# Could any "confirmed bachelor" be elected? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 3, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531 "2015-06-03T14:14:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/1 "2015-06-03T14:14:44Z")
Inspired by the candidacy of Lindsay Graham, who certainly has other problems. But, in this day and age, could a never married guy win, even if all the other stars were properly aligned? There have, of course, been sub rosa rumors re: Mr. Graham’s sexuality, but wouldn’t that be the case with any never married guy who didn’t have a string of female, darn what’s the word I’m looking for here, settling for “conquests”? And wouldn’t that present its own set of problems? What do people think? (I do know that only one bachelor has ever won and that was some time ago.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/2 "2015-06-03T14:17:56Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > (I do know that only one bachelor has ever won and that was some time ago.) James Buchanan. The role of First Lady was filled by his sister. And, yes, he probably was a “confirmed bachelor” in the sense of being gay. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/3 "2015-06-03T14:28:18Z")
Even these days, I doubt that a gay guy could be elected president. That said, few people really care that much about the first lady. Assuming our hypothetical bachelor was at least plausably straight (had occasional relationships with girlfriends, and didn’t set off people’s “gaydar”) as was otherwise decent presidential material, I don’t see his lack of a wife being a serious problem. Since the First Lady does have quasi-official duties as the White House hostess, I wonder what they would do if the president didn’t have a wife, or at least a steady girlfriend. Would they hire an official hostess? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/4 "2015-06-03T14:46:04Z")
Grover Cleveland was also a bachelor when elected. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/5 "2015-06-03T14:49:07Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > James Buchanan. The role of First Lady was filled by his sister. And, yes, he probably was a “confirmed bachelor” in the sense of being gay. Andrew Jackson called Buchanan’s later “roommate” a “Nancy,” giving birth the term. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/6 "2015-06-03T14:53:02Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Grover Cleveland was also a bachelor when elected. He was a widower, and there was no question about his orientation. It may be a few years, but only a few, and yes, I think a gay guy could get elected President - _if_ he was in an apparently stable, loving marriage. The notion of a candidate for major office being out is no longer an issue - hey, a lesbian is the mayor of Houston, of all places. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/7 "2015-06-03T14:55:47Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Even these days, I doubt that a gay guy could be elected president. That said, few people really care that much about the first lady. Assuming our hypothetical bachelor was at least plausably straight (had occasional relationships with girlfriends, and didn’t set off people’s “gaydar”) as was otherwise decent presidential material, I don’t see his lack of a wife being a serious problem. > > Since the First Lady does have quasi-official duties as the White House hostess, I wonder what they would do if the president didn’t have a wife, or at least a steady girlfriend. Would they hire an official hostess? There have been several First Ladies who weren’t the spouse of the president. The tradition (not used for the last century or so due to spousal availability) is for the president to ask a female relation or friend to fulfill the task of Hostess. I have to assume that a partnered gay man would receive stiff opposition due to the inability of some to accept a man as Host of the White House, _e.g.,_ First Lord. Gentleman. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/8 "2015-06-03T14:57:57Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [Cleveland] was a widower No, [that’s incorrect](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Cleveland#Marriage_and_children). > [@](#): > > Cleveland entered the White House as a bachelor, and his sister Rose Cleveland joined him, to act as hostess for the first two years of his administration. However, unlike the previous bachelor president James Buchanan, Cleveland did not remain a bachelor for very long. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/9 "2015-06-03T15:05:55Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > He was a widower, and there was no question about his orientation. [“Ma, ma, where’s my Pa?”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1884#Campaign) “Gone to the White House, ha ha ha!” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/10 "2015-06-03T15:10:44Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > No, [that’s incorrect](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Cleveland#Marriage_and_children). My mistake - he was a _father_, not a widower. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/11 "2015-06-03T15:16:33Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > My mistake - he was a _father_, not a widower. It was not entirely clear that he was the father of the child in question, but he stepped up and supported it. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/12 "2015-06-03T15:36:32Z")
If he was the right guy. Lindsey Graham couldn’t, but someone that got the electorate actually excited, like Obama did, could. Charlie Crist would be closer, but still not a once-in-a-generation personality. A lesbian might have an easier job, (and this is horrible to say, but I’m only observing, not endorsing), especially if anti-gay voters convinced themselves she just “wasn’t pretty enough” to land a husband. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/13 "2015-06-03T15:59:31Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > There have been several First Ladies who weren’t the spouse of the president. The tradition (not used for the last century or so due to spousal availability) is for the president to ask a female relation or friend to fulfill the task of Hostess. > > I have to assume that a partnered gay man would receive stiff opposition due to the inability of some to accept a man as Host of the White House, _e.g.,_ First Lord. Gentleman. Whatever. No, he’d have opposition merely because he was gay. We may have a First Gentleman soon enough, if Hillary gets elected. Some people think a woman can’t be President. (these people are assholes). But more people have a problem with ol’ Bill being First Gentleman than the idea of there merely being a First Gentleman. IMO of course. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/14 "2015-06-03T16:02:47Z")
Did Lindsey Graham get a nice white dress and a party on his Confirmation? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/15 "2015-06-03T16:05:16Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > No, he’d have opposition merely because he was gay. We may have a First Gentleman soon enough, if Hillary gets elected. Some people think a woman can’t be President. (these people are assholes). But more people have a problem with ol’ Bill being First Gentleman than the idea of there merely being a First Gentleman. IMO of course. Well, the FLOTUS’ role is to be the official WH hostess, and I could at least entertain [_snerk_] an argument that that purely social function is properly a woman’s job, and I’m sure Miss Manners would say so. Perhaps one or the other of them has a female relative who could do it, like Buchanan’s sister? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/16 "2015-06-03T16:11:12Z")
Miss Manners is a lot more modern than you think. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/17 "2015-06-03T16:16:37Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > It was not entirely clear that he was the father of the child in question, but he stepped up and supported it. “It”? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/18 "2015-06-03T16:22:07Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > “It”? 😕 Pronoun. Genderless. Replaces a noun that has no gender, or where gender is unknown. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/19 "2015-06-03T17:30:07Z")
[Cory Booker](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Booker#Personal_life) is often cited as a potential future presidential candidate, and one whom I think could win someday, and his personal life certainly seems to fall into the “confirmed bachelor” category. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531/20 "2015-06-03T17:34:17Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, the FLOTUS’ role is to be the official WH hostess, and I could at least entertain [_snerk_] an argument that that purely social function is properly a woman’s job, and I’m sure Miss Manners would say so. Perhaps one or the other of them has a female relative who could do it, like Buchanan’s sister? Miss Manners has [answered](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/08/AR2008010804309.html) this specific question: > [@Miss Manners](#): > > The president’s spouse is a private citizen with no official rank, and thus is properly addressed, in writing and in person, as Mrs. Washington…However, courtesy accords precedence to her, or to another lady serving as the president’s hostess. This was referred to, in the era of more complicated and more rigorously observed precedence systems, as her being “the first lady of the land.” Hence the title. > > And now to the husband. If anything is sillier than “first lady,” it is “first husband” (unless this is necessary to distinguish him from a marital successor also on the scene). He would be the host, and addressed simply by his name and “Mr.” or another honorific he held, such as general or governor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-any-confirmed-bachelor-be-elected/721531.md?page=2)