The “Little White House” at Sea Girt, NJ. National Guard Museum of NJ

n the years following ’s 1885 selection of Sea Girt as its National Guard Itraining area, the site became the summer center of the state’s political universe as well. Beginning with Governor , New Jersey chief executives spent an increasing amount of time away from the heat of Trenton and enjoying the summer breezes at Sea Girt... by Joseph G. Bilby Governor Leon Abbett (second from left, seated) and his military staff at Sea Girt. National Guard Militia Museum of NJ Abbett kicked off the Sea with the carnival-like festivities had escaped from Confederate Girt summer of 1885 with a “along the main avenue, where captivity in South Carolina and, grand review of Brigadier fakirs and others had erected aided by slaves, succeeded in General William Sewell’s stands, giving more the making a several-hundred-mile National Guard division fol- appearance of a country fair overland trek to the safety of lowed by a military ball, held than a military encampment.”1 Union lines in Knoxville, at the Beach House hotel on While two-term governor Tennessee. Deeply involved in August 21 — which was Abbett was the most interest- Republican party politics, accounted the most impressive ing political personage to fre- Drake had persuaded the New Jersey Shore affair of the sea- quent nineteenth-century Sea Jersey legislature to make him son. It was remembered as a Girt, the town and camp saw a brevet (honorary) brigadier “brilliant event” to which “invi- their share of other colorful general, and he led his tations numbering nearly 2,000 and somewhat eccentric politi- “Veteran Zouave” drill team had been issued, distinguished cal personalities as well. One and marching society across men and women from various of the most notable of these the parade ground at the parts of the country lending was National Guard officer and camp, adding a good bit of their presence to the festivi- newspaperman James Madison color to the festivities.2 ties.” Less distinguished visitors Drake, a Civil War veteran and Serious political business to the camp had to make do Medal of Honor awardee who was conducted by the sea as

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 First Little White House, in the 1890s. National Guard Militia Museum of NJ well, however. Governor cabinet meetings on the Abbett established his summer campgrounds. Cabinet government headquarters in officers and other officials Sea Girt and the custom either moved to summer endured, with cabinet mem- residences in nearby bers, politicians, upper-level towns, including Belmar bureaucrats and judges in and Long Branch, or “took town for meetings. The news- up rooms” at one of the papers dubbed Sea Girt New Sea Girt or Spring Lake Jersey’s “summer capital by hotels.3 the sea.” As a new century As the years went by the brought international President Theodore Roosevelt governors’ sojourns length- prominence and world- ened. In 1893, Governor wide responsibilities for Republican Franklin Murphy. George T. Werts and his family the United States, Sea Girt Roosevelt landed at Highlands had already been living in the assumed a new eminence in from his yacht and proceeded white frame farmhouse on the New Jersey’s political and mili- south by train, with cheering, state property for several tary affairs. The little town flag waving “[s]ummer-clad” weeks, “enjoying the fine air hosted its first presidential visit crowds greeting him at stations and beautiful environment,” and mass political event when along the way. People placed when the first National Guard Theodore Roosevelt came to coins on the tracks to be flat- Troops arrived. As the Guard the National Guard Camp on tened by the president’s car took over the camp, Werts July 24, 1902, to attend a and then used them for watch moved his family to the reception and troop review fob souvenirs. The wildly pop- Monmouth Hotel in Spring hosted by New jersey ular “TR” was warmly wel- Lake, but continued to hold Governor and fellow comed at Sea Girt as a crowd

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 "Neoclassical architecture in the Government Building at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition," from: David R. Francis, The Universal Exposition of 1904 (1905, p. 91.) www.Wikipedia.com of “10,000 persons assembled rifle marksmanship.4 grander in the way of a resi- along the parade field and Roosevelt’s visit graphically dence for receiving dignitaries prominent society folks from demonstrated, however, that was needed—and state offi- the resorts along the coast the National Guard camp facil- cials found it in the New Jersey drove down in wagons, which ities for entertaining and Exhibit Hall at the 1904 lined the driveways.” With the housing the governor, his Louisiana Purchase Exposition, exception of brief scuffles entourage and distinguished popularly known as the Saint between National Guardsmen guests were severely limited, Louis World’s Fair. and secret service officers in and the quartermaster general The exposition, the most the press of people swarming concluded that “a new head- spectacular on record to that toward the president, the visit quarters house for the accom- date, included exhibits from went well. Roosevelt reviewed modation of the Governor and America’s new overseas and then addressed the assem- staff is urgently recommend- empire and served as a venue bled Guardsmen, promising ed.” The rambling two-story for the 1904 Olympic Games, federal assistance in moderniz- farmhouse that stood on the the first conducted in the ing their weapons and equip- property when the state United States. Less significant ment and, unsurprisingly, con- acquired it, dubbed the “Little exposition innovation claims sidering his reputation as a White House” by the press, included the introduction of soldier and outdoorsman, was clearly inadequate. There the ice cream cone and, some stressing the importance of was no doubt that something say, the first hot dog and ham-

