Vintage matte-finish 6.5 x 9.5 Ewing photo of Wilson going over a document with his private secretary Joseph P. Tumulty, affixed to its original 7.25 x 10.75 mount, cleverly signed in fountain pen (most likely as president) by Wilson to make it appear that his signature in the document he is reviewing with pen in hand. Also signed and inscribed at the bottom of the image and mount in fountain pen, “To my friend George P. Tennant, with the sincere regard of Joseph P. Tumulty, Dec. 11, 1914, White House, Washington, D. C.” Archivally double cloth matted and framed to an overall size of 15.5 x 19.25. Scattered light silvering, not affecting either of the signatures, otherwise fine condition.
Wilson spent 1914 through the beginning of 1917 trying to keep America out of the war in Europe. He offered to be a mediator, but neither the Allies nor the Central Powers took his requests seriously. Republicans, led by Theodore Roosevelt, strongly criticized Wilson’s refusal to build up the US Army in anticipation of the threat of war. Wilson won the support of the US peace element by arguing that an army buildup would provoke war. Tumulty had acted as an advisor to Wilson in his 1910 New Jersey gubernatorial campaign, later serving as Wilson's private secretary in 1911 following that successful campaign and from 1913-1921 when Wilson was President of the United States. This position would in later years become the White House Chief of Staff. An interesting pose of Wilson hard at work in the early days of the First World War, his loyal assistant by his side. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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