Today in history: October 2

Oct. 2, 1919: President Wilson suffered a near fatal stroke. It partially paralyzed him, and he had difficulty speaking or moving. While he slowly regained his health, First Lady Edith Wilson kept reporters, aides, and lawmakers away, signing documents and making decisions without consulting him. She became, in effect, the acting president and the most powerful first lady in history.

Oct. 2, 1967: President Johnson's nominee for the Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall, was sworn in as the high court's first black justice.

Oct. 2, 1975: Three decades after the end of World War II, President Ford welcomed Japanese Emperor Hirohito to the White House.

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Quote of the Day

"One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat." — Woodrow Wilson

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