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64-662: After her divorce from her third husband, Joseph E. Davies , Post bought Arbremont, a Georgian Colonial estate in northwest Washington on the edge of Rock Creek Park , renaming it Hillwood, a name she had also used for her former property in Brookville, New York. Arbremont, with its 36 rooms, had been built in the 1920s by Daisy Peck Blodgett, wife of Delos A. Blodgett Jr, a Michigan lumber tycoon and daughter of Professor William Henry Peck of Atlanta, Georgia. Blodgett built Arbremont House for her daughter, Helen Blodgett Erwin. A second house known as The Rocks across Rock Creek Park

128-512: A $ 3,600,000 refund. The case—which took three years to litigate (from 1924 to 1927)—brought Davies the largest fee in the history of the D.C. bar, $ 2,000,000. But his specialty was as an antitrust attorney. His corporate clients included Seagram's , National Dairy , Copley Press , Anglo-Swiss , Nestlé , and Fox Film . By 1937 his law firm was named: Davies, Richberg, Beebe, Busick and Richardson. In 1901 Davies married Mary Emlen Knight. They had three daughters: Eleanor, Rahel, and Emlen. Mary

192-487: A central pool that is lined with Italian glass tile. A terra-cotta sculpture of Diana overlooks the garden. She is accompanied by marble sphinxes , a cherub riding sea animals in the central pool, as well as outdoor furniture from Post's collection. This garden serves as a Post's tribute to 18th-century French aristocracy. In 1956, Post hired Perry Hunt Wheeler , who designed the White House rose garden, to update

256-509: A chance. Before leaving for the Soviet Union, Davies was directed by FDR to "make every effort to get all the firsthand information, from personal observation where possible, bearing upon the strength of the regime, from a military and economic point of view; also seek to ascertain what the policy of their government would be in the event of European war." Davies' predecessor, William Christian Bullitt Jr. , had been an early admirer of

320-651: A corporate lawyer who had handled international cases, his longtime friendship with FDR since the Woodrow Wilson administration, and his steadfast political loyalty to the President. But as an outsider in diplomatic circles, Davies was an unconventional choice for such a politically sensitive job. In his memoirs, George F. Kennan recalls the animosity toward Davies that existed in the State Department's Division of Eastern European Affairs: He drew from

384-577: A dacha for him at Camp Topridge. The couple divorced in 1955. On 25 August 1936, President Roosevelt telephoned Davies at the Adirondack retreat and requested he come to Washington. When they met, Roosevelt said he had decided he would like Davies to serve as an ambassador, and asked whether Davies had a preference for a particular country. The latter replied, "Either to Russia or Germany", since they were "the most dynamic spots in Europe." The German post

448-491: A goat and pulls an arrow from his quiver, representing fertility and love. The motor court was designed by Innocenti and Webel . Following the tradition of parterre gardens, the Hillwood parterre is a formal garden with low detailed plantings that are divided with footpaths and walls of English ivy. Again designed by Innocenti and Webel, the garden was split into four areas using channels of moving water, gravel footpaths and

512-483: A landscape moulded around the 25 acres later owned by Post. When renovating Hillwood, Post incorporated many of the garden designs into her interior design. Creating the 'garden rooms' which feature touches unique to the Lunar Lawn and Rose Garden. Post's breakfast nook even includes an inside garden of orchids , bringing the outside in. The motor court was the first area of arrival for guests, who were escorted into

576-551: A meeting could be done more easily through a mutual and trusted friend—Davies. In the letter, FDR asked for a visit between himself and Stalin where they could talk over matters without restraint. It would only include an interpreter and stenographer. Prime Minister Churchill and Foreign Minister Eden had often met with Stalin and Molotov. FDR and Secretary Hull had not. Stalin agreed to a meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska on July 15 or August 15. He asked that Davies stress to FDR that Hitler

640-430: A museum programming venue. The Hillwood established an advisory committee in 2001 for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Washington, D.C. The estate hosts events such as Gay Day, which includes concerts and film nights. Working closely with major events such as Gay Pride and numerous non-profit queer organizations in the region, the Hillwood serves as one of the few cultural institutions reaching out to

