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Extensive archive of historic Wilson family correspondence, comprising over 125 letters to Woodrow Wilson's daughter, Margaret, plus important ephemera including the cue cards used by President Wilson to read his 'War Message' to Congress on the eve of US entry into World War I, a dining car menu signed by Wilson and other dignitaries visiting Paris in 1918 after the Armistice, and candid photographs from the Wilsons' trip to France. The letters are from Woodrow Wilson, his wife Edith Bolling Wilson, his daughters Jessie and Eleanor, White House Chief Usher Ike Hoover, Secretary to the First Lady Helen Bones, Wilson's Secretary of the Treasury (and Margaret's brother-in-law) William G. McAdoo, L. C. 'Mother' Pickett, and others. Most are unseen and unpublished, lending unique and extraordinary insight into the Wilsons and their circle during a momentous period in world history—the advent and conclusion of World War I, in which Wilson called for America to abandon its policy of neutrality to fight for the rights of man throughout the globe, exclaiming to Congress that the "world must be made safe for democracy."
In the aftermath of World War I, in October 1919, President Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke that rendered him largely incapacitated. First Lady Edith Wilson then took a leading role in the administration, managing the office of the president under her 'stewardship,' controlling access to President Wilson and filtering his official correspondence. During this period Mrs. Wilson was virtually in charge of the Executive Branch, and as such became one of the most influential First Ladies ever to occupy the White House. In her letters to Margaret, she candidly discusses Woodrow Wilson's health and medical care, and also outlines plans for the inauguration of Wilson's successor, Warren G. Harding, on March 4, 1921.
Highlighting of the archive are five Woodrow Wilson autographs and sixteen Edith Bolling Wilson autographs, including:
Woodrow Wilson's original printed cue cards used to deliver his stirring 'War Message' to Congress from the rostrum of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill, April 2, 1917, containing the complete text of his historic speech. In small part: "We are now about to accept gauge of battle with this natural foe to liberty and shall, if necessary, spend the whole force of the nation to check and nullify its pretensions and its power. We are glad, now that we see the facts with no veil of false pretence about them, to fight thus for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples, the German peoples included: for the rights of nations great and small and the privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of obedience. The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind." Wilson emphasized that America's quarrels were with the German government, not its people, and signaled the emergence of the United States as a world power.
TLS by Woodrow Wilson as president, signed "Father," one page on White House letterhead, September 14, 1916, addressed to "My dear Little Daughter." In part: "We had a very quiet and delightful trip down on the Mayflower, but, of course, I came away with a very heavy heart. I hope that you will have me kept informed from day to day of sister's condition. I should like, if possible, to join the little family party at the least, even at the cost of cancelling public engagements…I wish you were with us all the time."
TLS as president, signed "Woodrow Wilson," two pages on two adjoining sheets embossed with the presidential seal, Paris, April 1, 1919, addressed to "My dear Little Girl." In part: "We are all well. I am having a desperate struggle to bring the French to form some conclusion about something, but the struggle cannot last much longer. There is, so far as I can see, nothing more to say." Wilson writes during the second phase of the Paris Peace Conference, during which he met great resistance from the French. Just three days before, they had brought up a sensational demand, asking to annex the coal-rich Saar region as a condition of their entry into the League of Nations. The peace talks came to a frightening head, and Clemenceau threatened to abandon the conference altogether. It was only after Wilson's sudden and debilitating respiratory illness on the morning of April 3rd that the Big Four returned to the table with an eye towards conciliation.
ANS in pencil by Woodrow Wilson as president, signed "Father," one page on a White House stationery envelope, April 16, 1920, in full: "Dear Margaret—Many, many happy returns!"
Remarkable dining car menu from the "Train Présidentiel, Brest à Paris, Diner du 13 Decembre 1918," signed on the reverse by 20 Allied dignitaries, including: Woodrow Wilson, Edith Bolling Wilson, John J. Pershing, Secretary of State Robert Lansing (and wife Eleanor Lansing), Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, Ambassador to France William G. Sharp, Gordon Auchincloss (Col. House's son-in-law), Mary A. Benson (wife of Admiral Benson), French Ambassador Jean Jules Jusserand (and his wife Elisa), French Minister of Marine Georges Leygues, Secretary to the U.S. Commission to the Versailles Peace Conference Joseph Clark Grew, and others. The Armistice ending World War I had been reached only three weeks earlier when President Wilson and his party sailed for France from Hoboken, New Jersey, aboard the S.S. George Washington on December 4, 1918. The party landed at Brest on the 13th and were met by the personal train of France's President Clemenceau, and left for Paris at 5 p.m. In her autobiography, Edith Wilson remarked that 'the dining car service was terrible,' attributing it to the results of the war. Includes ten vintage candid photographs, mostly taken in Europe just after the Armistice was signed in 1918, including shots of President Wilson on parade through Paris and other photographs of President Wilson and Margaret Wilson with Gen. Pershing in France.
