Posted on The Whitehouse Historical Association
In 1915, widow Edith Bolling Galt was introduced to President Woodrow Wilson, several months after the death of First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson. Edith spent time with the president at the White House and aboard the presidential yacht, Mayflower. He confided in her, providing her with policy updates and taking her advice. The two married on December 18, 1915.
As first lady, Edith closely advised her husband, but did not fill the traditional role of first lady. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, dinners were limited, public tours of the White House ended, and events including the Easter Egg Roll and New Year’s Day reception were cancelled. Instead, Edith served as an example for the American people by wearing thrifted clothing, adhering to strict rationing protocols, promoting war bonds, and volunteering with the Red Cross.
At the conclusion of World War I, Edith accompanied her husband to Europe while he and others negotiated the Treaty of Versailles. A key part of the treaty was Wilson’s League of Nations as a pact for collective defense. To persuade the Senate to ratify the treaty as is, President Wilson embarked on a speaking tour across the United States. While traveling back to Washington, Wilson had a stroke on October 2, 1919. The first lady acted as his primary caretaker. As such, she had a significant influence on what matters were brought to her husband and how he communicated with the outside world.
After the Wilsons left the White House in 1921, they remained in Washington, D.C. Edith cared for her husband until his death on February 3, 1924. She protected Woodrow’s legacy and published her own memoir, titled My Memoir, in 1939. Edith also remained active in Washington society. She invited incoming first ladies to dine at her home and visited the White House on several occasions. On her final visit to the White House in 1961, she sat beside President Kennedy as he signed a bill creating of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Commission. She passed away on December 28, 1961, and is interred at Washington National Cathedral.
Edith Wilson was an influential and modern first lady, and this month we plan to share some lesser-known insights about her — who she was, and how she used her influence during her time at the White House. Stay tuned as each month we examine a different first lady and their profound impact on the Executive Mansion and beyond.
Image: Adolfo Müller-Ury/White House Historical Association/White House Collection
Visit the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum
When visiting the Bolling Wilson Hotel you can tour the birthplace of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson just steps from the front porch on Main Street in Wytheville Va. Feel free to inquire about tours with the hotel team at 276-223-2333 or visit our website.
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