Was President James Buchanan Gay? Visiting His Gravesite In Lancaster, PA 

President Buchanan was quoted to has said to President elect Lincoln when he moved into the white house, " If you're as happy to move into this house as I am to move out, you're the happiest man in the world."

His niece, Harriet Lane, acted as First Lady. Buchanan raised her and her sister after their parents died. She was very popular and was a style setter as First Lady.

It's a shame that ALL the cemetery can't be kept nice.

Did you notice, Buchanan buried on Queen Street and King buried in "Queen City" (according to the Selma sign)? 🤔 I'll have to look for one of those books you showed. One of the things I notice, with most pre-FDR presidents is that they were buried among the common people in their hometowns, instead of at the modern day fee-based museum/library. In that respect I like that they return to being just another one of us. Great video Steve; I like that we get to see your journey through the cemetery!

The thing I found most interesting of Buchanan, is during the war of 1812, though he didn’t serve in the militia, he stole horses for the Army. Apparently that was a thing?! Fortunately we haven’t progressed to military related carjackings. Could you imagine: “Get out of the car lady, the 8th Automotive Battalion needs a troop shuttle!!!” Buchanan stole horses in the Baltimore area.

Extraordinary…that a President and Vice President would live together as a couple. This fact is definitely not mentioned in history textbooks. Thank you for bringing this into focus.

I visited Buchanan's home a number of years ago, though I've never been to his grave. I didn't know it was that close.

Enjoyable and informative as always! Thank you! ❤️👍🏻

Hi Steve!! What an interesting upload!! You give great background and depth to your stories. Like I've always said, "what you do in your bedroom is your business." In my eyes, if you have a good heart, you're all good with me❣️🥰 It's a shame they won't upkeep the older cemetery. It's heartbreaking to see the graves so desecrated and in poor shape. 🙏🕊️❤️

Very interesting. He was born in 1791? I can't imagine living in his era. Thanks for the video, Steve.

Good morning Steve! I commented on a previous Presidential Gravesite video a while back stating how it was on my bucket list to do as well. I'm happy to report that I started, and have actually visited Buchanan recently! I felt the same way about the streets to get to the gravesite, we got lucky though and our GPS took us to the main entrance. Love the videos, and as always thanks for sharing!

I have Buchanan's signature on a legal document passed down as an heirloom. Also am a descendant of Taft. So I found this particularly interesting.

Thanks for all you do sir and have a great weekend ❤😊

I have been to Woodward Hill Cemetery many times over the past 40 years as most of my father's ancestors were buried there. In fact, my great-great-grandfather and mother are buried just behind President Buchanan's gravesite. You can just see their headstones (knocked at an angle) behind and to the left in some of Steve's shots. Alas, their headstones (and many others) have been knocked over several times over the 40 years I have been visiting the cemetery. Very nice video, Steve.

The city cant get people on community service punishment to do their hours fixing up the cemetery?. No one deserves to be forgotten about in life or death. Thanks for the video 💔

Hi steve ive been following your presidents graves and have found them so very interesting ive been watching your videos for a while now you never disapoint i hope your keeping well

Another Great Video Steve, its a shame those Graves are so run down. I heard an ole saying yrs ago that stated a run down Grave is a shameful thing. Looking Forward to your next video. God Bless and take care.

TY for this information. I enjoy history like this. I will have to go read some books on him at our local library. God Bless You & stay safe.

I had read in the past that Buchanan, years before he was President, actually was engaged to a young lady who died suddenly just weeks before their scheduled wedding. Buchanan was understandably devastated by this and some believe that he never married because he never got over the loss of his fiancee. Because he was a bachelor in the White House, his niece served as his official hostess, duties usually reserved for the First Lady.

Another great video. Talking about cemeteries in rough areas-- Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore is on the list. John Wilkes Booth , Edgar Allan Poe, Bonaparte’s sister in law are only a few famous people buried there. The ride through the area getting there is very “rough”.

Awesome video. Some of that place looked pretty rough. Such a shame. 😒

The school in Welcome Back Kotter was called James Buchanan High School.

Thank you for sharing very interesting didn't know that.

