Affairs of State: The Untold History of Presidential Love, Sex, and Scandal, 1789–1900

by Robert P. Watson

In recent years, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eliot Spitzer, John Edwards, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, and countless other politicians have made headlines for their sexual scandals. But such stories are not new. Indeed, there is a long history of misbehavior in politics, including in the nation s highest office. Bill Clinton, it can safely be said, was not the first president to misbehave, nor was he the worst. In fact, there is a long history of presidential peccadilloes. Many presidents have been influenced and had their careers affected by the hand of a woman, sometimes that of a wife or mother, but at other times that of a mistress. But these stories are rarely told. Instead, history has tended to glorify our leaders. Such a scrubbed version of the lives of presidents, however, omits their marital woes, love lives, and sexual peccadilloes. As Robert P. Watson reveals, it is precisely these intimate and all-too-human moments that provide some of the most valuable insights into our leaders. Affairs of State is not just about sex and scandal the who did it of history although such incidents are described in detail. It is a book about love, marriage, and affairs in the White House, offering an intimate character study of the First Couples who made history. To see the author discuss his book on Inside South Florida, please click here. To see him discuss the book on C-SPAN, please click here.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

500 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2012

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Leadership in the White House matters, and it comes down to character. In the White House, character is about conducting oneself with honesty and integrity. It is about taking responsibility for one's actions and having the courage to do what is right even if it is unpopular and difficult. It is about demonstrating resolve yet being able and willing to admit error. It is about treating others with dignity and the office with the highest respect. It is about making informed decisions, accepting advice, and exploring all options with a sense of perspective and history. And much more." Robert P Watson, page 423

Wonder what he'd say about Trump.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, a fascinating look at the private lives of some of our nation's early leaders. I learned a lot of interesting new information and found the stories very compelling. I honestly couldn't put this book down! I shave off half a star because I caught some minor mistakes in dates and ages, and I'm surprised they made it past both the author and his editor. However, I hope that the author will continue this study with some of our more modern presidents (He ends with Grover Cleveland)... Highly recommend to those seeking to learn more about the more personal side of our country's founding figures and beyond!

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loewen and Watson are the only two historians to just go overboard with James Buchanan being homosexual.


seems they were uncharitable with:

“I am now ‘solitary and alone,’ having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them. I feel that it is not good for man to be alone; and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who can nurse me when I am sick, provide good dinners for me when I am well, and not expect from me any very ardent or romantic affection.”

[Jessica Bamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

And interesting look at our nations presidents.

This book was an interesting look at some of our nations president. History is full of turmoil and contradiction. This book does a good job of illustrating it.

[Hal · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I posted this book to my library here I was surprised to see how few others had read it on the site. Apparently others were not as voyeuristic as myself. I was not sure what to expect from the book and was also surprised.

I found it entertaining and insightful with much detail into the personal conduct of a number of our early presidents in their intimate affairs and conduct. Of course it begs the question should we be looking so closely into these matters. I for one say yes because it gives us a more realistic impression of what these been were about in terms of character. History books far too often give us just the facts, and often those facts have been carefully constructed.

Watson looks at a select number of presidents from our young nation along with a profile on Alexander Hamilton. An enjoyable read with many other topics coming into play about these men giving a more human description of what they were and were about. The author wraps up the content with a veiled justification of the more recent Bill Clinton intern scandal of our age. He tends to reveal his political bent by sorting through and commenting on the intimate dealings of more recent presidents of both parties and how this aligned with their popularity and success in office. His next volume, which he is currently writing will deal with the presidents, post 1900.

[LillyBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this book three stars as an average, because I found it very uneven. At times it was two stars and at times it rose to four stars. I loved the topic, and I did learn a lot that I did not know. However, when the chapters strayed into the things I did know (Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemings, for example), it seemed to creep along. I thought the writing was tighter and the editing was better in the shorter sections about lesser known scandals; personally, I find sex scandals benefit from brevity. By far, the best written chapter in the this book is the last, which is really a discussion (essay?) on how personal of a life the president should enjoy, the role of the 24-hour news cycle in more recents scandals, etc.

[jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Washington and Hamilton married for money. Jefferson took a slave mistress. James Buchanan first gay president. Lincoln the ambivalent boyfriend but tolerant and indulgent husband and father. John Tyler and Grover Cleveland smitten by love for their young brides. An excellent read for history buffs and romantics alike. A good bibiliography. Footnotes would have improved the book. Well written. A delight.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covering love in its all forms, this is an excellent book on the formal and informal affairs of the Presidential heart and how they may have shaped history. Presidents include: Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Tyler, Buchanan, Lincoln, Garfield, and Cleveland.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd picked this book up after meeting the author at a politics lecture. While Watson is a great speaker, his books too are very informative and well-researched. This is the first of his works that I've read, but I'm certainly going to search for more.