Colonel Roosevelt - Edmund Morris [430]
21 When Roosevelt rose The Washington Post and The New York Times, 27 May
22 “He is a great” Joseph P. Tumulty, Woodrow Wilson As I Know Him (New York, 1921), 287–88.
Historiographical Note: This first meeting of TR and WW in the White House has escaped the attention of historians. Consequently, the President’s famous remark, quoted by Tumulty, has always been ascribed to TR’s second call upon him, in the spring of 1917. Tumulty was present at both meetings, but when writing his memoir in 1921, remembered only the later, which he called the “one and only.” He said, further, that it took place entirely in the Red Room. The author believes that Tumulty simply forgot about the first, and conflated his memories. The secretary was wrong, e.g., in stating that in 1917, TR and WW “had not met since they were political opponents in 1912.” That could only be true of their encounter in the spring of 1914. Tumulty was far more likely to have asked the President then what he thought of his visitor, and WW more inclined to have found TR irresistible then than three years later, when their relations were strained. It is a matter of record that TR, on the earlier occasion, was in a boyish mood (vide the hat-bopping incident, and the copy of Penrod in his pocket). Tumulty was, however, correct in recalling that the substance of the 1917 visit was TR’s desire to command a division of volunteer troops in World War I. See 486–87.
23 It was still hot The Washington Post and Middletown (N.Y.) Times-Press, 27 May 1914; The New York Times, 7 May 1914. See also Millard, The River of Doubt, 337–39.
24 Veteran observers Trenton (N.J.) Evening Times, 27 May 1914.
25 “I’m almost regretful” A stenographic transcript of TR’s address was printed in The Washington Post and other major newspapers on 27 May 1914.
26 Again and again The Washington Post, 27 May 1914.
27 a pium-like swarm Gus Karger of the Cincinnati Times-Star attended TR’s meeting with the Progressives and got the feeling that “in cold blood … he was contemplating the best method of ‘dumping them’ if their canine loyalty should become uncomfortable to himself.” Quoted in O’Toole, When Trumpets Call, 258.
28 Edith Roosevelt, who Sylvia Morris, Edith Kermit Roosevelt, 403: “The reason for her not going is obscure. Analysis of the evidence available, from thyroid pills and frequent depressions, indicates that [EKR] was undergoing menopause.” Another factor may have been the fact that Belle was the daughter of a prominent Democrat, EKR being politically much more partisan than her husband. Belle, in addition, like countless brides before and since, had to compete with a mother’s passion for a favorite son.
29 Their initial meetings For an awkward hour the previous day, TR and Alfonso had breakfasted back-to-back on the same train from Paris to Madrid. There had been no qualified intermediary to reintroduce them, so they pretended to be unaware of each other. The New York Times, 9 June 1914.
30 Roosevelt treated TR to EKR, 11 June 1914 (KRP).
31 Plainclothes detectives The New York Times, 9, 10 June 1914.
32 To Roosevelt’s mild irritation TR to EKR, 11 June 1914 (KRP); The New York Times, 9 June 1914.
33 A guest list drawn KR to ERD, 1 June 1914 (ERDP); The New York Times, 16 July 1914; KR to ERD, 4, 30 Apr. 1913 (ERDP). EKR did not record the wedding in her otherwise conscientiously kept diary.
34 “I believe” TR to EKR, 11 June 1914 (KRP).
35 He stopped in Paris The New York Times, 7