I always love the slant you give the stories. And your ability to intertwine the facts. I have been to Lancaster ( train museum) but didn't know there was a president buried there. But once again you have enlightened us.❤❤ Glad to see you in my algorithm.❤❤

Another irony that Rufus was buried in "Queen" City of the Blackbelt, i noticed, hmmm!🤔

Thank you Steve for sharing with us today

Very interesting Steve ❤

We had a Rufus King here in NYC. He's buried in a church graveyard. I've seen his grave. 🤔

Always great Steve, these videos make me do more research on the subject.

Funny how your Google map brought you to the "Back Gate" for this video

You are in my hometown. I grew up in that neighborhood on Queen St!! Visited Pres. Buchanan’s home on President Avenue often…

I‘m glad he at least has a nice looking grave even if some of the rest of the cemetery is so run down. I guess there probably aren’t any direct family members around if the graves are so old.

Great video Steve !

Thank you for telling his story

Today too many things are getting erased we forget history and repeat it specially the bad stuff. But if it's erased and we forget it that's sad......

Thank you brother.

Great video Steve, very nice grave marker.

Another great video ty ❤

Thank you Steve!! I haven’t seen a video from you in awhile!!! Very interesting subject!! I will have to check out the books…. Take care and hope to see more videos I always enjoy them

It's a shame that the cemetery is in such bad state! Thanks for the vlog Steve! I agree that Taft's grave is just ok!

Rufus King is buried in Old Live Oak Cemetery at Selma, Alabama. I guess he wouldn't have been able to rest with the president. Sad! Thanks, Steve...always!

Hi Steve! Good to see a new video from you. Hope you’re doing well!

very nice story thanks for sharing.

Great job Steve I enjoyed

Very interesting bit of history.

My ex-husband 's family lives in Franklin County (Fannettsburg) near Chambersburg.I never heard anyone mention he was born there.Wonder if people were ashamed of him?Sad. Thanks for an informative video

Great video as always. Hooked on your channel since I saw on a Scott on Tape video.

Fascinating story.

Beautiful video, thank you.

Great, thanks for sharing!

I love your videos, Steve! 💜

Wow, and amazing detail. Amazing story!. Thank you, Steve, for the great story! ❤

Enjoyed, glad you made it out, looks like a place to get mug

This is really interesting, and I appreciate the commentary you gave on how history can be shifted and altered depending on the person and their personal views and experiences. Grateful to have found your channel!

It's sad to see those headstones in such bad shape and thanks for another video

Catching up on your past videos. You amaze me Steve with your fascinating historical commentary. I lived in Camp Hill across the river from Harrisburg) in early 80's. We visited Lancaster for their farmers market plus there were still old-time carpenters making original wooden furniture in barns. If you purchased direct their items were much cheaper than what was sold in the City. What I remember hearing about Buchanan is that he refused to take sides on the slavery issue but as a defender of the Constitution he felt slavery was a constitutional right and had his own slaves.

Steve, l enjoy your channel very much! That was probably a popular cemetery one-hundred+ years ago considering a former President is interred there. Weren't cemeteries back then treated like parks, with people even picnicking among the ornate gravestones? Antique varieties of roses are often found growing in old cemeteries. Thanks for speaking up for Buchanan and King. OF COURSE they were partners! Had marriage equality been a thing back then, without a doubt they would have been a married couple!

Awesome video 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Very interesting and well done 😊.

Thank you for this video.

He was my great grandfathers Uncle, it was a large family so they never met . My great grandfather was not fond of him politically, he died in northern California in 1924 in his 90s

Buchanan may have beaten J. Edgar Hoover to being the most famous gay man in DC.

I live in Pennsylvania and find this cemetery to be a great embarrassment, especially for the final resting place of a United States President! A friend of mine who is a Catholic priest has been to the cemetery several times. There is a gift shop in the area and he has brought me some nice souvenirs. Can you imagine how beautiful this cemetery must have been 150 years ago when Buchanan was laid to rest! Great job Steve. As for his sexuality, good for him!

Great video ❤

Miss Nancy and Aunt Fancy is the phrase I remember hearing regarding him and his lover.

Gay or straight it really doesn't matter...how well he did or did not do the job IS what matters.

The US infrastructure is well beyond its lifecycle. In many, many ways. Based on this video and info, that includes roads through cemeteries. 😢 Thank you for doing all the Presidential grave sites. So very interesting and something I would never otherwise get to see is all their graves. I appreciate you and all the hard work and all the challenges you overcome as you persevere through all these treks.....including broken down roadways.

Thanks Steve. So interesting.

