The President’s Wife explores the life of Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson. A socialite widow content with travel and friendships, Edith’s life changes dramatically when she marries Woodrow and becomes First Lady. Despite her discomfort, she rises to the challenges, dealing with press scrutiny and World War I.
Edith soon becomes indispensable, replacing distracting staff, discussing policy with Woodrow, and encrypting top-secret messages. Her role expands further when she joins Woodrow in France for the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
The author highlights the turbulent last months of Woodrow’s administration. After his debilitating stroke, Edith shields him from the press, effectively running the presidency until his death in 1924. Her dedication to preserving his legacy comes at a great personal cost.
The prose is sometimes cluttered with period details, and the portrayal of Woodrow as a simpering fool and the family’s involvement in Spiritualism, including seances, might discomfort some readers.
Despite these drawbacks, the book vividly portrays Edith’s struggle to balance her position’s demands with her personal integrity and her husband’s wellbeing. Wood’s meticulous research offers a deep understanding of the period and the pressures Edith faced, capturing intimate moments against significant historical events like women’s suffrage and partisan politics. 3.5 stars.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this title. The opinions are my own.