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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMemories of JFK From His Gay Best Friend
In photos and excerpts from David Pitts's book Jack & Lem, we remember President John F. Kennedy through the lens of his lifelong friendship with Lem Billings. A historian wrote that after Kennedys assassination 50 years ago Billings was probably the saddest of the Kennedy 'widows. Here is a look at their friendship.
Jack and Lem, Winter Term, Choate, 1934
Lem was sixteen, and Jack was fifteen, when they met while working on the school yearbook at Choate School for Boys, the prestigious New England preparatory school located in Wallingford, Conn. ... From all accounts it was instant friendship. They were bound together by a love of fun and practical jokes, resentment of Choate, and envy of their higher-achieving elder siblings Joe, Jack's brother, and Josh, Lem's brother." (Page 4)
http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/books/2013/11/22/photos-memories-jfk-his-gay-best-friend
Great photos at the link.
LuvNewcastle
(16,860 posts)William769
(55,148 posts)Showing that LGBT has always been here but not really talked about.
Nika
(546 posts)I'm going to have to go get a copy of it and read it.
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)I never heard of this man before.
k&r
monmouth3
(3,871 posts)Little Star
(17,055 posts)Love this pic of them on Cape Cod with Caroline.
Jack, Lem, and Caroline enjoying the water, Hyannis Port, 1963.
I'm going to have to pick up David Pitts's book 'Jack & Lem'. In fact I think I just might just give a few copies for Christmas!
k&r
William769
(55,148 posts)Little Star
(17,055 posts)about this wonder full story. Bet it even surprises my daughter and that's hard to do.
TBF
(32,106 posts)LeftinOH
(5,358 posts)it would be nice if one of them kept a diary of everything they did and saw. Seems like a pretty amazing place and time for such a vacation.