March 8, 1913: Major Thomas Leidy Rhoads Called to Service by President Woodrow Wilson

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

March 8, 1913: Newly-inaugurated President Woodrow Wilson has asked Major Thomas Leidy Rhoads to remain as his personal aide de camp, the same position Rhoads had served under President Taft.

Rhoads had been in charge of the Walter Reed General Army Hospital when he was called to work in the White House and was making plans to return to his work in the medical corps of the US Army, but he accepted a request from his Commander in Chief as a command. When Wilson is thoroughly established, Dr. Rhoads hopes to return to full-time surgery, a more modest position, but the one for which he has been trained.

Major Rhoads is considered one of the foremost surgeons in the country. Although he hopes to leave it soon, Rhoads believes Wilson’s administration will be the ablest this country has had in years, and he looks forward to a wonderful change for the betterment in the next four years.

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