Colonel House, who had been educated in England and whosefather represented England's merchant interests in the AmericanSouth, had come into public life through the London Connection. Itwill be recalled from previous chapters that, perhaps more thanany other person in America, he had helped maneuver the UnitedStates into World War I on the side of a desperate Britain and, by sodoing, had also rescued the massive loans to Britain and Francemade by the Morgan interests. Not only had he been responsiblefor Wilson's nomination at the Democratic convention, but hadbecome the President's constant companion, his personal adviser,and in many respects his political superior. It was through Housethat Wilson was made aware of the wishes of the Money Trust, andit was House who guided the President in every aspect of foreignand economic policy. An admiring biographer, Arthur Smith,writing in the year 1918, says that House "holds a power neverwielded before in this country by any man out of office, a powergreater than that of any political boss or Cabinet member."1 A morerecent biographer, George Viereck, was not exaggerating when hedescribed House as "Chief Magistracy of the Republic," "Super-ambassador," "The pilot who guided the ship." Continuing, hesaid:
For six years two rooms were at his disposal in the North Wing of the White House.... In work and play their thoughts were one. House was the double of Wilson. It was House who made the slate for the Cabinet, formulated the first policies of the Administration and practically directed the foreign affairs of the United States. We had, indeed, two Presidents for one!...
1- Arthur Smith,
2. Viereck, p. 4.
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THE CREATURE FROM JEKYLL ISLAND
The Schiffs, the Warburgs, the Kahns, the Rockefellers, the Morgans put their faith in House. When the Federal Reserve legislation at last assumed definite shape, House was the intermediary between the White House and the financiers.
Daily entries in the personal journal of Colonel House revealthe extent to which his office had become the command post for theJekyll Island team. The following sample notations are typical:
Washington trip and what I had done there to get it inworking order.
We drove, in order not to be interrupted.... I spoke to thePresident about this after dinner and advised that McAdooand I whip the Glass measure into final shape, which hecould endorse and take to Owen [Chairman of the SenateBanking Committee] as his own.
