Who was Edith Wilson? She was the wife of the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson. Born in a wealthy family, she had a content childhood, then married a wealthy businessman. Sadly, he died, and in a stroke of destiny, she met the to-be President, who happened to be mourning his recently deceased wife. They were both very happy together.
Wilson, as a man looking to push his unpopular opinions through both the United States and Europe, worked very hard during the subsequent negotiations. He spent so much time working, in fact, that he cut all the exercise, entertainment, and relaxation sessions from his schedule. Even though his physician, Dr. Grayson, constantly fretted about his unhealthy habits, Wilson continued his breakneck speed. This eventually caused the president to have a stroke, and President Wilson remained severely paralyzed in the left side of his body and had impaired vision in his right eye.
However, at the time, there were no clear constitutional guidelines for what to do with a president who was severely ill. Wilson, of course, maintained that he had many things to accomplish, and refused to give up his presidential position. Likewise, Vice President Thomas Marshall refused to take the Presidency unless Congress passed legislation to do so or was provided papers by Edith or Dr. Grayson that showed Wilson was unable to act in office. Neither of Marshall's requirements manifested.
Edith remained protective of her husband's power and reputation. During meetings, they even tried to cover the President's illness by covering his left side with a blanket. By taking precautions, they were able to limit the public information about Wilson's illness. By doing so, Wilson was able to maintain his position for the rest of his presidency.
Edith didn't lose anything from this arrangement either. By looking back on the proceedings of the Wilson Administration, historians calculate that Edith did much more than her role required and expected her to do. Not only did she choose who or what matters gained access to the president, se practically acted as the Nation's chief executive herself.
Sources:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/first-ladies/edith-bolling-galt-wilson/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/woodrow-wilson-stroke
I think this is a really interesting post! Wilson really chose the right women to marry under his circumstances. Although she didn't officially hold the position, she is arguably the first female president in the U.S. It is important to note that Edith came from a very suitable ancestry to become president - her father was a U.S. circuit judge, and her ancestors include Thomas Jefferson, Martha Washington, and Letitia Tyler. Although she was born into a wealthy family, as you mentioned, she still was able to relate to commoners because when her family's plantation was lost in the Civil War, she and her family lived in a tiny boarding house in Virginia. Because of societal standards at the time, however, she lacked formal education. Still, she remained heavily influential over Wilson during his presidency, and when he died and she assumed his position, many were opposed. One republican even stated that "the Presidentress" had fulfilled every suffragette's dream and violated the Constitution. I can't help but wonder how history would have been altered if Edith was born male and became president!
ReplyDeleteSources:
https://www.biography.com/news/edith-wilson-first-president-biography-facts
https://www.thoughtco.com/edith-wilson-4146035