Fun Fact Fiesta Logo

Discover the Unexpected: Top 7 Fun Facts About Woodrow Wilson You Never Knew!

illustration of woodrow-wilson
Dive into the lesser-known side of the 28th US President with these delightful and intriguing fun facts about Woodrow Wilson!

1. White House "Fixer" Wife

Move over, Olivia Pope: there was once a real-life White House "fixer" who made sure everything was handled with grace and love. Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, Woodrow Wilson's second wife, took care of her husband and his presidential duties after he suffered a severe stroke, ensuring daily affairs continued without taking on major decisions herself, as per doctors' advice.
Source => whitehouse.gov

2. Press Conference Pioneer

Before Twitter storms and meme-worthy press briefings, a certain president had a knack for terse zingers and shunning unworthy queries: Woodrow Wilson was the first US president to hold regular press conferences, beginning in 1913, which ultimately set the precedent for journalists to routinely question the president and forever transforming the media landscape.
Source => bbc.com

3. Daylight Saving Superhero

Before Superman could even fathom leaping tall buildings – let alone combating darkness with his own brand of daylight saving superpowers – there was another hero disrupting time and space in the Land of the Free: Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President, took it upon himself to sign the Standard Time Act into law in 1918. This groundbreaking legislation established federally mandated time zones across the US, and called for daylight saving time to commence on March 31. Although the president didn't don a cape or fight evildoers, he was a fierce advocate of daylight saving time during World War I to conserve energy and increase productivity.
Source => politico.com

4. Front Row at the Ball Game

You may have heard of "take me out to the ball game" but would you believe even ol' Woodrow would never sing-along with the Biebs?: Woodrow Wilson, an avid baseball enthusiast, attended numerous games during his presidency and even marked a presidential first by gracing the World Series with his presence—but fear not, he never experienced any Bieber Fever, for young Justin was not yet a twinkle in anyone's eye.
Source => baseball-almanac.com

Princeton's Educational Revolution

5. Princeton's Educational Revolution

Before Woodrow Wilson could say, "Tutor me tender, tutor me sweet," as he tap-danced into educational reforms: The 28th President successfully pioneered the preceptorial system at Princeton University, a personalized and attentive tutelage model that's still followed on their campus to this day.
Source => libguides.law.virginia.edu

6. Professor President

Step aside, Professor X – there's another academic mastermind in town: Woodrow Wilson was the only president to hold a PhD, having flexed his brain muscles to earn a doctorate in political science from Johns Hopkins University in 1886.
Source => archives.gov

7. Wilson's World: European Adventures

Get ready for a whirlwind of a Eurotrip: Woodrow Wilson was quite the globetrotter! The man should've starred in his own version of "Wilson's World" as he ventured to the depths of Europe in order to attend the 1919 Paris Peace Conference and rubbed elbows with world leaders. He even addressed Parliament in Belgium! But wait, there's more: Wilson actually first dipped his toes into European luxury back in 1912 during a presidential vacation in Bermuda and a casual hop across the pond to the United Kingdom. Talk about vacation goals!
Source => history.state.gov

Related Fun Facts