Outside on the streets of New York, horseless carriages were vying for supremacy over horse-drawn buggies. Inside the five-storey townhouse on East 67th Street, near the corner with Madison Avenue, Dr Cragin’s attempts to induce the baby had failed. It was clear now that the expectant parents would not get their wish – their first child would not be born on election day.
Nor would their great friend, Theodore Roosevelt, be returning to the White House. His decision to run against its current occupant, William Taft, had split the Republican vote and assured Woodrow Wilson of becoming the 28th president of the United States.
An anxious night ensued, and it was not until 4.45 the following afternoon, Wednesday, 6 November 1912, that the baby arrived, weighing 7lbs 14oz. He was nick-named ‘Bill’ but at a simple service held at home in the new year, he was christened Whitney Willard Straight. In the tradition of the time, his given names were drawn from each side of his family – Whitney was his mother Dorothy’s maiden name, and Willard the first name of his father.