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After years as a widow and running her late husband's business, Edith Gault did not go into her marriage with the President of the United States to be a "shrinking violet" First Lady. Ellen Wilson, President Woodrow Wilson's first wife and mother of his three daughters, was a demure lady.
This was not the new Mrs. Wilson's style.
She remained at her husband's side at all time, seeing herself as a true partner in all things, even the presidency. When he traveled to Europe to sign the Peace Treaty ending World War I, Edith Wilson was by his side. This brought out Wilson's critics in full force. In the early part of the century, First Ladies did not take an active role in the President's official duties.
Mrs. Wilson believed that being with her husband at all times, to counsel him and give him support and her advice, was her right as his wife. She ignored the critics.
President Wilson felt comfortable consulting with his wife on the issues that pressed on him. In fact, she was his confidant and he took her advice much more to heart than he did many of the politicians he dealt with. After so many years in the White House, he began to distrust other politicians. Wilson was also an egotist who prefered to keep the credit to himself. Mrs. Wilson, who spent many years of her life in Washington, also distrusted many of the politicians she met. Her attitude was often one of a woman who believed her husband could do no wrong.
After the end of World War II, President Wilson found himself embroiled in a fight with Congress over the United States' participation in the League of Nation. The League was Wilson's idea, and favorably accepted in Europe. However, it created a partisan division in the United States. Democrats favored the League and hailed Wilson as a hero, while Republicans fought the League while attacking Wilson's character.
Wilson was stunned by the reaction and his health began to suffer. Mrs. Wilson was angered by the attacks.
The President, worn down, first by the War and then by the battles against Congress, had a stroke. He lie in his bedroom, unable to speak or move, let alone carry out his duties as president. The power of the office should have been given to the vice president.
Except, Mrs. Wilson forbade doctors to report on the seriousness of the president's illness. Even the Vice President, whom Mrs. Wilson viewed as a political enemy rather than an ally, was not told, despite his demands. By keeping her husband's stroke a national secret, the question has been asked and never resolved: did Mrs. Wilson act as the president in her husband's place?
Many historians believe that Mrs. Wilson, with the help of Wilson's doctors, did run the country for the months that her husband was felled by the stroke. She insisted that all papers be delivered to her, that she would give them to the president. Reports say that she did, indeed, discuss the papers with her husband, but was he able to comprehend the information? That is doubtful. Instead, Mrs. Wilson made the decisions and signed the papers for her husband. She consulted with her husband's most trusted advisors, but the evidence shows that it was Mrs. Wilson who called the shots for the country during the months her husband was incapacitated.
Mrs. Wilson denied this, of course. She claimed that all decisions were Wilson's, and that he was in constant touch with his Cabinet and with the Vice President (although the Vice President claimed differently).
So, was she truly a Mrs. President, albeit illegally? Probably. However, there is little doubt that she would have followed Wilson's decrees to the letter or that she was highly informed on the issues at hand. She was in constant consult with him; he told her everything.
In hindsight, however, it was a frightening situation for the country. Wilson was able to remain hidden, thanks to less intrusive media coverage in 1919. Still, the world was in a shaky state after the war, and it was a time when firm leadership was required. Wilson's absence was the kiss of death for his League of Nation, as well.
Mrs. Wilson as Mrs. President? Yes.
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