Wilson for an answer.
Dr. Grayson, on such a trip, is being constantly interviewed, not only for the President’s comments on international situations and the like, but also concerning the President’s plans for visits and plans concerning his automobile rides, which in many cases, Dr. Grayson and the President alone know in advance.
Auto Rides Kept Secret.
There is one time in such trips, however, when the doctor cannot be useful to the newspaper men. That is when the President goes riding about the countryside. The Executive has given strict orders that at such times he is not to be followed, and the newspaper men charged with the task of keeping in touch with him at all times are obliged to disboey the President’s instructions and trail along for a mile or so behind him just to make sure that they are not seen.
There is a crossroads just outside of Cornish which used to be a puzzling matter for the correspondents. They were forced to go out ahead of the President at times to escape detection and soon they caught on to the trick of hiding their automobile in the woods at the crossroads to wait for the passing of the White House car. As soon as it was seen which road the President had taken the destination could almost immediately be established.
Dr. Grayson, however, must always be officially ignorant of the destination the President is taking, and on that point he can give his journalistic friends no help. He usually accompanies the President on such trips, but he doesn’t often disclose incidents of the trip.
Such is Cary T. Grayson, the “President’s Own Doctor,” and if it was put up to the White House correspondents here at Washington they’d be in favor of making the job of President’s physician permanent for the rest of Cary T. Grayson’s term on the active list of the navy.
Original Format
Article
Files
Collection
Citation
Unknown, “Grayson Makes Record in Post at White House,” 1913 September 4, WWP20761, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.