Edith Wilson: The Woman Who Ran the United States (Women of Our Time) [Hardcover]

James Cross Giblin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Series: Women of Our Time

A portrait of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson describes her extraordinary role and difficult responsibilities after her husband, President Woodrow Wilson, suffered a paralyzing stroke. Jr Lib Guild.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-- An informative and readable introduction to the life of an important First Lady. Giblin focuses primarily on the years after she became the wife of President Woodrow Wilson. He makes clear that throughout her lifetime, Edith Bolling Wilson succeeded in overcoming both personal and professional obstacles. Her marriage immediately put her into the country's political limelight and her strength and support for her husband were evident during the tumultous times of World War I and its aftermath. Her role during his illness is clearly explored. The black-and-white line drawings that illustrate the text are marginal. For reports or pleasure reading, this simply written, well-organized volume captures this remarkable woman's personality and contributions to society. --April L. Judge, Thousand Oaks Library, CA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

In the ``Women of Our Time'' series, the first biography from an author noted for innovative looks at social history (Milk, 1986). After President Wilson's stroke during his unsuccessful effort to promote US membership in the League of Nations, his wife--at the behest of his doctors--acted for more than a year as his intermediary, deciding what he was told, summarizing documents for him, and conveying his decisions. Though she was attacked for her role (particularly by the White House staff and the Republican opposition), history credits her with doing a fine job of it; as Giblin concludes, ``she showed a remarkable devotion, courage, intelligence, and sense of what was important...essential qualities for anyone...who hopes to be an effective president.'' Focusing on this crucial period, Giblin describes previous circumstances that were germane to it (Edith's caring for a disabled grandmother as a child; her successful management of a business after her first husband's death; Woodrow's habit of sharing issues and decisions with her, even before their marriage), skillfully enlivening his text with direct quotes from letters, diaries, etc. Scrupulously authentic and lucidly presented: a fascinating glimpse of the political scene, not so long ago. Illustrations not seen. (Biography. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (May 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670830054
• ISBN-13: 978-0670830053
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,129,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Did Edith Wilson really run the country for her husband?, December 30, 2003

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Edith Wilson: The Woman Who Ran the United States (Women of Our Time) (Paperback)

I was watching an episode from the third season of "The West Wing" where Leo McGarry is appearing before a House Committee investigating the whole bit about President Bartlett hiding the fact that he had M.S., and a Republican Congressman brings up the name of Edith Wilson. Bartlett turns to whoever is in the room and says his wife is about to be attacked (she gave him secret injections). I understand that Abby Bartlett was going to be a target during that third season, but the idea that what she did constitutes any sort of parallel to Edith Wilson is absurd. Once young readers who are fans of "The West Wing" read this Women of Our Time volume on "Edith Wilson: The Woman Who Ran the United States," they will understand this as well.

Edith Bolling Galt Wilson was President Woodrow Wilson's second wife. As James Cross Giblin makes clear in this juvenile biography, before she even met Wilson she had already faced the deaths of her son and first husband and had also run a business. Young readers who have been led to believe that the "modern" First Lady was created by Eleanor Roosevelt will be surprised to see how Wilson involved Edith in his work throughout their courtship and marriage. When Wilson had a stroke in 1919, while traveling around the country trying in a doomed effort to whip up support for the United States joining the League of Nations, the newspapers began calling her "America's First Woman President," because no one met the President without seeing her first. Political opponents accused her of being power hungry and called her "The Iron Queen" and "The Presidentress." In this brief volume Giblin explores the equestion of whether Edith Wilson really was running the country, using quotes from her memoir and courtship letters for insights.

Giblin covers Edith's early life and how she came to meet and marry the president of the United States, but most of book is devoted to Wilson's stroke and the aftermath. Giblin makes it clear that Dr. Dercum, one of the experts called in to examine the president, inisted that in order for Wilson to recover he would have to be shielded from dealing with problems. Edith actually suggested that her husband should resign, but the doctor thought it would be bad for the country, as well as for Wilson's recovery, if he resigned.

Giblin offers nothing to support the idea that Edith Wilson was running the United States. This book shows her as functioning as both her husband's personal secretary and chief of staff to serve as a buffer between the president and the rest of the government. However, Giblin points out that no one will know for sure since the only records of their conversations were the notes Edith took. This juvenile biography of Edith Wilson follows the rest of her life after her husband's death, emphasizing her dedication to her husband's memories and the idea that the League of Nations Wilson supported would have prevented World War II. Giblin makes it clear that the 25th Amendment (which also popped up on "The West Wing") would prevent a president's wife from doing what Edith Wilson did, but he does point out that her qualities were those that anyone, male or female, should have if they hope to an effective president.