Which president was reluctant regarding women's suffrage during his time in office?

• A. Woodrow Wilson
• B. Theodore Roosevelt
• C. William Howard Taft
• D. Herbert Hoover

Answer: (A)

Woodrow Wilson is identified as the president who was initially reluctant to support women's suffrage. While he eventually endorsed the 19th Amendment in 1918, his earlier presidency did not reflect a strong commitment to women's voting rights. Initially, he believed that the issue of women's suffrage was a states' matter and hesitated to advocate for a federal amendment. Wilson's eventual change of heart was influenced by the growing activism of suffragists and the broader context of World War I, where women's contributions to the war effort were significant, demonstrating their capability and right to participate in democracy. His later support was pivotal in the amendment's passage, but his initial reluctance highlights the complex evolution of attitudes toward women's rights during his presidency.