We’ve all heard stories of older bachelors who shared the White House, such as the close relationship between William Rufus King and President James Buchanan in the 1850s. This suggests that such relationships might have been more common than previously thought. In 2020, a book of vintage photos was published titled Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love from 1850-1950. The archive source for the book also provided photos for the new documentary, Lover of Men: The Untold Story of Abraham Lincoln. Several historians share their views, but only one, Dr. Thomas Balcerski from Occidental College, had a passion that truly convinced me. I was honored to chat with him over Zoom this past week.
The Authentic Letters to Joshua Speed:
“These letters have been published before. By “published,” I mean they have been put into book form,
typically appearing in very heavy, scholarly-looking tomes that tend to collect dust. Over time, we
accumulate all the evidence we need, but we don’t always examine it properly. So, there is no question
about the authenticity of these letters. I have never had any doubts about their legitimacy, which can be
verified in numerous ways. The physical manuscripts, which exist today and are held at various repositories, are most prominently located in Illinois, in Springfield’s state libraries and archives. Joshua Speed himself deposited these letters with William Herndon, Lincoln’s first biographer, in the 1870s. This means Speed treasured these letters, and it’s significant that he chose to retain them through all the years, including the Civil War and beyond Lincoln’s assassination, eventually sharing them with biographers and the public. There is no serious scholar who would claim these letters are inauthentic.
To dismiss them as fake is to ignore their substantial evidence.”
Lincoln/Speed vs. Buchanan/King:
This is a good question. I was brought into this film because of my book project on Buchanan. The director read it and it impacted how we understand intimate male friendships and their significance. I
want to compare and contrast the relationships of Buchanan/King and Lincoln/Speed. Buchanan and
King were both middle-aged senators when they met, having been bachelors their entire lives. Their
18-year relationship involved considerable correspondence using intimate language similar to that
found in the Lincoln/Speed letters. However, Buchanan and King were already established in high government positions when they met, whereas Lincoln and Speed were much younger, meeting in their
20s and moving into their 30s while living together in Springfield. The societal expectations for marriage were much stronger for Lincoln and Speed. Both men had to decide whether to follow the model of Buchanan and King by remaining unmarried or to conform by marrying. Both chose marriage and followed conventional career paths—Lincoln with a family and political career, Speed with a more private life. Despite the lack of detailed evidence about their sex lives, the choices they made reflect conformity to societal norms.”
Why the LGBTQ Community Should See This Film:
“This film is incredibly important for the LGBTQ community to watch and embrace. It is for everyone,
but especially for them. I hope everyone watches the film and starts discussions about history. My bias
is that history is crucial, but this film encourages us to reflect on our past and think about our future. I
commend the filmmakers for their beautiful cinematography and the film’s touching message. I hope
viewers will watch and discuss it, fostering conversations about these important topics.”
The doc, which makes it theatrical debut Friday, 9/6, has partnered with HRC on the release of the film.
The full interview will be published in October for our LGBTQ History month celebration.
