Lot 149

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Description:

Woodrow Wilson "Ni**er in the Woodpile." A Unique Racist Presidential Discovery Along With an Additional Related TLS'

TLS, 1p, measuring 7" x 9", dated August 7, 1918. Boldly signed by Woodrow Wilson as "Woodrow Wilson" and addressed to Edward N. Hurley, the former chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Condition is very good with a blue stamped "61214" on the upper right hand corner, three hole punches, expected flattened folds from mailing, and some felting to the signature which does not take away from the striking eye appeal of this undiscovered piece of Presidential history.

TLS, 1p, measuring 7" x 9", dated August 8, 1918, just one day after the historical TLS included in this lot was sent to Edward Hurley. Very good, with expected folds from mailing and filing notes. Some felting to the signature which does not detract from its boldness.

Wilson writes in the historic TLS:

"My Dear Hurley,

I have read the enclosed with many conjectures as to whether there is a ni**er in the woodpile. Will you not be kind enough to read it when you can, and let me know what your own impression is?

Cordially and sincerely yours,

Woodrow Wilson"

The second TLS included in the lot, which we believe sheds light on what Hurley and Wilson were discussing in the previous letter reads:

My dear Hurley,

"My judgment is that we ought to continue the practice that private ship-owners and others have followed of giving free shipment to freight from the Red Cross and for Red Cross uses. 

I take it for granted that such freight is not allowed to replace the absolutely necessary supplies which the government is sending over to the army and that it goes only in space which would in any case be free for other cargo. 

Cordially and faithfully yours,

Woodrow Wilson"

We believe there is an important tie to both letters and that Wilson likely used the expression "ni**er in the woodpile" in the August 7th letter in regard to free shipments of freight that private shipowners were providing to the Red Cross during the war. Wilson remarks that he "take(s) it for granted", (that these shipments are provided for free to the government) and likely uses the horrid expression in hopes that private ship-owners continue to help the country in fighting the war.

Before serving as President, Woodrow Wilson served as President of Princeton University. In June of 2020 Princeton voted to remove Woodrow Wilson’s name from its public policy school and one of its residential colleges. The university’s board of trustees found that Wilson’s “racist thinking and policies make him an inappropriate namesake for a school or college whose scholars, students and alumni must stand firmly against racism in all its forms.”

While Wilson was known for overseeing the resegregation of federal government offices like the Treasury Department, no example showcasing his overt racism as prominent as the TLS included in the lot has surfaced. Not only did Wilson use one of the most heinous and despicable words in the English language, he also used it on official White House stationery. 

Ni**er in the woodpile or ni**er in the fence was a commonly used 19th and early 20th-century figure of speech originating in the United States meaning that some fact of considerable importance that is not disclosed or that something is suspicious or wrong. The term was commonly used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although its usage has since drastically and rightfully declined. 

We found this image in the Library of Congress which associated the heinous term and President Wilson:

https://www.loc.gov/item/2011649370/

Edward Nash Hurley (1864-1933) was an Irish American businessman and inventor who served as the second chairman of the Federal Trade Commission from July 1, 1916 to January 31, 1917.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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