Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[LincolnToddFan]

I was persuaded about the veracity of the Rutledge affair after reading "The Shadows Rise" by John Evangelist Walsh. It's pretty convincing. Have you read it, btw? What did you think?

For the record I never had any problem with the Ann Rutledge romance. Where I draw the line is that this relationship changed the course of Lincoln's life and that he was never truly able to love again.
One writer-was it Vachel Lindsay? went so far as to insinuate that AR was Lincoln's inspiration for the Gettysburg Address, that her spirit sort of entered his body and guided the pen. Laughable? Yes..I think so too!

Human sexuality can be so mysterious, so complicated. Didn't AL describe intercourse as a "harp with a thousand strings" or something? If he did have occasional physical encounters with other men during his frontier youth I would not be surprised. As you have already explained, those were "masculine" times so to speak. I am just not able to be convinced that he was primarily homosexual on the basis of what we know about his friendships with Joshua Speed and David Derickson.

Here is the confusing part-I think despite his earthy humor he was not truly all that highly sexed(even though MTL was a very satisfied customer if her private letters are any indication)

Fascinating subject for sure. I love Lincoln, can never get enough of him. He and his life are the gift that keeps on giving.

ETA: I don't think Burlingame is able to be rational on the subject on the Lincoln marriage.