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 1906, for a month’s stay, sig- among the general public naling the beginning of a new would flock to the little era for Sea Girt. In succeeding Monmouth county town by the years the state’s governors sea in incredible numbers to would stretch their “Sea Girt see them. Sea Girt hotelier season” to an entire summer, Nora Stubbs promoted her full of political and personal Stockton Hotel’s proximity to entertaining and deal making. the “weekly receptions at the Theodore Roosevelt’s Governor’s Summer home . . . appearance proved the first of enjoyable functions which many Sea Girt national political bring to Sea Girt many of the celebrity sightings. Over the most prominent in the State’s next three decades, a parade political life.”6 of state and national leaders Sea Girt received another made Sea Girt a must-stop on dose of positive national pub- Gov. Edward C. Stokes the campaign trail, and for licity with the selection of New forty years after the Roosevelt Jersey Governor Woodrow burger sales, although the lat- visit, the loyal and the curious Wilson as the 1912 Democratic ter two “firsts” are considered somewhat suspect.5 With the end of the Saint Louis extravaganza, the New Jersey hall, modeled on the Ford Mansion, George ’s Morristown, NJ headquarters during the winter of 1779–1780, was disassem- bled and brought to Sea Girt by rail, where it was reassem- bled in 1906. Described by the press as a “Colonial cottage, a century and a half old in design,” the fifteen-room house was actually quite luxu- rious and modern on the inside, with three bathrooms, electric lighting and fancy fur- niture. It immediately inherited the “Little White House” nick- name of its humble predeces- sor. [See picture on title page] Republican Governor Edward C. Stokes, the first gubernatorial occupant of the learns of his nomination at the Little White “cottage,” moved in on July 7, House, 1912.

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 nominee for president. arrival of the State’s chief exec- Girt entertainment budget for Wilson’s nomination brought utive and his wife before the summer season. The House of Representatives declaring the summer season National Guard camp opened Speaker James Beauchamp open.” for training on June 6 as “Champ” Clark and 116 The first event on the busy “Camp Edwards,” after Democratic congressmen up Little White House social Democratic Governor Edward from Washington to Sea Girt agenda that year was a July 3 I. Edwards, following the prac- on July 20 to greet the candi- reception with an estimated tice of naming the training date. The visit made national attendance of 1,500 state venue for the presiding chief news, with an Illinois paper officials and politicians of executive in Trenton each year. claiming Clark’s pilgrimage both parties. Following the Edwards was “the first time in the histo- family’s arrival, the press ry of the United States that a announced that Mrs. Edwards body of congressmen had quit “will preside over the social their work to make a trip to activities which are being hail the party standard bearer.” planned for the season at the Lower ranking Democrats and executive mansion . . . [and] curious members of the public expressed her delight at the flocked to Sea Girt as well, by “Little White House,” which train, trolley and automobile, had been “decorated and to catch a glimpse of the can- refurnished.”9 didate. One wag proposed a It would be a busy season. version of “Big Sea Day,” an In June 1920 New Jersey annual ritual in which inland Adjutant General Frederick farmers came to the beach en Gilkyson, the state’s chief mili- masse, to be called “Wilson tary officer, moved his office to Old Home Day.” He suggested Sea Girt for the summer. The that thousands of Democrats Sixth New Jersey Infantry, camp on the National Guard Gov. Edward I. Edwards commanded by Colonel parade ground and then jump Howard S. Borden, a wealthy fully clothed into the sea in New Jersey’s National socialite and polo player from Wilson’s honor. In response to Guardsmen would shortly ren- Rumson, encamped at Sea Girt all of this attention, the nomi- dezvous at Sea Girt for more in early July and “provided nee and his family fled the serious business; in 1916 en thousands of summer visitors Little White House to a yacht in route to secure the Arizona with an insight into the high- search of peace and quiet.7 border against a Mexican revo- ways and by-ways of military Wilson’s successor as gov- lution spilling over into the training.” ernor, James Fielder, continued United States, and in 1917 on Borden’s unit was followed the growing Sea Girt tradition their way to Anniston, by others from around the as the state’s summer head- Alabama, and then on to state. Daily parades and July 16 quarters by the sea. When France in .8 Governor’s Day ceremonies Fielder and his wife arrived in In 1920 the New Jersey leg- before an assemblage of politi- town in early June, 1915, a islature approved $11,000 for cians from northern New newspaper article reported that maintenance of the Little White Jersey provided entertainment “Sea Girt always awaits the House and the governor’s Sea for tourists and locals alike