ALS by Edith Bolling Wilson as first lady, signed "Edith," twelve pages on sets of adjoining sheets, White House letterhead, November 13, 1918, recounting to Margaret the euphoria in Washington after news of the Armistice. In part: "Monday—(day before yesterday)…the good tidings came at 4 a.m. that the Armistice was really signed—and that blessed peace would follow…Monday—the 9th—was a day never to be forgotten—the world seemed mad with joy—at 1 o'clock—your father addressed Congress and I wish you could have seen and heard him. Even he was never more splendid and there was something one could feel throughout the audience and yet which is impossible to define—a sort of awed wonder, and the silence was there for every one feared to miss a word—Afterwards a number of people tried to say some thing to me about the address & could not for the tears. That afternoon he reviewed a parade of war workers which had been arranged for that day long before…After dinner we went in the open car with the top down, all the way down the Avenue to the Capitol, and the crowds on the streets went wild—They were so nice and jolly that although they nearly smothered us it was lots of fun—Finally soldiers and sailors in the crowd conjoined themselves as protectors and by holding hands like a grand choir they completely circled the car—putting one kid sailor in front carrying the flag—and so we were escorted home—all of them addressing your father as 'Commander in Chief'—They threw flowers & flags in to the car—& at times the crowds were so thick we would have to stop & wait a long time—We got back through perfectly comfortably & it did the tired, careworn Commander in Chief lots of good."
ALS by Edith Bolling Wilson as first lady, signed "Edith," four pages on two adjoining sheets, White House letterhead, no date but after Wilson's stroke in October 1919. The first lady responds to what must have been a testy letter from Margaret, regarding the proper medical care for the ailing president. In part: "We never have to worry about the things we did not say! So I have decided just to make this an answer to your letter without comment. I tried in my last letter to make it clear that I had sincerely and completely tried to carry out the great desire you & Nell expressed to have Dr. Lowles see your father—and explained to Dr. Devereux your feelings in the matter & also tried to interpret your anxieties to your father. So the charge that I will be responsible for anything that happens—is unfounded—However I want you all three to feel that having tried and failed to convince either the patient or the Dr. I now desire that you three feel free to do anything you can to accomplish your purpose. I have always loved direct methods—and feel in this that the thing for you to do is in the future go direct to your father—and not through me. Please you or all of you, come down and deal direct—and that releases me from a position that is very embarrassing and puts the responsibility where it belongs."
ALS by Edith Bolling Wilson as first lady, signed "Edith," four pages on two adjoining sheets, White House letterhead, no date, commenting on the president's frustratingly slow progress in recovery. In part: "'He,' your father, I mean, is gaining steadily but so slowly that it is hardly noticeable except by weeks instead of days. The Dr. got back from his 2 weeks vacation last night & seems much refreshed. Nell writes she will come for her long promised visit on the 26th & we will love seeing her. This has been the very hottest week of the Summer & I hope it is better there."
ALS by Edith Bolling Wilson as first lady, signed "Edith," seven pages on sets of adjoining sheets, White House letterhead, no date but circa 1921, discussing plans for the upcoming inauguration of Wilson's successor, Warren G. Harding, and the courtesies extended to the president-elect. In part: "Now to answer your questions—first about the Inauguration—Of course there will be nothing any of us will have to go to but the ride to the Capital and the lunch here afterwards—and everything is not so changed according to the papers that I don't know if these time-honored customs are to obtain or 'more simple' things substituted. Your father wrote today to Mr. H tendering the lunch & saying it had formerly been a custom & asking if it was agreeable to him & Mrs. H. for us to give it for them please to send us a list of the guests they would like-It will probably take a week to hear and I will let you know what he says. Then about coming to help us move—as I told you it is not a bit of use except for your own things—for I will have so much help from the people here who are trained & so willing, that except to plan I do not think it will be hard."
In overall very good to fine condition.
Provenance: originally acquired directly from Woodrow Wilson's granddaughter, Mary Faith, the daughter of Eleanor Wilson McAdoo, and sold in Profiles in History's Rare Book and Manuscript Auction, July 10, 2013.
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