Abraham Lincoln: The First Homosexual President?

[ShadowBoxing]

http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2005/01/12/lincoln/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln's_sexuality

Lincoln's relationships with other men

Abraham Lincoln is known to have lived for four years with Joshua Fry Speed, when both men were in their twenties. They shared a bed during these years and developed a friendship that would last until their deaths. Carl Sandburg in 1926 implied[citation needed] that this relationship was sexual.

Others have argued that Lincoln and Speed shared a bed because of their financial circumstances, and that at the time it was not unusual for two men to share a bed -- as is not now - indeed, that Lincoln was open about the fact that they had shared a bed is seen by some historians as an indication that their relationship was in no way romantic.

Lincoln shared beds with several other men during his life, both earlier in his New Salem days, during his days riding the legal circuit in Illinois and Indiana, and later even while president. However, none of these lasted as long as Lincoln's bed-sharing with Speed. Amongst these was an army officer, David Derickson, assigned to Lincoln's bodyguard in 1862. Several sources characterize the relationship between the two as intimate, and it was the subject of gossip in Washington at the time (although it is unclear whether this gossip was about the possibility of a homosexual relationship). They shared a bed during the absences of Lincoln's wife, until Derickson was promoted in 1863. Again, Tripp interpreted this as a sexual affair. Derickson married twice and fathered 10 children, though Tripp did not consider this to be definite evidence of heterosexuality. Lincoln's stepmother, Sarah Bush Lincoln, is also reported to have said that Lincoln "never took much interest in the girls".

Lincoln met Speed in Springfield, Illinois, in 1837. When Speed left Lincoln and returned to his native Kentucky in 1841, on the eve of Lincoln's marriage to Mary Todd, Lincoln is believed to have suffered something approaching clinical depression. The book Lincoln's Preparation for Greatness: The Illinois Legislative Years by the late Illinois Senator Paul Simon has a chapter covering the period that Lincoln later referred to as "The Fatal First," which was January 1, 1841. That was "the date on which Lincoln asked to be released from his engagement to Mary Todd." Simon explains that the various reasons the engagement was broken contradict one another and it was not fully documented, but he did become unusually depressed, which showed in his appearance, and that "it was traceable to Mary Todd, the socially prominent young lady he had been courting." Simon argues that Lincoln was never a "ladies' man," and that his prior unhappiness in courtship had never affected him so much as on this occasion. Various issues in Lincoln's young life at that time included politics, his law firm, Joshua Speed's moving away, and Mary's relatives disapproving of their relationship. Some local people said at the time that he "went crazy," and a letter written to one of Lincoln's colleagues stated, "We have been very much distressed, on Mr. Lincoln's account; hearing that he had two Cat fits and a Duck fit since we left." Another account said that Lincoln was "having some 'painful' experiences in his romantic life." Lincoln still attended sessions of the Illinois House of Representatives on a regular basis, and even worked at his new law firm during this time. But his work suffered greatly and he described himself as "the most miserable man living," and said "I must die or be better, it appears to me." During this time, he avoided seeing Mary, causing her to comment that he "deems me unworthy of notice."

Joshua Speed married Fanny Hennings February 15, 1842, and the two men seem to have consulted each other about married life. Mary Todd and Lincoln were brought together again by friends, and then married with little advance notice on November 4, 1842. Nine months later, August 1, 1843, their first child, Robert Todd Lincoln, was born. Despite having some political differences over slavery, Lincoln and Speed corresponded for the rest of their lives and Lincoln appointed Joshua's brother, James Speed, to his cabinet as Attorney General.

Potential room for debate, what do you think

 

[Cyclops]

I think there's no need to bring up whatever potential homosexual tendencies Lincoln may or may not have had.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

I think there's no need to bring up whatever potential homosexual tendencies Lincoln may or may not have had.

I don't know, I think it would be kind of cool if he was. Not only was he a progressive now, but if he was homosexual he would be the first President who was a "minority". Take that Republican party.

 

[Batty for Bats!]

I don't even have to read any valid information saying that he is indeed gay that I can honestly say that he is a Homosexual. Just check out the beard man. That's screaming. Booth shot him cause he turned down his moves towards him. Simple.

