I went in fact as far as I could in adopting his views in the hope that my advice would be less unpalatable and would, as a consequence, receive more sympathetic consideration.
Believing that I understood the President's temperament, success in an attempt to change his views seemed to lie in moderation and in partial approval of his purpose rather than in bluntly arguing that it was wholly wrong and should be abandoned.

This method of approach, which seemed the expedient one at the time, weakened, in some instances at least, the criticisms and objections which I made.

It is very possible that even in this diluted form my views were credited with wrong motives by the President so that he suspected my purpose.

It is to be hoped that this was the true explanation of Mr.Wilson's attitude of mind, for the alternative forces a conclusion as to the cause for his resentful reception of honest differences of opinion, which no one, who admires his many sterling qualities and great attainments, will willingly accept.
Whatever the cause of the President's attitude toward the opinions which I expressed on the subjects concerning which our views were at variance--and I prefer to assume that the cause was a misapprehension of my reasons for giving them--the result was that he was disposed to give them little weight.

The impression made was that he was irritated by opposition to his views, however moderately urged, and that he did not like to have his judgment questioned even in a friendly way.