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 in riding togs. At noon he Army) modeled that organiza- switched to a palm beach. tion’s new uniform. One Parade hour found the execu- observer remarked that he tive dolled up in frock coat thought he was in Kentucky, and high hat. After reviewing with all the colonels walking the troops the governor about. The star of the summer, changed to evening dress.” however, was General John J. Mrs. Edwards liked the high Pershing, who attended a life as well, and Japanese reunion of World War I officers servants reportedly “scam- in Sea Girt that June. Edwards pered about the executive welcomed the gathering mansion and grounds” at her personally and provided them beck and call. access to local recreational New Jersey Republican US activities including shooting, senator and former governor fishing, baseball and Col. Norman Schwartzkopf swimming.11 Edward Irving Edwards, in a less sophisticated age. the genial and gracious Sea Government business was also Girt host, was governor by conducted by the sea, and the virtue of his political alliance New Jersey Court of Pardons with Jersey City mayor and convened to hear cases at the political boss . Little White House in July as Edwards was Hague’s first job well. Manager Mary McCarter placement outside Hudson of the Tremont hotel spon- county, and the first of a string sored a military ball for of pre-World War II governors National Guard Officers, with who owed their positions to the Third New Jersey Infantry band providing the music. Captain Paul Micelli of Jersey City, a veteran World War I pilot who had survived a crash on the parade ground the year Gen. John J. Pershing before, performed exhibition flights, advertising for thrill visited the seekers who wanted to “see governor, as did state legisla- Spring Lake from the Air,” or tors galore, and the air was full have an “aeroplane party.”10 of rumors about future elec- The Sea Girt celebrity toral politics. United States social calendar was full in the District Attorney Elmer Geran summer of 1921, when circled the camp in an airplane Governor Edwards played his and State Police Commander host role to the hilt. On July 22 Colonel Norman Schwartzkopf the governor began his day (father of General H. Norman with a horseback ride, “attired Schwarzkopf, Jr. of the U.S. Frank Hague

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 bring Sea Girt roaring back to the national stage. In 1928 Hague, then vice chairman of the National Democratic Committee, scheduled a Sea Girt visit for New York Governor Alfred E. Smith, the first Catholic nominated to run for president, and choreo- graphed the trip from start to finish with the intent of making nationwide news. Hague guar- anteed the press that his Sea Girt Rally for the nominee would “surpass any other political event ever held in this State of any other State in the Union.” Smith’s motorcade crossed into New Jersey via the , which he and Moore had officially opened the previous year, and pro- Moore and Al Smith and their wives. From the Newark ceeded south through the solidly Democratic towns of Sunday Call. National Guard Militia Museum of NJ Jersey City, Newark and the tough Irish-American polit- vided notable exceptions. Elizabeth, cheered along with ical boss. Edwards won a Perhaps the most notable the way by upward of 100,000 close race in a year when Hague associate who became supporters. According to one Republicans carried the day in was A. account, “miles of factories every other Northern state. The Harry Moore. In an era when turned out employees in shop nation elected Warren Harding the state constitution of 1844, clothes to greet him” and “steel president in an effort to “return which established a three year and iron workers in black to normalcy” following World term for the state’s chief exec- aprons and bare arms tossed War I and Woodrow Wilson’s utive, blocked a governor from their caps.” The motorcade increasingly unpopularity in a succeeding himself, Moore ended at Spring Lake, where world seemingly turned upside served a remarkable three 500 Democratic Party leaders down in the aftermath of the terms (1926–1929, 1932–1935, greeted Governor Smith on the conflict, with revolutions 1938–1941) in Trenton and lawn of the Monmouth Hotel.12 abroad and a “Red Scare” at also became a US Senator. That evening Smith attend- home. Moore enjoyed his Sea Girt ed a ball at the Monmouth As the United States turned summers as much as he did his sponsored by Governor inward, the Republicans domi- office, and spent more time Moore, and arrived at Sea Girt nated national and many state there than any New Jersey the following morning. Frank elections throughout the 1920s. politician before or since. Hague made sure a veritable Hague and his protégés pro- Moore and Hague would sea of people was there to

