Description:

Wilson Woodrow 1856 - 1924 Extraordinarily rare President Wilson draft ALS, great content, Ex-Forbes Collection.

"Am deeply disturbed by your message. My action was taken hastily and without knowledge of the circumstances because told that it was a question of hours only. I knew nothing of the case and merely wished time to inquire. I am ready to stand by you and sustain your judgment at every point. Matter brought to me when it was impossible for me to consult either Secretary of War or General McIntyre within the time named. Beg that you will withdraw resignation and await letter which follows. I feel that I have no legal right or responsibility in this case and should have left it certainly to you. I hope that you will regard my request for delay as withdrawn and act as you think right. Woodrow Wilson".

The following is written in pencil along the top of the first page: "Written by Pres. in my presence & cabled Gen Haan [?]" and signed with initials "LM[?]", probably Secretary of War Lindley Miller Garrison. Garrison served as President Wilson's Secretary of War from 1913-1916.

This letter was originally sold at Swann in 1984 for $1,650 to Malcolm Forbes. We conjecture that what he is talking about here is the Resignation of William Jennings Bryan as Sec. of State, over Wilson's rebuke of Germany in the sinking of the Lusitania, which had 128 Americans on board, and would of course, lead to WWI, see here: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-jennings-bryan-resigns-as-u-s-secretary-of-state. Since Haan never resigned, Wilson was possibly sending this draft to Haan for review before sending to Bryan, making this very, very important!

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