October 2, 1919: President Woodrow Wilson's Stroke

October 2, 1919: President Woodrow Wilson suffers a stroke at the White House. He had been traveling around America by train, trying to lobby people to contact their State's U.S. Senators, and have them approve the Treaty of Versailles, allowing America into the League of Nations, thus making America part of the effort to preserve peace following the recently-won World War. But he had run himself ragged, and his wife Edith saw he wasn't well, and ordered their return to Washington. It wasn't soon enough, and he has the stroke on this day.

Wilson was paralyzed on his left side, and nearly blinded. His inner circle concealed the extent of his impairment, and Edith and his private secretary, Joseph Tumulty, controlled who could see him and with what he would be presented in terms of official business. For this reason, Edith Wilson has been called "the 1st female President of the United States." It would be much fairer to say that she was the 1st female White House Chief of Staff. In real life, through October 2, 2022, neither of those positions has ever been held by a woman.

The 28th 1/2 President of the United States?

Wilson's stroke left him both physically and politically paralyzed. But he refused to resign and let Vice President Thomas R. Marshall take the job, due to an intense personal dislike for him that both he and Edith had developed. With no law in place to cover a living but incapacitated President at the time -- the 25th Amendment was ratified in 1967 -- for all intents and purposes, for nearly a year and a half, at a time when the nation really could have used some leadership, it had no functioning President.

Wilson recovered somewhat between the stroke and leaving office on March 4, 1921. He became the only former President to establish a permanent residence in Washington, D.C. after leaving the White House. He died on February 3, 1924, saying, "The machinery is worn out." He spoke just one more word, calling out, "Edith!"

She lived on as a Washington society matron, dying on December 28, 1961 -- the 105th anniversary of her husband's birth, and a few hours before she was scheduled to attend the dedication of a bridge named for him, carrying Interstates 95 and 495, the Capital Beltway, over the Potomac River, south of the city.

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October 2, 1919 was a Thursday. There was only one score on this historic day, and it was in Game 2 of the World Series, at Redland Field in Cincinnati. (It was renamed Crosley Field in 1934.) The Cincinnati Reds beat the White Sox 4-2, to go up 2 games to none. Sox pitcher Lefty Williams holds the Reds scoreless for 3 innings, but in the 4th, he walks 3 batters, gives up a single to Edd Roush, and then a triple to Larry Kopf.

Sox manager Kid Gleason tells owner Charlie Comiskey that he's suspicious of his players. But Comiskey has been feuding with his old friend Ban Johnson, President of the American League, with the 2 men having founded the League. So Comiskey goes to National League President John Heydler. Heydler tells Johnson about Gleason's suspicions. But Johnson does nothing about it, thinking people will see it as a vengeful act against Comiskey.

Gleason is not the only one who is suspicious: Hugh Fullerton of the Chicago Herald-Examiner, and his protégé, Ring Lardner of the Chicago Tribune, make note of some questionable plays. So does former Giants pitcher Christy Mathewson, covering the Series for a national newspaper syndicate.