Sexuality of James Buchanan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
One of the more interesting debates about a president may be the debate over the sexuality of the fifteenth president of the United States, James Buchanan. This theory was publicized by James Loewen in the book Lies Across America, but was not originated by Loewen. (For example, it was discussed by historian Paul Boller is his book Not So! published several years earlier.)
[edit] Engagement
What on the surface seems to prove Buchanan's heterosexuality in fact gives evidence that he was a homosexual. In 1819, Buchanan became engaged to Anne Coleman, daughter of one of America's first millionaires, but her father disapproved due to the way Buchanan acted.
Buchanan began to see the wife of William Jenkins. Anne heard about this and died mysteriously. Some historians theorize this may have been a suicide.
[edit] Homosexual hypothesis
For many years in Washington, D.C., prior to the presidency, James Buchanan lived with William Rufus King, who was later Vice President under Franklin Pierce in 1853. King was referred to by Andrew Jackson as "Miss Nancy" while Aaron V. Brown called him "Buchanan's better half." Buchanan actually wrote long, intimate letters to King.
There were many rumors at the time that Buchanan was a homosexual. He is the only president to never marry. But whether or not he was a homosexual continues to be a point of heated debate between historians. (Steve Tally discusses King and Buchanan's relationship in more depth in his book Bland Ambition: From Adams to Quayle--The Cranks, Criminals, Tax Cheats, and Golfers Who Made It to Vice President.)
[edit] External links
- Website on the sexuality of James Buchanan and of James Garfield[1]
- Article on the sexuality of Buchanan[2]