704-563: A new screenwriter, Howard Koch , to do a rewrite in order to gain Davies' approval. The movie, made during World War II, showed the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin in a positive light. Completed in late April 1943, the film was, in the words of Robert Buckner , the film's producer, "an expedient lie for political purposes, glossily covering up important facts with full or partial knowledge of their false presentation. I did not fully respect Mr. Davies' integrity, both before, during and after

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768-735: A pivotal election which denied Democrats control of the U.S. Senate. Wilson then appointed Davies to serve as an economic advisor for the United States during the Paris Peace Conference following World War I . After his years in the Wilson administration, Davies went into private legal practice in Washington D.C. . He represented a wide variety of clients. In 1925, when the USS Shenandoah airship crashed, he

832-422: A raised vehicle ramp gives an architectural portico the functionality of the latter. Today portes-cochères are found at both elaborate private homes and such public buildings as churches, hotels, health facilities, and schools. Portes-cochère differ from carports in that the vehicles pass through for passengers to board or exit rather than being parked beneath the covered area. Guard stones are often found at

896-538: A recent meeting with FDR in the White House: "He had noticed that the press had carried the story that in my opinion the extent of the resistance of the Russian army would 'amaze the world,' and that this opinion was at variance with that of most military experts and others who knew Russia. I outlined to him, at length, the reasons for my opinion and amplified certain facts which had not been contained in my reports to

960-541: A second mission to Moscow. He was gone 27 days and travelled 25,779 miles, carrying a secret letter from the President to Stalin. Because of the war raging in Europe, Davies could not fly over Europe, and so flew from New York to Brazil, to Dakar; Luxor, Egypt; Baghdad, Iraq; Teheran, Iran; Kuibyshev, Russia; Stalingrad, Russia and on to Moscow. He returned to the States via Novosibirsk and Alaska. FDR wanted to discuss matters with Stalin—one on one—and felt that setting up such

1024-460: A structure for vehicle passage, is to be distinguished from a portico , a columned porch or entry for human, rather than vehicular, traffic. The porte-cochère was a feature of many late 18th- and 19th-century mansions and public buildings. A well-known example is at Buckingham Palace in London . A portico at the White House in Washington, D.C. is often confused with a porte-cochère, where

1088-506: A warm friendship with the young Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt . When Senator Paul O. Husting of Wisconsin died unexpectedly in 1917, President Wilson asked Davies to run for the open Wisconsin seat. Davies resigned from the FTC and launched his campaign for the special election that was held on 2 April 1918, but he lost to Republican Irvine Lenroot . It turned out to be

1152-551: A wide-ranging two-hour conversation through an interpreter. When Davies reported this event to the State Department, it "created nothing short of a sensation in the Diplomatic Corps." Davies' account in Mission to Moscow of the topics he discussed with Stalin had to be restricted for reasons of confidentiality, but it was clear that Stalin wished to use Davies as a messenger back to Roosevelt. Recounting one anecdote from

1216-549: Is a doorway to a building or courtyard , "often very grand," through which vehicles can enter from the street or a covered porch -like structure at a main or secondary entrance to a building through which originally a horse and carriage and today a motor vehicle can pass to provide arriving and departing occupants protection from the elements. Portes-cochères are still found on such structures as major public buildings and hotels, providing covered access for visitors and guests arriving by motorized transport. A porte-cochère,

1280-559: Is most known for – Russian art and religious objects. During her marriage with Davies, who served as the second ambassador to the Soviet Union in the mid-1930s, she acquired a vast collection of objects from the pre-Bolshevik Russia, including a chandelier from the Catherine Palace that hung in her breakfast nook, and Fabergé art works including the Twelve Monograms Easter egg . Post had her first guests to

1344-466: Is placed on one wall, and satyrs stand near the terrace. The entrance to the Japanese garden features stone guard dogs and a tall granite lantern. A stream cascades along the hillside and pools appear as well, with stones placed in them to provide safe crossing. A figurine of Hotei , a small sculpture of a tortoise and small Tōrōs are found throughout. Designed by landscape architect Shogo Myaida ,

