Was President James Buchanan really a homosexual?

Answer 1

There has been some debate over Buchanan's sexual orientation, leading some to believe he was homosexual. 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 in his book Not So! published several years earlier.)

In 1819, Buchanan was engaged to Ann Caroline Coleman, the daughter of a wealthy iron manufacturing businessman. Buchanan began to see the wife of William Jenkins. Hearing about this, she abruptly broke off their engagement and died from an overdose of laudanum several days later. Some historians theorize this may have been a suicide.

After his fiancée’s death, Buchanan vowed he would never marry. For fifteen years in Washington, D.C., prior to his Presidency, James Buchanan lived with William R. King, who was later Vice President under Franklin Pierce.. King died four years before Buchanan became President. Rumors and speculation circulated that the two had a homosexual relationship, with King being referred to by Andrew Jackson as "Miss Nancy" while Aaron V. Brown referred to him as "Buchanan's better half." The term "Nancy" was used to describe homosexual men in the nineteenth century .

Scholars doubting Buchanan's homosexuality point out that two men sharing a bed or a room for a night was common. That practice, however, was more common among strangers travelling in the wilderness than among acquaintances, both of financial means, sharing an urban home in the capital. It could have been that Buchanan and King were simply roommates, and their relationship was close and friendly but not sexual.

Whether or not Buchanan was homosexual continues to be a point of heated debate between historians. After Ann Coleman died in 1819, Ann's father was convinced that Buchanan murdered her. In his grief, Buchanan had written him a plea.

“ "You have lost a child, a dear, dear child. I have lost the only earthly object of my affection. . . . I have now one request to make; . . . deny me not. Afford me the melancholy pleasure of seeing her body before interment." ”

The only President never to marry, Buchanan turned to Harriet Lane, an orphaned niece whom he had earlier adopted, to act as his First Lady. "I feel that it is not good for a man to be alone," he wrote, "and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who does not expect from me any romantic affection." The debate still continues for some.

Answer 2

Some thought he was. He did share his bed with men (probably non-sexually) but that was not an uncommon practise back then. He probably wasn't though. The only reason this comes up today is because it is a hot-button issue and he was the only president that was not married.

Answer 3

If you were a president or any other important person you will later be called a fag by fags that want to say every one is a fag.
They have been many Homosexual leaders in our history but fags don't like to mention the likes of Nero or the Nazi Brownshirt leader Rom

Answer 4

Well he was the only President who was never married, But I guess you had to be there.

Answer 5

NO. We don't have any proof of that. He was single. Which is very unusual for a president. At least he didn't get hummers in the oval office like Clinton.

Answer 6

no one knows because he was the president so he might of but nver told any one to tell and u should look at the net

Answer 7

doubtful; that was not a hot topic back then, and not as media frenzied as today.

the real question is what is the point of examining anyone's sexual connotations.

Answer 8

No.He was never married though.

Answer 9

no. we've never had a homosexual president.

Answer 10

i have heard of the gossip too