Wilson's Political Maneuvering On November 16, 1915, just three days before Joe Hill's scheduled execution in Utah, Woodrow Wilson received a heartfelt plea from Helen Keller to save Hill's life. In reply, Wilson said there was nothing he could do. However, when the membership of the American Federation of Labor weighed in just three hours later with a resolution demanding clemency for Joe Hill, Wilson changed his response. Facing difficult re-election prospects in 1916, Wilson was relying heavily on his personal assistant, Joseph Tumulty, to develop a strategy for election victory. Tumulty, in turn, recognized the importance of the emerging organized labor vote in the nation. When the telegram from Samuel Gompers of the AFL hit the presidential desk, Tumulty was quick to understand its significance, and urged Wilson to intervene in the Hill execution. Wilson, convinced in the morning he could do nothing, was subsequently convinced (as this telegram indicates) that he must do something. (Courtesy: Library of Congress) Read this historical document's full text                   About the Program || Joe Hill Home || PBS Home