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1408-636: Is surrounded by Japanese holly . Magnolias and viburnum surround the area as well. Named after its crescent shaped design, the Lunar Lawn served as the scene of parties and special events during warm weather months at Hillwood. Events were hosted for the Boy Scouts of America and the National Symphony Orchestra . The Washington Monument is visible from the lawn, which is framed by American elms . Evergreen, false cypress , azaleas, camellias, dogwoods and magnolia are also found in

1472-487: The 1912 Democratic National Convention . Wilson made Davies head of his entire western campaign. Later, as a reward for his vital aid in winning Wilson the presidency, Davies was appointed head of the Bureau of Corporations agency. He was instrumental in merging it into the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and became the FTC's first chairman from 1915 to 1916. During his time in the Wilson administration, Davies developed

1536-784: The Red Army ", "The Purge Hits Bukharin ", and "Moscow Hears the Drums of War". In a chapter entitled "Climax of the Mission", Davies describes a surprising meeting on 5 June 1938. He was visiting Premier Molotov in the Kremlin to make a formal parting before Davies ended his ambassadorship in the USSR and began a new assignment in Belgium. Without any forewarning, Stalin walked into the room, greeted Davies (they had not met before), and initiated

1600-732: The University of Wisconsin Law School from 1898 to 1901, where he graduated with honors. Upon graduation, he returned to Watertown and began a private practice. He served as a delegate to the Wisconsin Democratic Convention in 1902. He moved to Madison in 1907, and became chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin . Davies played an important role in ensuring that the western states and Wisconsin gave Woodrow Wilson their delegate votes at

1664-544: The 1730s, table services collected by Catherine the Great, Russian Orthodox Church objects such as icons and liturgical vessels , rare lace tablecloths, Wedgwood ceramics, bloodstone objects and jewelry by Harry Winston and Cartier . Hillwood offers appointment-only access to their Art Research Library, which features a notable selection of Russian and European decorative art books and documents. In 1926, landscape architect Willard Gebhart designed Arbremont, creating

1728-734: The 50-foot (15 m) baptistery stained glass window to the Cathedral in honor of his mother, Rachel Davies (Rahel o Fôn) , as well as his collection of Russian icons and chalices for their newly formed museum—created by the Dean of the cathedral, Frank Sayre (President Woodrow Wilson's grandson). These rare articles were sold at auction by Sotheby's in 1976 to help cover the cathedral's debt. Porte-coch%C3%A8re A porte-cochère ( / ˌ p ɔːr t k oʊ ˈ ʃ ɛ r / ; French: [pɔʁt.kɔ.ʃɛʁ] ; lit.   ' coach gateway ' ; pl.   porte-cochères or portes-cochères )

1792-651: The Davies took up residence in Washington, D.C. at Tregaron (named after the village in Wales where Davies' father was born), where they entertained extensively. In 1945, he was made Special Envoy of President Harry Truman , with rank of Ambassador, to confer with Prime Minister Churchill, and Special Advisor of Truman and Secretary of State James F. Byrnes , with rank of Ambassador, at the Potsdam Conference . Davies' papers from this period were deposited in

1856-553: The Department." Given the future course of the Eastern Front war, Davies provided prescient advice to the President. In 1943, Mission to Moscow was adapted as a Warner Brothers movie starring Walter Huston as Davies and Ann Harding as his wife Marjorie. When granting the studio the rights to his book, Davies retained absolute control of the script. His rejection of the original script caused Warner Brothers to hire

1920-518: The District of Columbia to ensure compliance: any property improperly used would revert to the Foundation. Post was residing at Hillwood when she died on September 12, 1973. The Smithsonian declined to make the changes needed to convert Hillwood to a museum, and complained that by 1975 the endowment, producing $ 450,000 annual income, was insufficient to maintain the site. Accordingly, Hillwood and

1984-564: The LGBT community. In 2007 the estate was awarded the Ally of the Year Award by the D.C. LGBT Chamber of Commerce. A contemporary cafe with European-inspired fare is located on the grounds, open for lunch and Sunday afternoon tea. The restaurant also provides free picnic blankets for dining on the garden grounds. Joseph E. Davies Joseph Edward Davies (November 29, 1876 – May 9, 1958)

