interview--Rebecca Boggs Johnson with the true story of First Lady Edith Wilson and he Big Secret
In 1918, The President had a debilitating stroke, brought on by stress and overwork. Woodrow Wilson was desperately trying to get the American people to insist that their Congressmen vote for America to join the League of Nations, and traveled across the nation on a train to speak to as many as possible.
His left side was immobilized by the stroke, and he never recovered. But he was still in office, and the amendment to replace him with the Vice President had not been proposed or passed. So his wife, the most outgoing First Lady yet, came up with a plan, known only to her husband's doctor and his chief of staff. They would pretend he was fine, just really tired. They pulled it off. She was essentially the unelected Chief Executive for the balance of his term! What kind of woman could manage this situation? A very extraordinary one.
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