CHAPTER 1 Edith Wilson The Story You Know Edith Wilson was the wife of a U S president She was a First Lady This is the title of a male president’s wife Wilson was married to President Woodrow Wilson He was the 28th U S president He’s famous for leading the country into World War I He wanted to make the world safe for democracy Democracy means government by the people Mrs Wilson supported her husband She was a good wife She was a good American She showed that women could be world leaders She paved the way for other women But there’s more to her story 4
Mrs Wilson was the first First Lady to get Secret Service protection 5
CHAPTER 2 Secret President Edith Wilson was much more than the First Lady Some people think she was the first female president She never left President Wilson’s side She worked with him in his private office She read his top-secret papers She had his top-secret wartime codes She read his mail She went to his meetings Then President Wilson had a stroke Strokes are like brain attacks This happened in 1919 President Wilson had to stay in bed He couldn’t move some of his body parts Mrs Wilson took over She kept the president’s sickness a secret She wouldn’t let him quit She told people he needed rest 6
