The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 77, July 1973 - April, 1974 Page: 343
568 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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President Wilson's Politician
mid-November, House proposed Burleson for postmaster general. Wilson
preferred Josephus Daniels, newspaper editor and national committeeman
from North Carolina, but House argued that Daniels was not sufficiently
aggressive and that the position demanded a man with congressional ex-
perience. No decision was made and further discussions were delayed until
early January, 1913."
When conferences regarding the cabinet were resumed Wilson advised
House that he had eliminated Burleson from consideration; he did not want
to take him away from Congress. Furthermore, Joseph Tumulty, his private
secretary, had told him that Senator-elect William Hughes of New Jersey
had confided that members of the House considered Burleson a "scheming
and uncertain quality." When House sent Wilson a "slate to ponder over"
a few days later, Burleson's name was not included, and during subsequent
conferences Wilson reiterated his desire to keep Burleson as an active lieu-
tenant in Congress. Thus when Burleson on January I8 or 19 inquired
about his prospects, House gave him little encouragement." A few days
later, however, Tumulty decided to support Burleson, and near the end of
the month House and Wilson talked of a cabinet with Burleson as secretary
of war.'"
Meanwhile others were advocating the Texan's selection. Senators Thom-
as Gore and Hoke Smith and Senator-elect Ollie James solicited his ap-
pointment.7 More valuable was the support of Congressman Oscar Under-
wood, of Alabama, who on January 13 wrote a lengthy letter to Wilson.
Since maintenance of cordial relations between the executive and the ma-
jority members of the legislative branch was imperative, Underwood felt
14Burleson to House, November 9, I912, Burleson Papers (Library of Congress);
House "Diary." Practically all of the congressmen supporting Burleson were southerners.
Much of the available information concerning Burleson's cabinet appointment is in
House's diary. Although House probably overemphasized his role, his influence is unde-
niable. Furthermore, where it is possible to compare his account with other records, House
is in basic agreement.
15House "Diary" (first quotation); Arthur S. Link, Wilson: The New Freedom
(Princeton, New Jersey, 1956), 16 n. (second quotation).
'6House "Diary." Tumulty's position on Burleson before mid-January is not clear.
Although he told House that he thought Wilson was making a mistake in not considering
Burleson and A. Mitchell Palmer, his story about Hughes and other congressmen's lack
of confidence in Burleson certainly did not help. Apparently House felt that Tumulty
was an obstacle, for he wrote Burleson that he had invited a man to luncheon "whom
I think has been advising against Palmer and you . . . and in the future I expect him
to take my view of it." House to Burleson, January 15, 1913, Burleson Papers (Archives,
University of Texas, Austin). Although House did not name the man, time and circum-
stance indicate Tumulty was his guest.
17 Burleson to House, January 14, 1913, Burleson Papers (Archives, University of
Texas, Austin); House "Diary."343
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 77, July 1973 - April, 1974, periodical, 1973/1974; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117148/m1/393/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.