In October of ‘19, the president suffered a debilitating stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed with diminished communication skills. Over time the president’s condition worsened, and he “served” the last year and a half of his term bed-ridden and unseen by the public, unseen, in fact, by nearly anyone except his devoted helpmeet, who proclaimed herself “steward” of the executive. Despite the objections of the opposition and members of the president’s own party, this caretaker “presidency” lasted until the next president was inaugurated.
No, I’m not dreaming or casting hexes or trying out alternate history plot ideas. Just looking back.
It was October 1919 and President Woodrow Wilson, back from Paris, where he played a crucial role in negotiating the Treaty of Versailles, suffered a stroke. Rather than bringing together the best doctors, the president’s Cabinet and party leaders to determine whether or not the president could continue fulfilling the duties of the office, First Lady Edith Wilson made herself Wilson’s gatekeeper and, in effect, successor.
From da Wiki:
Edith Wilson took over a number of routine duties and details of the Executive branch of the government from the onset of Wilson's illness until he left office almost a year and a half later. From October 1919 to the end of Wilson's term on March 4, 1921, Edith, acting in the role of First Lady and shadow steward, decided who and which matters of state were important enough to bring to the bedridden president. She screened all of her husband's communications, deciding what matters were pressing enough for him to see and which should wait. [26]
This arrangement continued until the end of Wilson’s term, causing growing concern and derision. One senator proclaimed Mrs. Wilson, “the Presidentress who had fulfilled the dream of the suffragettes by changing her title from First Lady to Acting First Man."
The Edith Wilson “presidency” seemed to rhyme, if not repeat, in Ronald Reagan’s second term, when the president’s later-announced Alzheimer’s was clearly affecting his performance, but covered up by staff and, again, a loving wife.
Today’s First Lady would likely be unenthusiastic with such an arrangement. Her relationship with the president seems, at least from a distance, to be cool, and she’s made clear that the White House was never her address of choice.
But the president does have a constant, devoted helpmate to smooth over embarrassing lapses and release what details of diplomacy and policy she feels the public should know. Without election or confirmation, she has assumed roles for which she has no skills or credentials.
Ms. Trump-Kushner has often spoken of her self-proclaimed role in “empowering women.”
It seems empowerment, like charity, begins at home.