Following a series of health issues, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson suffered a catastrophic stroke while at the White House. Just days prior, he had delivered a vigorous address in Pueblo, Colorado, advocating for the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, crucial components of his vision for global peace after World War I. His physical and mental decline became evident when he collapsed post-speech, prompting a growing concern regarding his well-being.

On this fateful day, Wilson's stroke rendered him incapacitated, severely impacting his ability to lead. His wife, Edith Wilson, and close advisors became critical in managing presidential duties. This shift in power dynamics led to debates over the extent to which Edith might have acted as a proxy for her husband, raising questions about transparency and governance during a critical time in U.S. history.

The aftermath of Wilson’s incapacitation sparked debates about presidential succession and the limits of executive power. The inability of the president to fulfill his duties contributed to political challenges in pushing forward key legislative initiatives, including the Treaty of Versailles, which ultimately faced significant opposition in the Senate and failed to be ratified, changing the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy.