PRESIDENT MAY APPEAR IN CONGRESS FOR FAREWELL ADDRESS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The Evening World reported on November 12, 1920 that President Woodrow Wilson's health was continuing to improve to the point that he might be able to "appear in Congress for the Farewell Address."
The Evening World states...
"Everybody about the White House seems to have become more hopeful about the President's ultimate recovery. As the fourth of March approaches, his friends expect he will get stronger...(and) may be well enough to...appear in Congress for the Farewell Address."
According to Health and Sciences Library, however, the severe stroke that the President suffered "left him incapacitated until the end of his presidency."
This is verified by an article in the Journal of Neurosurgery. According to Drs. Richard P. Menger and Christopher M. Storey, Mr. Wilson was diagnosed with a "ischemic stroke without hemorrhage convergence." There were left visual field cuts but speech was unaffected.
For a period of 17 months "nearly all communication to and from" the President was through the First Lady, Mrs. Edith Wilson.
JFK+50 NOTE
Although Mr. Wilson rode with President-elect Harding to the Capitol, he did not stay for the inaugural ceremonies. President Wilson rarely appeared in public again although he gave a brief radio address on Armistice Day, Nov 1923. He died at the age of 67 on Feb 3, 1924.
SOURCES
"Wilson May Go Before Congress in Wheelchair," by David Lawrence, November 12, 1920, The Evening World, New York, New York, www.loc.gov/
"Woodrow Wilson's hidden stroke of 1919: the impact of patient-physician confidentiality on United States foreign policy," by Richard P. Menger, M.D. and Christopher M. Storey, M.D., PhD., July 2015, Journal of Neurosurgery, www.the jns.org/
"Woodrow Wilson-Strokes and Denial," Health and Sciences Library, www.ahsi.arizona.edu/
