Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[L Verge]

" This is a roundabout way of commenting on Hanchett's attitude. I think he's saying that the historian must deal with evidence and revise--or not revise--accordingly, regardless of one's own private feelings. Let me hasten to add that I don't speak for William Hanchett. This is my understanding."

Your closing sentences above, Mr. Gannett, make more sense to me than anything else that has been so far posted. I have been friends with Bill Hanchett for over thirty years. We correspond very little now because of his advanced age and ill health, and I don't intend to drag him personally into this thread. However, I will say that I (and others) were very surprised when he "accepted" the Tripp thesis. It was so unlike him.

Your comment makes more sense to me -- he was accepting the idea of considering new angles to the Lincoln story, not putting his stamp of approval on the idea that Lincoln had gay tendencies. (I use that latter word to indicate that I believe his love of Ann, his devotion to Mary, his prowess at producing four sons, and his enjoyment of sexual topics all show proof of his heterosexual preference.)

As for my thoughts on Ann Rutledge: I can easily imagine that they had a thing going (and I don't mean sexual) and that Lincoln was devastated when she died. As a child, he had endured the loss of his mother and sister; and here was another loved one dying on him. It had to dredge up old memories of the previous hurts. I also get the sense that his personal side (outside of the political world) was a kind and caring one and that certain things hurt him deeply. But, life goes on.

It took nearly a decade before he took the plunge with Mary, so he had time to recuperate, judge other young ladies, consider the situation of marriage, and even make a choice to be a life-long bachelor (and maybe a gay one at that!). He chose a heterosexual, committed marriage with Mary Todd that had both good and bad sides to it. The finished product of Lincoln the Man is what matters to me...not the ups and downs that it took to mould him into the President of the United States who served during our country's most difficult time.