Memories of JFK From His Gay Best Friend

[William769]

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 Kennedy’s 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]

1. Those are great pictures and a nice story. Thanks.

[William769]

2. I try to inject this type of history wherever possible.

Showing that LGBT has always been here but not really talked about.

[Nika]

3. Thanks for the heads up to this book.

I'm going to have to go get a copy of it and read it.

[William769]

6. ...

[avaistheone1]

4. A wonderful friendship.

I never heard of this man before.


k&r

[monmouth3]

5. Lovely, lovely, story and photos. Glad they had each other...n/t

[Little Star]

7. Thanks William. I've never heard this story before....

Love this pic of them on Cape Cod with Caroline.


Jack, Lem, and Caroline enjoying the water, Hyannis Port, 1963.

“'Of course, there was always Cape Cod in Massachusetts when the president wanted to be near the water,' Lem remarked. On some weekends, Jack and Lem would go up there. 'I would take the shuttle down to Washington, go to the White House and we would be picked up by helicopter there — flown to Andrews (Air Force Base) and taken by Air Force One to Otis on the Cape. From there we would helicopter right to his father's front lawn. Of course, he had always loved the Cape and was completely happy there.'”

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]

9. Great Christmas gift idea.

[Little Star]

11. I bet there are plenty of people on my list who never had a clue...

about this wonder full story. Bet it even surprises my daughter and that's hard to do.

[TBF]

8. K&R nt

[LeftinOH]

10. They went on a driving holiday through Europe (including Germany) in 1937;

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.