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2048-668: The Library of Congress, but were long marked as classified. Davies was divorced by Marjorie in 1955. She sold her yacht, the Sea Cloud , to the dictator of the Dominican Republic , Rafael Trujillo . Davies continued to live at Tregaron until his death from a cerebral hemorrhage on May 9, 1958. Ambassador Davies' ashes are buried in the crypt at the National Cathedral , in Washington, D.C. He had donated both

2112-485: The Lunar Lawn. Every season the horticulture staff rotates out flowers, a tradition set by Post. Tulips in the spring, annuals in the summer, chrysanthemums in the fall and pansies in the winter are planted. A large statue of a lion, dating from early 18th-century England, rests toward the house. 1960s blue and white lawn furniture is placed on the lawn during warm weather months adding a modern twist to an often historical seeming outdoor environment. A gold gilt swan fountain

2176-456: The Soviet Union who gradually came to loathe Stalin's brutality and repression. By contrast, Davies remained unaffected by reports of the disappearance of thousands of Russians and foreigners in the Soviet Union throughout his stay as U.S. Ambassador. His dispatches from the Soviet Union were pragmatic, optimistic, and usually devoid of criticism of Stalin and his policies. While he briefly noted

2240-410: The USSR's "authoritarian" form of government, Davies praised the nation's boundless natural resources and the contentment of Soviet workers while "building socialism". He went on numerous tours of the country, carefully prearranged by Soviet officials. In one of his final memos from Moscow to Washington D.C., Davies assessed: Communism holds no serious threat to the United States. Friendly relations in

2304-422: The USSR. He also made trips to London, Berlin, and to Washington, D.C. to confer with President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull , and there are journal entries covering those visits as well. Part of the book's interest to readers is that it offers an inside look at the life of a high-level diplomat operating in a tense, politically treacherous, pre-war environment. Among the chapters are "The Purge Hits

2368-484: The base of a pink granite monument that is topped with an antique urn made of deep purple porphyry . The monument features her coat of arms and the inscription in Latin that translates as "All my hopes rest in me." A simple English inspired garden walk was a gift to Post from her friends in 1957. It is lined with boxwood, rhododendrons , and azaleas . An additional gift from her friends in 1957, four statues representing

2432-483: The cemetery was in 1972 for Post's schnauzer Scampi. Among the gardens and woods is a dacha built in 1969, representational of pre-Cold War Russian culture. Surrounded by rhododendrons and azaleas, the building features whole-log architecture and detail carvings around the windows and door. The building houses changing exhibitions. The cutting gardens serve as the Hillwood's main source for fresh flowers, as per Post's desire to have fresh flower arrangements throughout

2496-509: The country far longer than Davies. The career diplomat Charles Bohlen , who served under Davies in Moscow, later wrote: Ambassador Davies was not noted for an acute understanding of the Soviet system, and he had an unfortunate tendency to take what was presented at the trial as the honest and gospel truth. I still blush when I think of some of the telegrams he sent to the State Department about

2560-473: The defendants in the Moscow trials as guilty in Davies' view. It also portrayed some of the purges as an attempt by Stalin to rid his country of pro-German fifth columnists . During the 1947 House Un-American Activities Committee hearings into the motion picture industry, Mission to Moscow was often cited as a movie demonstrating Communist propaganda in Hollywood. In May 1943, Roosevelt sent Davies on

2624-595: The estate, along with a $ 10 million endowment to maintain it, to the Smithsonian Institution so that it might be maintained as a museum. She made the bequest of Hillwood (as well as most of her other properties) contingent upon its being maintained and used according to her wishes (which included the condition that the estate not be used for dining), and she established the Marjorie Merriweather Post Foundation of

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2688-561: The film. I knew that FDR had brainwashed him ... The movie gave a one-sided view of the Moscow trials , rationalized Moscow's participation in the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact and its unprovoked invasion of Finland . The movie also portrayed the Soviet Union as a state that was moving towards a democratic model, a Soviet Union committed to internationalism. As did the book, the final screenplay portrayed

