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Today, Kamala Harris became the first female, the first black and Asian-American vice-president of America
But she isnât the first woman to hold the reigns of power in the White House...
That honour belongs to Edith Wilson, the second wife of Woodrow Wilson, and a woman some people consider to be the first female president of the United States.
Although, as youâll see, itâs complicated!
Although, as youâll see, itâs complicated!
Let us rewind & explain
Edith Wilson was born in 1872 in Virginia and was a descendant of Pocahontas.
She was a woman who had been taught to make a home, not run the White House.
When she married Woodrow Wilson in 1915, she was a widow and had lost a child in infancy
Edith Wilson was born in 1872 in Virginia and was a descendant of Pocahontas. She was a woman who had been taught to make a home, not run the White House. When she married Woodrow Wilson in 1915, she was a widow and had lost a child in infancy
By 1917, the 28th president had won his second term in office, and the US had entered the First World War
In many ways, Edith was like most First Ladies; she introduced meatless Mondays at The White House to support the countryâs rationing efforts and started a Red Cross sewing group
But Edith was also given access to the presidentâs classified document drawer and secret wartime code, she sat in on all of his meetings and denied his advisers access to him
Today, you might call her a feminist, but there was no love lost between Edith and the suffragettes.
When female demonstrators protested outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, she called them âthose devils in the workhouse"
When female demonstrators protested outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, she called them âthose devils in the workhouse"
In 1919, after travelling to France to sign the Treaty of Versailles, Woodrow suffered a stroke, which left him bedridden and partially paralysed.
He never fully recovered
He never fully recovered
Instead of resigning from office, his wife picked up the baton.
Edith took on what she called a 'stewardship' role and acted as his proxy.
As she put it, she decided âwhat was important and what was notâ and chose âwhen to present mattersâ to her husband
Edith took on what she called a 'stewardship' role and acted as his proxy.
As she put it, she decided âwhat was important and what was notâ and chose âwhen to present mattersâ to her husband
Edith even acted independently and removed Secretary of State Robert Lansing after he conducted a series of Cabinet meetings without the president
This charade continued for 17 months.
The country had largely cottoned on to the fact the First Lady was working overtime.
And they werenât happy about it
The country had largely cottoned on to the fact the First Lady was working overtime.
And they werenât happy about it
This was an era before women exercised political agency.
American women weren't granted the right to vote until 1920.
One senator accused the United States of being run by a âpetticoat governmentâ
American women weren't granted the right to vote until 1920.
One senator accused the United States of being run by a âpetticoat governmentâ
Luckily, no major crises unfolded during her de facto presidency, and she kept the cogs of the political machine well oiled until the end of Woodrowâs term
Not bad for a woman with less than two years of formal education under her belt
Would you consider Edith Wilson to be the first female president of the United States?