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 the town. Newspapers across the country carried the Al Smith story on their front pages, noting that Woodrow Wilson planned his own presi- dential campaign at Sea Girt’s “Little White House, a fact that hardly hurt the Democratic candidate.” One paper called Smith’s first personal appear- ance since his nomination “the greatest Democratic rally in the history of New Jersey.” Other accounts described the gather- ing as “such a crowd as this state has never seen before,” and the “greatest throng ever gathered in New Jersey.” Attendance estimates ranged to as many as 80,000 people. Frank Hague’s formidable executive skills were much in evidence, as “more than fifty special trains . . . converged on Sea Girt, swelling the throng that arrived by automobile.”13 At the end of the day, spe- cial trains pulled out of town at precise ten-minute intervals, with amplifiers on poles con- nected to a dispatcher at a tem- porary tower announcing departures. The candidate was awed by the whole operation, L to R: Frank Hague, F.D.R., Governor A. Harry Moore to be sure. At the end of the August 1932 inside the "Little White House. FDR Library affair a newspaper account had Smith relaxing “on the greet him. Bands played con- Moore, fending off the press of veranda of the Little White tinuous rounds of “East Side, people struggling for a close- House, contentedly puffing West Side,”— and up view of the candidate. The one of his big cigars,” seeing Smith’s anthem—as National day provided another Sea Girt “in the rings of smoke he blew Guardsmen, New Jersey State historic first, as New Jersey a vision of himself in the Big Police and Jersey City Police State Police aerial observers in White House.” It was, of on loan for the occasion biplanes assisted in controlling course, not to be, and even escorted Smith into Camp traffic for thirty miles around Frank Hague seemed to slip as

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 Part of the massive crowd at Sea Girt to see F.D.R. speak. F.D.R. Library the decade closed and many to secure the nomination. The become the preferred “rallying Jersey City voters began to Jersey City mayor promised point for the New Jersey question his personal financial campaign manager James Democracy,” was available agenda and anti-union stance. Farley that if Roosevelt would once more, and the ensuing The Depression came to hold his first campaign event festivities on August 27, 1932, Frank’s rescue, however, and in New Jersey he would stage described in the press as “a tra- at the Democratic convention the biggest political rally in his- ditional Hague rally,” followed of 1932 he switched his loyalty tory. Farley agreed—and the Smith script. Roosevelt’s from Al Smith to Franklin D. Hague delivered.14 motorcade was met at the Roosevelt once it became evi- With Governor Moore back Holland Tunnel’s New Jersey dent that F.D.R. had the votes in office, Sea Girt, which had exit by little girls bearing bou-

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 evoked “a long cheer.” And so it was that Franklin D. Roosevelt began his inexorable climb to world- wide fame in Sea Girt, New Jersey.15 The 1930s would bring grim days to New Jersey as well as the nation, and through it all Sea Girt continued to host the state’s governors. During the Morro Castle ship fire tragedy of 1934, Governor Moore displayed personal courage by flying off the parade ground out over crash- ing surf into high winds in the observer seat of a National Guard biplane to drop markers for rescue vessels. He also Governor Moore signs the order calling up the New Jersey established an annual Sea Girt summer party for disabled National Guard in September, 1940. National Guard Militia Museum of NJ New Jersey children. Governor quets, then proceeded south played a distinct lack of enthu- Harold Hoffman, a World War I through cheering crowds lining siasm for the mayor, estimated veteran who enjoyed review- the sidewalks of the state’s the gathering as having “no ing the troops on horseback, Democratic-leaning urban more than 100,000 present.” personally paid a Sea Girt resi- heartland to Hague’s summer State Democratic Committee dent three dollars to replace a home in Deal, where the Chairman Harry Heher of window smashed by a para- mayor and candidate greeted Trenton, who introduced chutist who missed his mark each other and proceeded on Roosevelt, later recalled that on the training center and drift- to Sea Girt. While Moore, “there must have been a hun- ed into town. Hague, Roosevelt and other dred thousand people” at Sea As the decade ended, so dignitaries lunched in the Little Girt. One source maintains, did an older America. By mid- White House, a massive crowd however, that the crowd that summer 1940 the Germans had assembled on the Camp Moore day was “considerably more overrun Western Europe and parade ground, entertained by than a hundred thousand peo- were bombing Great Britain. fireworks, stunt planes flying ple.” Although the 1932 multi- On August 27 Congress overhead and vaudeville vocal- tude’s mood, no doubt damp- declared a state of emergency ists singing the candidate’s ened by the deepening and President Roosevelt insti- campaign song, “Row, Row Depression, was not as ram- tuted the first peacetime draft Row with Roosevelt.” Hague bunctious as that of its 1928 in American history and mobi- claimed a crowd of 200,000 to predecessor, F.D.R.’s attacks on lized the National Guard. 250,000 in attendance, but the President and Governor Moore signed , which dis- demand for repeal of call-up order For New Jersey’s

