Edith Wilson

The drinks have really kicked in and the gals talk about the “Petticoat Puppetrist,” Edith Wilson. Bonnie’s 1 Cool First Lady might be the first female president – for a least a few months. Edith Wilson was First Lady during World War 1, the passing of the 19th Amendment, and took charge when her husband’s, President Woodrow Wilson, had a stroke. Surprisingly only 1 Weekend at Bernie’s joke in the episode! Find out if the Wilson’s were scared of what Bonnie lovingly calls “ladies with banners.”

YouTube Version

Show Notes & Extras

• Gal-pals are Dr. Leah Leach, Katie Harris, Bonnie Fillenwarth and Debbi Sponsler. The gals have already talked about Michelle Obama & Florence Harding.
• Get-to-know-you question – who is your favorite political leader, bonus points if it’s a gal!
• UPDATE: The AOC documentary is called Knock Down the House and on Netflix. Trailer.
• Julia Gilliard’s amazing speech we promised to put in the show notes

• Bonnie’s 1 Cool First Lady is Edith Bolling Galt Wilson
• Power with Grace: the life story of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson by Ishbel Ross. It’s in the Gal’s Guide library! 
• Early upbringing
• Pocahontas connection
• Archambault is a ladies’ name?! Cool!
• Edith’s first electric car was in 1904 and was a Columbia Elberon Victoria Mark XXXI. Pictured below (more info)

• Autocorrect fun!
• Edith’s first husband, Norman Galt, died. Edith took over the business
• President Woodrow Wilson’s first wife died while in office around the same time
• Both widow’s Edith and Woodrow were introduced and married shortly thereafter

• Edith loved black velvet gowns & orchids
• First Lady during World War 1 & a massive fight for suffrage
• How much was Edith a suffrage supporter/feminist?
• Katie Google’s hard
• 19th Amendment didn’t pass the first time
• UPDATE: Jeanette Ranken was in the congress during the 19th Amendment voting and did vote yes, both times.
• World War 1 efforts
• Sheep on the White House lawn (more on WhiteHouseHistory.org)

• President goes on tour, gets sick, has a stroke
• Was Edith “President” for a while?
• Woodrow Wilson died a few years after his term in 1924
• Edith worked on getting Woodrow’s letters back
• Edith published My Memoir in 1939
• Edith didn’t like a couple of suffragists
• Golf story
• Support our crowdfunder on iFundWomen only a few days left!

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