He married Anne Hewlett, daughter of a well-known architect, in 1917, and he served in the US Navy from 1917 to 1919. Twice expelled from Harvard University, business disasters with the construction company in which he was a minority stockholder, and the death of his four year old daughter, brought him close to suicide.
Siya ang may-asawa Anne Hewlett, anak na babae ng isang kilalang-kilalang arkitekto, sa 1917, at nagsilbi siya sa US Navy 1917-1919. Dalawang beses pinatalsik mula sa Harvard University, negosyo kapinsalaan sa construction company na kung saan siya ay kasapi ng isang kakulangan sa gulang, at ang kamatayan ng kanyang apat na taon gulang na anak na babae, nagdala sa kanya malapit sa pagpapakamatay.