Was James Buchanan our first gay President?
Gramma Lil
2008/02/19 00:32:41
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Particularly when homosexuality is as American as apple pie. The 15th president of the United States, James Buchanan, almost certainly was gay. Finally, prize-winning historian James W. Loewen, author of "Lies My Teacher Told Me," has outed President James Buchanan, who served as chief executive during tumultuous events on the eve of the Civil War, and had more pre-White House domestic and international expertise than all of the current crop of presidential wannabes put together. In Prof. Loewen's newest book, "Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong," the scholar asserts that Buchanan's long-time living companion, William Rufus King, was referred to as "Aunt Fancy" by that era's Beltway crowd. Apparently, Buchanan's sexual orientation was widely rumored around Washington, to the point that King was called "Mrs. Buchanan."
President James Buchanan was, as they say, a life-long bachelor. That, of course, is code. As usual, the truth is cloaked in historical distortion. You must read between the lines, and connect the dots. "As a young man," writes "Historic Traveler's" Lisa Manhart, Buchanan "committed an unspecified indiscretion that angered his intended bride, and she broke off their engagement. When she died of an illness a few months later, her family forbade him to attend her funeral. Buchanan was devastated, and he disappeared for a time. In the absence of a Mrs. Buchanan, his niece Harriet Lane served as his hostess ... often entertaining guests by playing the piano. When Buchanan moved into the White House as president in 1857, she assumed the social duties of first lady."
While Secretary of State in 1848, James Buchanan had purchased Wheatland, his 22-acre country estate in Lancaster, Penn., attracted to the "privacy, quiet, and beauty of its rural beauty," Manhart notes, and there, he would eventually lead "the life of a country gentleman." The Pennsylvania native was born April 23, 1791, second of 11 children. After graduating from Dickinson College in Carlisle at age 18, Buchanan studied law in Lancaster, and plunged into local politics. Voters elected him state representative in 1814, and he served two terms in the new capital of Harrisburg. Buchanan took his next step up the political ladder in 1820 when he was elected to the first of four terms in the House of Representatives as a Federalist and then, as the Federalist party disintegrated, a fifth term as a Democrat in 1828. President Andrew Jackson appointed him as minister to Russia, where he served in 1832 and 1833. In December of 1833 he was elected to the Senate, where he served until he was appointed Secretary of State under President James K. Polk in 1845.
President James Buchanan was, as they say, a life-long bachelor. That, of course, is code. As usual, the truth is cloaked in historical distortion. You must read between the lines, and connect the dots. "As a young man," writes "Historic Traveler's" Lisa Manhart, Buchanan "committed an unspecified indiscretion that angered his intended bride, and she broke off their engagement. When she died of an illness a few months later, her family forbade him to attend her funeral. Buchanan was devastated, and he disappeared for a time. In the absence of a Mrs. Buchanan, his niece Harriet Lane served as his hostess ... often entertaining guests by playing the piano. When Buchanan moved into the White House as president in 1857, she assumed the social duties of first lady."
While Secretary of State in 1848, James Buchanan had purchased Wheatland, his 22-acre country estate in Lancaster, Penn., attracted to the "privacy, quiet, and beauty of its rural beauty," Manhart notes, and there, he would eventually lead "the life of a country gentleman." The Pennsylvania native was born April 23, 1791, second of 11 children. After graduating from Dickinson College in Carlisle at age 18, Buchanan studied law in Lancaster, and plunged into local politics. Voters elected him state representative in 1814, and he served two terms in the new capital of Harrisburg. Buchanan took his next step up the political ladder in 1820 when he was elected to the first of four terms in the House of Representatives as a Federalist and then, as the Federalist party disintegrated, a fifth term as a Democrat in 1828. President Andrew Jackson appointed him as minister to Russia, where he served in 1832 and 1833. In December of 1833 he was elected to the Senate, where he served until he was appointed Secretary of State under President James K. Polk in 1845.
Top Opinion
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Yes
+14I think that is awesome that we had our first gay president before we had a black or a women in the White House. I just saw this subject while I was watching the Presidents on the History Channel!
As for the sex part, knowing someone is "straight" or "gay" tells me NOTHING about what they like to do in bed, only whether they like doing it with someone of the same or different gender. You could have a straight person who is fun and wild in bed, and one who is boring and uptight. Same is true of gay people.
P.S. Dont believe every stupid lie you hear. Do good reseach and find the truth!
P.P.S Only SC had seceded during Buchanan's Presidency. After the southern states found out in November of 1860 that Lincoln was becoming president 7 more states had seceded, I will say they did secede while Buchanan was still President but it was because of Lincoln that they had seceded!
I’ve never understood why some folks gossip about others, and why they are so eager to assume things about people with no hard evidence to back their assumptions.
Most of us have gay friends, yet their association with those who are straight is never cause for gossip, and no one would ever accuse a homosexual of being straight merely because they befriend or socialize with heterosexuals. Go figure.
I am not gay but believe that ALL people have worth in God's eyes.
Oh, and as far as other presidents go...what about FDR and Eleanor? If that wasn't a marriage of convenience, I don't know what was! ;)
Also, I myself have a physical impairment that means that I have to use a wheelchair to get around, just like FDR. I see my use of a wheelchair, which vastly improves my physical mobility, to be little different from people who use contacts or glasses to improve their vision. A good wheelchair takes away from most of the physical inconveniences that come with having paralyzed legs, just like a good set of glasses or contacts take away most of the inconveniences of bad vision.
I am physically active, have an upper body that makes most guys jealous, and while my most prominent two legs don't work, my third leg works just fine (no Viagra or Cialis necessary) Just ask all of the girls I've ever been inside ;)
P.S. Please don't use "crippled," or "incapacitated;" it's no better than calling a black guy a "nigger", or some Hispanic a "spic." The only thing I can think of that's truly crippled is a city temporarily covered in 6 feet of snow, where absolutely NO ONE can get around. Now that's a city I would definitely call crippled. :)
But He as NOT elected as a openly Gay candidate