A quick, queer presidential history for Presidents' Day
Baron von Steuben, John F. Kennedy, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
I've constantly found history painted as dull. But history is just chronicling people's lives, and that includes members of the LGBTQ+ community, even if they're often forgotten about or overlooked. While most don't celebrate much for Presidents' Day (and even I, a president nerd, am not in a celebratory mood this year!), it can be an essential time to look at some of the surprising queer history associated with the Commanders in Chief and show that queerness isn't a recent trend or fad but is integral to American history.Baron von Steuben, military man and gay playboy.
Washington may have been a tactful general during the Revolutionary War, but he didn't learn everything on his own. While stuck at Valley Forge in 1778, Washington was desperate for assistance. His troops were starving, ill-clothed, and undisciplined.
In comes Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben from Prussia.
Earning the title of 'Baron' for his military service to a German prince, von Steuben seized the opportunity to make a new life for himself in America. Of course, the towering Prussian had to make a sizable impression to whip the Colonial Army into shape. Von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge decked out in furs, brilliant red garments, and military metals, with some observers seeing him as "a perfect personification of Mars (the God of War)."
Von Steuben didn't come alone. He traveled with his young male companion/secretary and would have relationships with two other military officers at Valley Forge. Washington was keenly aware of this but didn't punish von Steuben or his lovers. Of course, men were not the only thing on the Baron's mind. After all, he had a job. He quickly taught Washington how to run a capable army, clean the facilities at Valley Forge, and bring discipline to the ranks. So impressed with his work, Washington helped von Steuben be promoted to the rank of Inspector General, later drafting regulations and a discipline guide for soldiers which became known as the "Blue Book." This remained the US's official military guide for nearly 40 years and is still taught at West Point.
Von Steuben himself retired in upstate New York with his two male lovers whom he adopted. This was a common practice at that time for gay men so that upon his death, they could be his inheritors. Von Steuben was made an American citizen, and Washington thanked him for his "faithful and meritorious Services."
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.
The 'Bachelor' President James Buchanan.
Every president has been married except for one. James Buchanan is not well-regarded today and often is low in presidential rankings. Aside from his terrible tenure, the fact most discussed about him is his bachelorhood. On top of this, Buchanan faced many gay rumors throughout his life.
This was all due to his close relationship with William Rufus King, who served briefly as Vice President. Before Buchanan's presidency and King's vice presidency, the two lived together for over a decade in a DC boardinghouse. They earned the nicknames "Miss Nancy" and "Aunt Fancy," with King being referred to as Buchanan's "better half." While most of their correspondences were burned by their nieces, one letter that survives from Buchanan has offered plenty of speculation about his personal life. "I am now 'solitary & alone,'" Buchanan wrote, "having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them."First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt attending the Pan American Day with her friend, Lorena Hickok.
The presidents weren't the only ones to have queer stories and histories. So did the First Ladies. There's perhaps no more famous example of queer history in the White House than Eleanor Roosevelt. Early into their marriage, Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed to remain married following revelations about one of Franklin's affairs. However, the two served primarily as each other's professional partners more than anything romantic or sexual. This allowed for an "unconventional" and even "open" marriage.
Eleanor had many close female friends throughout her life. One particularly close friendship was with journalist Lorena Hickok, with whom Elanor exchanged more than 3,000 letters. Historian Susan Quinn noted that these letters were filled with "longing and affection and needing each other, wanting to be with each other." Eleanor was also close with Marion Dickerman and Nancy Cook, who were lifelong partners and lived just two miles from the Roosevelts in Hyde Park, New York. But was Eleanor herself a lesbian? If you ask me, I would say bisexual, especially given her reported affair with one of her Secret Service agents, Earl Miller.
Roosevelt's commitment to women's rights throughout her life was unequivocal, though. Eleanor said, "I became more of a feminist than I ever imagined."
Corbis via Getty Images
John F. Kennedy, "Dunker" the dog, and Lem Billings at the Hague, during their 1932 Europe trip.
Kennedy and Kirk LeMoyne "Lem" Billings met at boarding school in Connecticut. Kenney and Billings had a particularly close relationship, with the two even going to Harlem with the intent of hiring a prostitute to share and lose their virginities to (Kennedy doing so; Billings did not). But for Lem, this was more than just a friendship. Historian Fredrik Logevall wrote, "At some point in the previous year, he had fallen in love with Jack." Terrified about the prospects of what an unreciprocated love may be like, Lem opted to drop a hint to Jack to see if there was mutual, romantic attraction.
Logevall detailed in his book JFK how Lem wrote a note to the high school-aged Kennedy on a piece of toilet paper. This was a common practice for closeted gay men at the time, so the incriminating note could be quickly destroyed. While there's no way of knowing what was on the note, Kennedy's response is recorded. Kennedy responded to Lem, saying, "I'm not that kind of boy." But this didn't halt their friendship. "Jack was not a judgmental type of guy. He accepted his friends without passing judgment on them," a mutual friend of the two said. Kennedy and Billings embarked on a three-month European road trip together and even adopted a dog on their drive. They stayed friends for the rest of Kennedy's life, and he remained comfortable with Billings and his openness about his attraction toward men.
James Kirkikis/shutterstock
Queer history is U.S. history!
Despite this rich queer history, today, we're seeing continued attacks on the LGBTQ+ community from the current president and his administration. There's a common myth amongst conservatives that queer identities are something new. But even our past presidents can attest that this is far from reality. Queer people have lived and breathed in the White House, have mentored presidents, and have been lifelong companions for others. This Presidents' Day, it's vital to highlight the history of presidents and those closest to them and how even from America's first president, we can and should celebrate the influence of queer people.
is a queer writer, former elected official, and amateur historian who runs the Instagram account @thepresidentguy. He lives in Colorado.Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit pride.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of PRIDE.com or our parent company, equalpride. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit pride.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of PRIDE.com or our parent company, equalpride.
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