 

[dcbmp]

Who cares is he was gay. That doesn't change the fact that he was a great president that saved the US and freed the slaves.

 

[Jonathan Archer]

I don't think he was a homosexual. Back in those days, homosexuality was a major embarassment and for a president to openly admit that he was gay was a political and social suicide. Therefore, when he openly admitted having shared a bed with Speed and other men, I doubt it was sexual. Otherwise, he wouldn't have admitted.

 

[Elijya]

Lincoln had the jungle fever

 

[Abaddon]

maybe he was asexual.

 

[Cyclops]

No, that was Jefferson. Jefferson liked the mocha-latte.

 

[user123456789]

Lincoln had the jungle fever

Does this mean what I think this means?

 

[Batty for Bats!]

Does this mean what I think this means?

If you think that it deals with interracial sexual desires, then yes, it does mean what you think it means.

 

[user123456789]

If you think that it deals with interracial sexual desires, then yes, it does mean what you think it means.

Oh. That's entirely not what I was thinking, rofl!

 

[Trainwreck2100]

What do you expect from the whigg party.

 

[Doomed_hero]

To understand this you must understand the time, Many men would sleep in the same bed back then and have no sexual means. Lincoln also shared a bed with his future Sec. Of State years before he was pres but the two hardly knew each other and still knew very little after. It was only cause they where at the same conference.

As for Speed, him and Lincoln had a long relationship and where best friends. They both found eachother at times of emotional distress and took care of each other. This does not imply a sexual relationship, just a close friendship. Most likely they shared a bed cause they where to dirt poor at the time to have more then one.


weither he was or not, it doesnt take away with the job he did and the brillance he had.

 

[Skullbearer]

Wow ... people that dwell on these kind of things really need to get a life .... bad!

 

[E. Bison]

Well, this is nothing new. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is also alleged to have been having a lesbian relationship with some lesbian news reporter woman for years in the White House. Many steamy letters between the both of them are known of, but the most steamiest of all have been destroyed.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Lincoln had the jungle fever

Ive got jungle fever, shes got jungle fever
Weve got jungle fever, were in love
Shes gone black-boy crazy, Ive gone white-girl hazy
Aint no thinking maybe, were in love
Shes got jungle fever, Ive got jungle fever
Weve got jungle fever, were in love
Ive gone white-girl crazy, shes gone black-boy hazy
Were each others baby, were in love

Ive got jungle fever, shes got jungle fever
Weve got jungle fever, were in love
Shes gone black-boy crazy, Ive gone white-girl hazy
Aint no thinking maybe, were in love

She cant love me, I cant love her
Cause they say were the wrong color
Staring, gloating, laughing, looking
Like weve done something wrong
Because we show love strong, get real, come on
Calling us names too bad to mention
But we pay them no attention
For color blind are inner feelings
If we feel happiness
And know our loves the best, forget their mess

Ive got jungle fever, shes got jungle fever
Weve got jungle fever, were in love
Shes gone black-boy crazy, Ive gone white-girl hazy
Aint no thinking maybe, were in love
Shes got jungle fever, Ive got jungle fever
Weve got jungle fever, were in love
Ive gone white-girl crazy, shes gone black-boy hazy
Were each others baby, were in love

Everyones created equal
Hell with all you ignorant people
Trying to stereo type us
You really ought to quit
Cause you dont know jack, you make us sick
Get off my jock, youre trying to ride me
Because I got my girl beside me
Youll only make yourself look stupid
I love youre trying to dis
Cause weve got happiness, I bet youre pissed

Ive got jungle fever, shes got jungle fever
Weve got jungle fever, were in love
Shes gone black-boy crazy, Ive gone white-girl hazy
Aint no thinking maybe, were in love
Shes got jungle fever, Ive got jungle fever
Weve got jungle fever, were in love
Ive gone white-girl crazy, shes gone black-boy hazy
Were each others baby, were in love

Ive got jungle fever, shes got jungle fever
Weve got jungle fever, were in love
Shes gone black-boy crazy, Ive gone white-girl hazy
Aint no thinking maybe, were in love
Shes got jungle fever, Ive got jungle fever
Weve got jungle fever, were in love
Ive gone white-girl crazy, shes gone black-boy hazy
Were each others baby, were in love