2752-468: The first instant our distrust and dislike, not so much personally (that was not of importance) but from the standpoint of his fitness for the office and of his motivation in accepting it. We doubted his seriousness.... At the end of Mr. Davies's first day in Moscow, a number of us assembled in [Loy] Henderson 's rooms and solemnly considered whether we should resign in a body from the service. We properly decided against it. Mr. Davies, we decided, must be given

2816-756: The future may be of great general value. Davies attended the Trial of the Twenty One , one of the Stalinist purge trials of the late 1930s. He was convinced of the guilt of the accused. According to Davies, "the Kremlin's fears [regarding treason in the Army and Party] were well justified". His opinions were at odds with much of the Western press of the day, as well as those of his own staff, many of whom had been in

2880-399: The garden combines native and Japanese plants including Japanese pines , Colorado blue spruce , maples, azaleas, and false cypress. Post lived with numerous pet dogs throughout her lifetime and chose to memorialize them on the Hillwood grounds. Dogtooth violets , sweetbox and groundcover surround limestone memorials of poodles , hounds and spaniels . The last burial that took place in

2944-585: The house and grounds year round. The selection of flowers dates back to the 1950s, while the greenhouse was rebuilt in 1996 and looks as it did when Post was alive. The greenhouse serves as horticulture staff offices, work spaces, and home to Hillwoods famous collection of orchids. Representative of Post's retreat, Camp Topridge in the Adirondack Mountains, the Adirondack Building, which was built 10 years after Post's death, serves as

3008-443: The house from the porte-cochère by her butler. The hilly ascent and motor court walls served as a buffer that preserved the mystery of the mansion while on the approach. The elliptical shape of the area allowed for an easy stream of cars in and out of the property. Azaleas , dogwoods , and camellias surround the area. The center of the court features a statue of a young Eros surrounded by English ivy and boxwoods . Eros holds

3072-465: The house in May 1957 and hosted her first big party there on July 7, 1957. Hillwood quickly gained a reputation as one of Washington's "most extraordinary estates." As a tribute to Post after her 70th birthday, 181 of her friends built "Friendship Walk," a path from Hillwood's rose garden to a crest overlooking Rock Creek Park. Concerned with Hillwood's fate after her death, Post arranged in 1962 to bequeath

3136-591: The majority of the collection was returned to the Post Foundation by April 1976. Hillwood is now maintained by the Post Foundation as the Hillwood Museum and Gardens, showcasing 18th- and 19th-century French art and art treasures from Imperial Russia . Hillwood features over 17,000 objects from the original collection and selected objects collected after Post's death. Collection highlights include: Additional highlights include tapestries from

3200-410: The meeting, Davies writes: In the course of our talk, I explained that I had always made it clear to the members of the Soviet government that I was a capitalist—this by way of not having any misunderstanding as to my point of view. 'Yes,' he [Stalin] said, laughingly, 'we know you are a capitalist—there can be no doubt about that.'" The book's final chapter is called "Harvest of the Mission". It covers

3264-492: The name of the faith you have found in temples of worship" to embrace the Soviet Union. Davies leveraged his diplomatic work in the Soviet Union to produce a popular book, Mission to Moscow . It was first published by Simon & Schuster in December 1941 and had thirteen reprintings. For the year 1942, the book ranked second in the U.S. in hardcover nonfiction sales. In 1943, editions started being printed every month in

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3328-498: The recently-introduced, mass-market paperback format from Pocket Books . Mission to Moscow is a compilation, organized chronologically, of Davies' journal and diary entries, his personal and official correspondences, and his State Department dispatches (which FDR agreed for him to use). The first eight chapters span the period from November 1936 to his departure from Moscow in June 1938. During that time, Davies did not always remain in

3392-401: The rose garden to her current tastes. Each bed is planted with a single variety of floribunda rose which bloom in the summer. A wood and brick pergola travels through the rose garden with climbing roses and white wisteria , which is finished with boxwood. Tulips and sweet alyssum also decorate the garden. The rose garden also serves as the location of Post's ashes, which are placed in

