A gay first lady? Yes, we've already had one, and here are her love letters.

[brooklynite]

Washington Post

In the summer of 1910, Evangeline Simpson Whipple told the caretaker of her home not to move anything in her absence. The wealthy widow was going on a trip, but would be back soon, she said.

She never returned. When she died in 1930, she was buried at her request in Italy next to the love of her life — a woman with whom she had a relationship that spanned nearly 30 years. That woman, Rose Cleveland, had served as first lady.

The letters, preserved by the caretaker at Evangeline’s Minnesota home, are collected in a new book, “Precious and Adored: The Love Letters of Rose Cleveland and Evangeline Simpson Whipple,” and make clear that they were more than just friends, according to its editors.

...snip...

Rose met Evangeline Simpson in the winter of 1889-1890, less than a year after her brother left office for the first time. (Cleveland is the only two-term president not to have served his terms consecutively.) They probably met in Florida, where both spent the season making the rounds among the nation’s wealthier families. Rose was 43 and never married. Evangeline was probably 33 and had inherited a fortune from a late husband nearly five decades her senior.


The love letters begin in April 1890, once the two returned to their respective homes. (Evangeline lived in Massachusetts.)

[donkeypoofed]

1. A President's sister can be First Lady?

Interesting !

[LuvNewcastle]

2. James Buchanan, the bachelor President, had his niece serve as First Lady.

Seems like I read that another President's daughter served.

[Lheurch]

3. Several of early presidents were widowers

Thomas Jefferson's daughter served as first lady.

[dsc]

4. Cleveland was unmarried when he was elected the first time

so his sister was first lady. Wilson's daughter was his first lady for a time. Jefferson was a widower so his daughter was first lady. In the modern era we haven't had widowed Presidents but in the early days it was quite common.

[CanonRay]

5. Letty Tyler, Mary Harrison, and Margaret Wilson

all stepped up to act as First Lady when their mothers became ill and died. Margaret Wilson shared duties with the President's cousin, Helen Bones.

[Hekate]

6. Basically you get an unpaid female relative to run the household and the social aspects...

It's a complex and important diplomatic task, really. The wife/niece/daughter has always taken it on willingly enough in support of the president and for the honor of it all. The only money involved is the household allowance -- no salary or other remuneration.

Until the Grifter and his Grifteress and their entire Grifter Family moved in, that is.