Woodrow wilson biography npr morning

Updated March 11, 2023 at 10:34 AM ET

Of history's many stories of a power behind the throne, one of the most intriguing is that of Edith Wilson, first lady to President Woodrow Wilson.

She met and married him in 1915, while he was serving in the White House. When Woodrow suffered a stroke and disappeared from public view in 1919, Edith became his gatekeeper and spokesperson. She restricted his visitors for months, and informed other officials what the president had "decided" on vital issues.

"There is no question in my mind that there are times she could not or would not consult him," said Rebecca Boggs Roberts, author of the new biographyUntold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson.

Roberts' upbringing gives her insight into powerful women in Washington. Her grandmother Lindy Boggs was the wife of a congressional leader, and after his death, she won el Woodrow wilson movie.