3456-511: The seasons stand in a circular overlook surrounded by trees such as magnolia , dogwood, cherry , and crape myrtle . Each statue base has a plaque with the names of friends who contributed the gift gardens. The center stone of the walkway features an inscription from a postcard by Tsarina Alexandra Feoderovna stating "Friendship outstays the hurrying flight of years and aye abides through laughter and through tears." A putting green, frequently used by Post, consists of closely cut bentgrass which

3520-480: The time period from September 1938 to October 1941 when Davies served concurrently as Ambassador to Belgium (1938-39) and Minister to Luxembourg before being recalled to the U.S. following the declaration of war in Europe in September 1939. During the war, he was a special assistant to Secretary Hull. In a diary entry made shortly after the June 1941 Nazi-led multinational invasion of the Soviet Union, Davies records

3584-476: The trial.(p.51) I can only guess at the motivation for his reporting. He ardently desired to make a success of a pro-Soviet line and was probably reflecting the views of some of Roosevelt's advisors to enhance his political standing at home.(p.52) Davies even claimed that communism was "protecting the Christian world of free men", and he urged all Christians "by the faith you have found at your mother's knee, in

3648-556: The wealthiest woman in the United States. In the 1920s, she had a mansion named Mar-a-Lago built for her in Palm Beach , Florida ; it was later sold by the Post Foundation to Donald Trump . She also owned Camp Topridge next to Upper Saint Regis Lake , New York in the Adirondack Mountains . When Joseph and Marjorie returned to the U.S. from his diplomatic posting in the Soviet Union, she oversaw construction of

3712-613: Was an American lawyer and diplomat. He was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1915 to be the first chairman of the Federal Trade Commission . From 1936 to 1938, Davies was the second-ever United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union . His book about the experience, Mission to Moscow , and its subsequent film adaptation, made him widely known. After his posting in the USSR, Davies became U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg . From 1939 to 1941, he

3776-536: Was built for her second daughter and was eventually purchased by Jay Rockefeller. After Post acquired the property from the Erwins, she hired the architect Alexander McIlvaine to gut and rebuild its interior. The renovations, which included moving the library doors to frame a view of the Washington Monument , were completed in 1956. Showcasing her collections including French, Asian, and – what Hillwood

3840-427: Was counsel for the widow of the ship's commander. In 1933, Rafael Trujillo hired Davies to try to settle the Dominican Republic 's national debt. Davies’ most famous case was when he defended former Ford Motor Company stockholders against a $ 30,000,000 lawsuit that the U.S. Treasury Department brought against them for back taxes. Davies proved his clients did not owe the government anything. In fact, they were due

3904-477: Was massing his armies for an all-out drive and that they needed more of everything through Lend-Lease. Davies was surprised to find much the same hostility and what he regarded as prejudice in the U.S. diplomatic corps in Moscow toward the Russians as when he was there in 1937–1938. He complained to them that public criticism of America's Soviet ally might be harmful to the war effort. Following World War II ,

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3968-505: Was not open, but the ambassadorship to the Soviet Union had recently become available ( William Bullitt resigned in May) and so it was agreed Davies would go to Russia. He took the oath of office in November 1936. He, Marjorie, and daughter Eleanor sailed for Europe in early January 1937. Davies' appointment as the second-ever Ambassador to the Soviet Union was in part based on his skills as

4032-538: Was special assistant to Secretary of State Cordell Hull , in charge of War Emergency Problems and Policies. From 1942 through 1946, Davies was chairman of the President's War Relief Control Board. He was also special advisor to President Harry Truman and Secretary of State James F. Byrnes with rank of Ambassador at the Potsdam Conference in 1945. Davies was born in 1876 in Watertown, Wisconsin to Welsh -born parents Edward and Rachel (Paynter) Davies . He attended

4096-524: Was the daughter of Civil War Colonel John Henry Knight, a leading conservative Democrat and business associate of William Freeman Vilas and Jay Cooke . Davies and Mary divorced in 1935. Davies married his second wife Marjorie Merriweather Post in December 1935. She was an heiress to the Postum Cereal Company (which later turned into General Foods ). When Charles William Post died in 1914, Marjorie, as his only child, reportedly became

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