M Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) served as the 28th President (1913–1921). A leader of the Progressive Movement, he implemented significant reforms like the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Trade Commission. Wilson led the nation through World War I, and afterward he championed the League of Nations as part of the Treaty of Versailles, though the U.S. Senate refused to ratify it.

Interesting anecdote: In October 1919, Wilson suffered a severe stroke that left him partially incapacitated. For the remainder of his term, First Lady Edith Wilson carefully guarded access to him and filtered communications, essentially managing many of the day-to-day duties of the presidency. Some historians refer to Edith as the “secret president” for her role during Wilson’s recovery.