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010 seem to have been lacking, Little White House, did not some estimates of the crowd, summer at Sea Girt, setting a which overflowed into town precedent maintained by his and up the beach, were as high successors. The Little White as 150,000 people. House itself, after use for Edison and Hague fell out National Guard OCS classes almost immediately, though, with into the 1960s, gradually dete- the inventor’s son claiming he riorated until a journalist in the was “unbossed.” Edison proved late 1960s proclaimed that to be the last governor to spend a those for whom the house had summer in Sea Girt, and his meaning were as long gone as sojourn ended on a sour note its occupants and it stood as an when the Little White House food example of wasted taxpayer and supply bill for August 1941 money. In 1971 it was bull- Gov. NJ was revealed as totaling dozed as a maintenance cost National Guard Militia Museum of NJ $5,533.76. An embarrassing state saving measure. Guardsmen and shortly after- senate investigation did little to And so the excitement and ward, as his term ended, resolve the matter. significance of the summer retired from active politics. He Shortly afterward the US capital of New Jersey came to was succeeded by Charles army Signal Corps leased the be forgotten by succeeding Edison, son of Thomas. Frank Sea Girt base for basic training generations and left to the Hague had staged one of his use. Following the end of the ghosts of Leon Abbett, Franklin by now patented Sea Girt ral- war, reformist Governor Robert Murphy, Teddy and Franklin lies for Edison on August 24, E. Driscoll, who “scolded pre- Roosevelt and the once and 1940. Although the music and vious administrations for future governor, A. Harry fireworks of previous days throwing lavish parties” at the Moore.

Sources 1. Camden Daily Courier, April 23, 1891 Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey (NGMMNJ) collection; Elizabeth 2. New Jersey Goes to War (Hightstown, NJ Longstreet House, 2010) Times, July 28, 1920; Evening Public Ledger, July 30, p. 39. 1920; unidentified newspaper clipping in Paul Micelli file, NGMMNJ 3. New York Times, July 23, 1893. collection. 4. Trenton Daily True American, July 25, 1902; New York Times, July 25, 11. Trenton Evening Times, July 23, 1921; Newark News, June 13, 1921. 1902. 12. New York Times, August 23, 25, 1928. 5. New Jersey Quartermaster General’s Report for 1902 (State of New 13. Burlington (Iowa) Daily Times, August 25, 1928; Kingsport, Jersey, 1903), p. 9. Tennessee Times, August 26, 1928; Syracuse (New York) Herald, 6. Newark (NJ) Sunday Call, July 1, 1906. August 26, 1928; Newark Sunday Call, August 26, 1928. 7. Eau Claire Sunday Leader, July 21, 1912; New York Times, July 28, 22, 14. Newark Sunday Call, August 26, 1928. 1912. 15. New York Times, June 12, August 28, 1932; Trenton Evening Times, 8. New York Times, June 6, 1915. October 7, 1968; Thomas Fleming, New Jersey: A Bicentennial History 9. Newark Sunday Call, June 13, 1920. (W. W. Norton, NY, 1977), p. 184. 10. Unidentified newspaper clipping dated July 17 [1920] National About the Author Joseph G. Bilby is Assistant Curator of the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey in Sea Girt. He received his BA and MA degrees from Seton Hall University, served as a lieutenant in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam and is the author of twelve books and several hundred articles on New Jersey and military history. He is internet content editor of the New Jersey Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee and editor of the Committee's book “New Jersey Goes to War.” His latest book, “Monmouth Court House: the Battle that Made the American Army,” co- authored with Katherine Bilby Jenkins, will be published by Westholme Publishing in July, 2010.

Sea Girt: NJ’s Summer Capital Joseph G. Bilby GardenStateLegacy.com Issue 8 June 2010