Wilson and his advisers made up their minds early that this war was to be run by the military men and not by the civilians. The military men evolved a great plan which was the preparation of an army of four million men which could be increased if necessary to ten millions, which was superb and right, if something did not give way in Europe before the first million could be got ready.

An essential point in the plan was that the regulars should be kept in the United States to train the nucleus of an army which should in time train the rest. This plan meant that no troops could be sent to France until late in 1917, at the earliest.

Joffre came to the United States in May, 1917, for no other purpose than to persuade Wilson to send some troops to France by Bastile Day in order to encourage the flagging morale of the French. Wilson referred the matter to the military men, who flatly rejected it.

Joffre was in despair and his American aide communicated with Franklin Roosevelt and William Phillips asking them whether something could not be done to get Joffre an interview with the President. Roosevelt and Phillips appealed to the romantic Irishman in Tumulty and the matter was arranged.

As Joffre entered the room where Wilson was waiting for him, he faltered and stretched out his hands in a gesture of half of helplessness and half of appeal. Wilson touched him on the shoulder. "Understand", he said, "You shall have your troops. I shall be going against my military advisers, but I shall get two divisions to France by Bastille Day."

Franklin Roosevelt
Personal interview 9/6/30.

Early in 1920 F. D. Roosevelt was in a group of prominent Democrats in Washington among whom were Franklin K. Lane, Hoover was also present. Lane was trying to persuade Hoover to come out as a Democrat. "You have been associated with a Democratic Administration, you are a liberal and the Democratic Party is the only liberal party in the country now the Progressive Party is defunct, and you belong to it." Hoover admitted it. "You should come out for it this Spring, and make some speeches for it, merely to show your association with it. The Party this year will be defeated, but the Republicans are going to make a mess of reconstruction, there will be a reaction and, as the candidate in 1924, you would probably win."

The prospect appealed to Hoover, and he intimated that he would come out as a Democrat.

A week later, Roosevelt met Senator Lodge's daughter, Constance Gardner. She said: "Father's just been talking with Hoover. He's been going over the Republican situation with him. I heard him tell Hoover that the Republicans were going to have a difficult time finding a candidate. The nomination was going to be in the hands of a small senatorial group. This group didn't want Lowden, for various reasons. They were against Wood fearing that he, by his outspokenness, would break up the Party, and though they rather favored Harding, they were afraid of him. There would be a deadlock at the convention. Lowden, Wood and Harding would kill each other off and he, Hoover, would come in as a dark horse and carry off the honors. But he must come out as a Republican. And Hoover agreed."

Wilson and his advisers made up their minds early that this war was to be run by the military men and not by the civilians. The military men evolved a great plan which was the preparation of an army of four million men which could be increased if necessary to ten millions, which was supberb and right, if something did not give way in Europe before the first million could be got ready.

Joffre came to the United States in May, 1917, for no other purpose than to persuade Wilson to send some troops to France by Bastille Day in order to encourage the flagging morale of the French. Wilson referred the matter to the military men, who flatly rejected it.

The thing that struck Franklin Roosevelt regarding Wood at the time he was separated from his Division was his frank bewilderment. He couldn't understand what it was all about.

F. D. Roosevelt_

Personal in 9/6/30
terview.

Early in 1920 F. D. Roosevelt was in a group of promi-
nent Democrats in Washington among whom were Franklin K. Lane. Hoover
was also present. Lane was trying to persuade Hoover to come out
as a Democrat. "You have been associated with a Democratic Adminis-
tration, you are a liberal and the Democratic Party is the only
liberal party in the country now the Progressive Party is defunct,
and you belong to it." Hoover admitted it. "You should come out
for it this Spring, and make some speeches for it, merely to show
your association with it. The Party this year will be defeated,
but the Republicans are going to make a mess of reconstruction, there
will be a reaction and, as the candidate in 1924, you would probably
win."

A week later, Roosevelt met Senator Lodge's daughter, Constance Gardner. She said: "Father's just been talking with Hoover. He's been going over the Republican situation with him. I heard him tell Hoover that the Republicans were going to have a difficult time finding a candidate. The nomination was going to be in the hands of a small senatorial group. This group didn't want Lowden, for various reasons. They were against Wood Fearing that he, by his outspokenness, would break up the Party, and though they rather favored Harding, they were afraid of him. There would be a deadlock at the convention. Lowden, Wood and Harding would kill each other off and he, Hoover, would come in as a dark horse and carry off the honors. But he must come out as a Republican. And Hoover agreed."