Hi Steve thanks for the story. Your videos are fun to watch! I’m doggie sitting my grand dog Daisy. My granddaughters doggie! ♥️🐾🐾✌🏼

Hi Steve 👋🏾

If he was more power to him! Especially in the mid 1800's. I'm glad you're visiting presidential graves. I think they're fascinating.

Buchanan died 156 years ago and you didnt realize you were going to the “old” part of the cemetary? Where did you *think* you were going?

Great job Steve ❤❤❤😮😮😮😢😢😢

Love Steve’s history road trips 🚗 very cool. 😎

Steve I visited the site several years ago and his grave was not that well maintained. Agree the area was indeed sketchy to me as well. We visited the Wheatland mansion and that was excellent to see and tour. They gave directions to the cemetery but were not promoting it.

I guess in those days, people in politics were either clueless or open minded on sexuality matters.

When I was in elementary school we were supposed to memorize the presidents in order. I was saying them to my dad. I pronounced Buchanan as Bunch-A-Nan. Dad started laughing and said Bunch of bananas. Never really did learn them in order.

My mom use to say say all good families have a Bachelor, code for gay?

Thank you, Steve! I wish that "stupid" weren't so rampant these days.

Hi...very interesting story..gay or not gay ..lots of people get that title if your single after a certain age...or just close friends....just human beings living their lives ...thanks for vlogging ..take care . Have a great weekend...... Deborah 🇨🇦

Most of the historic attention to Buchanan revolves around his home, Wheatland, on Marietta Avenue, 5-10 minutes away, adjacent to the city’s historical society.

Not being married don't mean your gay I know quite a few unmarried people that are straight it boils down to a personal choice, thanks for your videos these are interesting. 👍👍

People in Buchanan's day knew to leave well enough alone and keep their suspicions to themselves: in advance therefore on us today. Even electing him president.

Does it surprise you, and does it really matter , Everything else has been taken down about history

HI STEVE ,, SORRY FOR YOUR CAR , DRIVING THOUGH.. BUT WE GOT TO SEE THE PRESIDENTS GRAVE SITE.. GAY/// STRAIGHT WHAT EVER .. I AM SURE HE DID HIS BEST!!! THE HOMES AROUND THE TOWN ARE SO OLD AND WONDERFUL... PEACE STEVE ,, THX.

You are so right Steve! Thank You for shedding light on this. He should be respected whether he was Gay or Straight. Love the beautiful scenery. Thank You for these insightful videos!💞

Thank you Steve. 🇺🇸

Fascinating!

Those are cherry blossom trees

President Buchanan had courted some ladies when he was younger, including one who tragically died at only 23. It's said he never recovered emotionally from that and because of this, never married. Then, another woman's family denied him her hand in marriage because he supposedly only wanted her money. It's been speculated that Buchanan may have even been asexual, as the woman wrote words to the effect that he wasn't romantic, what is called "aromantic asexual" today. He did have the long friendship with Rufus King, which fueled a lot of rumors, as it would today. If a man isn't married by 40, it seems he's a "confirmed bachelor" and is in the closet. Look no further than the rumors that surround Republican US Senators Lindsay Graham and Tim Scott today. Times have changed and gay people can be open about their sexuality, but I think in certain conservative circles it is still taboo.

I love watching your videos of your traveling to grave sites Demi Moore

Oh how sad the cemetery is so unkept. Guess the town cemetery funding is nonexistent. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thanks Steve

Have a nice weekend 😊

Wow

Oh wow! Just because two men live together doesn’t mean they are gay! Also the letters could have contained government secrets that the powers that be didn’t want just anyone to see.

I’m straight but the way I see it, if he was so be it. A shame he had to stay in the closet but those were the times. I think Andrew Johnson was the worst President.

I had a great uncle who was roommates with his childhood best friend from the time they both returned from war in the Pacific until February 1981 when he got sick and died of pneumonia. Sadly his lifelong friend fell into the Kankakee river from an abandoned rail bridge not a month after and drowned. Love is love no hate filled book convinces me otherwise.

He did have a girlfriend (Ann Caroline Coleman) that he wanted to marry but her father objected to the relationship. It doesn’t prove or disprove the rumors, just saying there is more to the story.

It is very possible that the neighborhood President Buchanan is buried in may have been a very prosperous area back when he passed. We can not judge it by its current condition.