User:Eyoung7/sandbox

- change née to born in the first line (ty Michelle)

Edith Wilson as a Political Figure
Following President Wilson's stroke in October of 1919, Edith became the sole communication link between the President and his Cabinet. She required they send her all pressing matters, memos, correspondence, questions, and requests. She would then determine what pressing matters needed to be passed on to President Wilson while he recovered in his sickroom. Edith took her role very seriously and even pushed for the removal of Secretary of State Robert Lansing after he conducted a series of Cabinet meetings without the President (or Edith herself present). She also refused to allow the U.S. to accept the credentials of a foreign representative unless he would dismiss an aide who was known to have made demeaning comments about her.

Publicly, Edith was known for her graciousness, her couture clothing, and her fundraising efforts to support the war. Privately, as Woodrow's health declined, Edith began to serve as a conduit to the President. She would attend Presidential meetings and then pass along the information she felt important (pressing) on to President Wilson. She would also assist President Wilson in filling out paperwork, and would often add new notes or suggestions. Edith was made privy to classified information. President Wilson entrusted her to encode and decode encrypted messages.

Additionally, Edith Wilson became the first First Lady to travel to Europe during her term. Wilson's presence alongside other royal women and women of power in Europe propelled the position of First Lady to an equivalent standing in international politics.

Controversy
add to Controversy (add to end of paragraph 1, there is no explanation as to why people didn't trust her) Edith Wilson maintained that she was simply a vessel of information for President Wilson, however, others in the White House did not trust her. Some believed that the marriage between Edith and Woodrow was hasty and controversial. Others did not approve the marriage because they believed that Woodrow and Edith had begun communicating with each other while Woodrow was still married to Ellen Wilson.