President Taft Typed Letter Signed on Mabel Boardman and the American Red Cross in World War I, 1918

TAFT, William Henry. 27th President of the United States. Typed Letter Signed by President Taft, dated March 11, 1918. To William G. Sharp, the US Ambassador to France. 2 pages on official American Red Cross letterhead, 7 x 5.5 in. After Taft left the Presidency, he became Chairman of the American Red Cross and modernized the organzation alongside Mabel Boardman. He writes that Boardman "really founded the Red Cross, and brought it to its efficient organization for peace purposes," a sly reference the foundation's mismanagement under Clara Barton's leadership. This letter comes almost one year after the US entered the war in May 1917, and details some of the careful ways in which the organization sought to grow its international relief efforts. Under the leadership of Taft and Boardman, by the end of the war in November 1918, some 8 million volunteers were assigned to service corps at Red Cross chapters and nearly one-third of the U.S. population was either a donor to the organization or serving as a volunteer. Original fold lines. Very good condition.

In full: "My dear Ambassador: This will introduce to you Miss Mabel T. Boardman, of Washington. Miss Boardman really founded the Red Cross, and brought it to its efficient organization for peace purposes down to the beginning of our participation in the war. She is a member of the National Executive Committee of the Red Cross, and she is also the head of the Washington Chapter, which on the whole is the most thorough-going and successful Chapter in the country. With the sanction of the Chairman of the War Council, Mr. Davison, and of me as Chairman of the Central and Executive Committees, she visits France as a Red Cross observer, to bring home to us information as to how we can improve, if possible, the Red Cross functions abroad. I need not comment on Miss Boardman's great ability, high character and charming personality, because they go without saying. I speak of knowledge of all of this, because I have had the pleasure of knowing her or many years, and have been associated with her in her Red Cross work. I bespeak from you your courteous assistance and attention for Miss Boardman. It is gratifying to me to be able to make her known to you. Sincerely yours, W.H. Taft".