Edith Bolling Wilson: A President in a Skirt. The Story of the Woman Who Ruled America from 1915 to 1921

Abstract

Usually, American presidents’ wives enjoyed their compatriots’ affection. Some played significant roles in their spouses’ administrations, although in a formal legal sense, they had no state responsibilities. The evolution of their roles and the increasing public activity of many of them, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries, have resulted in lasting changes to the American presidency. In the diverse pantheon of American female presidents, President Woodrow Wilson’s second wife, Edith Bolling Wilson, holds a special place because of her unprecedented role in her husband’s administration. This article aims to provide an overview of her activities as First Lady (from December 1915 to March 1921), with a particular focus on her role and enormous influence on presidential decisions and American politics from the autumn of 1919, i.e., during Wilson’s illness.