Presidential Stories (influence, Mexico, 1920s, state)

[John Walmsley]

I thought it would be interesting to have a topic for stories about our presidents. I'll start it off with the story of our first virtual woman president. Much of the information for this story comes from material printed in the People's Almanac compiled by David Wallechinsky and Irving Wallace and publshed by Doubleday and Company (1975).

Edith Bolling Galt Wilson isn't exactly a household name, but she came out of relative obscurity to become the "virtual head of the government during her husband's prolonged illness." In effect, she became the unofficial 28th president.

"On the evening of September 25, 1919, in the midst of a triumphant speaking tour to rally support for the League of Nations, President Wilson collapsed and was rushed back to the White house. On October 2, he suffered a paralytic stroke and was totally incapacitated until mid-November. During the next few months, he slowly regained a tenuous hold on the responsibilities of the presidential office. In this interim, his wife embarked on the strange interlude known as 'Mrs.Wilson's Stewardship,' the words she preferrred in describing her role. Some historians believe her stewardship lasted 17 months, until the end of Wilson's 2nd term."

The story begs the question: Why didn't the the Vice President, Thomas Riley Marshall take over? Apparently Marshall was an affable, happy-go-lucky man, but he had no stomach for the responsibilities of the presidency. When approached about it, he nearly caved in at the prospect. Even the Secretary of State Robert Lansing wasn't viewed as temperamentally suited for the job. In fact as Wilson's closest confidante, Edith knew more about Wilson's policies than anyone. "She was the only person who knew the secret code by which he communicated with Colonel House and his emissaries in Europe." She knew Wilson's mind and the "nuances of his foreign policy."

Edith screened the president's visitors and carried on the business of the day. Wilson's mind was still lucid and Edith consulted her husband, as necessary. Naturally, this didn't sit well with some in the government. "Congress viewed her activities with a good deal of consternation. Sen. Albert Fall of New Mexico almost became violent. He pounded on the table and thundered, "We have a petticoat government! Mrs. Wilson is president!" It wasn't too far wrong. She was assailed by a lot of newspaper criticism. Even some of the White House staff turned against her, making snide remarks about her American Indian ancestery. (She was descended from Pocahontas.) The one time President Wilson didn't listen to her advice is when she wanted to consent to the US entry into the League of Nations. "Edith's political acumen might have changed the course of history here."

This probably wasn't the first time a president's wife had influence over the nation's policies, but it may have been the first actual hands-on in the daily operations of government. Later, Eleanor Roosevelt and Nancy Reagan exerted considerable influence on their husband's policies. Despite all the criticism there were also kudos for Mrs. Wilson's work. "The London Daily Mail reported that Mrs. Wilson was proving to be a perfectly capable 'President.'" President Wilson recovered and was able to complete his term, but it was largely due to the determination of his able wife.

[kensgirl]

Very interesting post, John. It seems improbable in this day of "instant information" that a president's wife could take on so much responsibility and not have immediate press coverage. But, Edith Wilson proved to be more than capable. It is interesting, though, that it was for a relatively short period of time in his presidency and towards the end of his second term. I wonder what would have happened had it occurred earlier in his presidency.

[quiet walker]

Hope this is not too OT. Serendipity, was at a seminar this am when someone brought a pineapple out of a kitchen nearby. A friend and I were discussing Ronald Reagan and Edmund Morris' book Dutch. It brought to mind this anectdote...

"Asked for President Reagan’s reaction after winning a hard-fought 1981 vote in Congress authorizing the sale of AWACS planes to Saudi Arabia, the White House aide Michael Deaver told reporters the president exclaimed, 'Thank God!' What Reagan actually said, according to someone in the room, was, 'I feel like I’ve just crapped a pineapple.'”

[John Walmsley]

Originally Posted by kensgirl

Very interesting post, John. It seems improbable in this day of "instant information" that a president's wife could take on so much responsibility and not have immediate press coverage. But, Edith Wilson proved to be more than capable. It is interesting, though, that it was for a relatively short period of time in his presidency and towards the end of his second term. I wonder what would have happened had it occurred earlier in his presidency.

kensgirl,

You bring up a good point. I doubt that Edith Wilson could have sustained her role much earlier in President Wilson's second term. She must have been a determined and formidable woman to have carried it off as well as she did. Also, the two most likely candidates to succeed President Wilson were not anxious to assume the job. Since then, the 25th Amendment passed in 1967, clearly defines the rule of succession in case the president is incapacitated. As for the apoplectic Sen. Albert Fall, who protested Edith Wilson's role as acting president, he was indicted for bribery a few years later in the famous 1920s Teapot Dome scandal.
John

[John Walmsley]

Originally Posted by quiet walker

Hope this is not too OT. Serendipity, was at a seminar this am when someone brought a pineapple out of a kitchen nearby. A friend and I were discussing Ronald Reagan and Edmund Morris' book Dutch. It brought to mind this anectdote...

"Asked for President Reagan’s reaction after winning a hard-fought 1981 vote in Congress authorizing the sale of AWACS planes to Saudi Arabia, the White House aide Michael Deaver told reporters the president exclaimed, 'Thank God!' What Reagan actually said, according to someone in the room, was, 'I feel like I’ve just crapped a pineapple.'”

quiet walker,

A good Reagan story! Reagan had a wonderful sense of humor, along with some Irish blarney. There may be a couple versions of this 'Tip' O'Neill quote on Reagan, but it went something like this: "I've known personally every president since Jack Kennedy and I can say Reagan was the worse. But he'd have made a helluva king!" Reagan said he and 'Tip' O'Neill were good friends, but only after 5 p.m.
John