Description:

WOODROW WILSON AND GROVER CLEVELAND
A rare D.S. signed by two presidents, WOODROW WILSON (1856-1924) and GROVER CLEVELAND (1837-1908), 1p. legal folio, Princeton University, December, 1905. Wilson, soon to be President, and ex-President Cleveland have boldly signed their names at the head of a petition demanding the resignation of two members of Princeton's Board of Trustees, Col. John J. McCook and Charles B. Alexander. The text reads, in part: "...We, the undersigned, members of the Board...earnestly request and advise you to resign your seats on the Board...we do not wish to be misunderstood as making any charges against you; but we cannot remain blind to the fact that, whether justly or unjustly, ...the University is embarrassed by your participation in its control...[your resignations are] an opportunity to serve the interests of Princeton in a most patriotic and unselfish way...". The document is also signed by 16 additional board members as well, including N.J. Chief Justice W. J. MAJIE, trustee ELIJA R. CRAVEN, trustee and manuscript donor BAYARD HENRY, Dean MELANCTHON JACOBUS, benefactor M. TAYLOR PYNE, president of Phelps-Dodge CLEVELAND H. DODGE, U.S. Sec'y of State JOHN L. CADWALADER, founder of the American zinc industry DAVID B. JONES, and several others. Fine. In 1901 Cleveland was elected a trustee and thereafter took an active part in University affairs until his death. He thought it "a serious thing to be a trustee of Princeton' and gave painstaking attention to all the details of the operation of the University that came before the board. He spoke for the trustees at Woodrow Wilson's inauguration in 1902, and a tower at the school was named in his honor. McCook, a Civil War veteran and the youngest member of the "Fighting McCooks", and Alexander, were distinguished board members and benefactors, but we are unable to determine the reason for their raising the ire of their fellow Princetonians.

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September 28, 2012 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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