Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andreas Wiemer on April 22, 2010 at 8:10am

Wilson used a stamp as Gov., but as President and after his stroke he signed all letters and documents personally.
The stroke affected the appearance of his signature - mostly a very shaky writing.

Permalink Reply by B Garrett Meadows on April 22, 2010 at 9:09am

Thank you for you very informative and interesting responses to my presidential autograph questions. I always wondered about Garfield's signature in light of his extraordinary ability to write two different languages simultaneously, one with his right, and the other with his left.

Regarding Wilson, I know there has been discussion about the role Wilson's wife played in presidential affairs/decisions while the President was sequestered following his stroke. As such, the thought occurred to me that Mrs. Wilson may very well have signed documents for her husband because (a) he may not have been able to sign his name at all, or (b) a shaky, eligible signature may have been a tell-tale sign to others that the president was seriously incapacitated. Interesting to consider...at least to me.