Presidents' Private Lives
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What happens on Inauguration Day for a new president?
Depending on how close one follows the coverage, we all have our own vague impression of what actually happens on Inauguration Day, when the President-elect of the United States, along with his or her spouse or partner, typically attends a church service, is sworn into office at the U.S. Capitol, addresses the nation, and then makes the ceremonial journey up Pennsylvania Avenue before attending a whirlwind evening of inaugural balls. But within the White House perimeter that day, some 100 resident staffers begin work as early as 4 a.m., decorating and making preparations, exchanging one set of presidents' belongings for the next, a tradition dating back to the earliest days of the executive mansion. It is an act of housekeeping, as practical as it is symbolic.
The manifestation of the peaceful transition of power our democracy utterly relies upon. At the same time, it reminds us that first and foremost, any president is only human, albeit a human with a very programmed schedule and limited personal time. Nonetheless, life moves onward. Spouses meet for meals. Children are schooled. Pets are house-trained. As the first family forges ahead, as normally as it can. In this election week, this is an episode of our sister podcast, Betwixt the Sheets, where Eleanor Herman, formerly of Episode 200, American History Hit, speaks to Dr. Kate Lister about the sex lives of presidents throughout American history. Please enjoy.
Hello and welcome back to Betwixt the Sheets. It's only Eleanor Harmon. How are you doing?
I am so delighted to be here again talking to you, Kate. I always have such a blast.
I know. I love every single one of them. But this one feels particularly pertinent because this episode will be going out on November the 5th, which in the UK is remember, remember the 5th of November when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament. But for you guys, that's the day of the election. Bum, bum, bum. Ah!
Who is Eleanor Herman and what is her book about?
You know, as an American, I am so exhausted. I feel like for the past decade or so, I've been in a really horrible dream, very complicated and long, and I just want to wake up.
Doesn't it just feel like it's gone on forever and ever and ever? I mean, I look at this stuff and I think this is a gift for future historians. In 200 years, there'll be a different Kate Nell in a sat here trying to work out what the hell happened.
Well, hopefully they'll have more clarity than we do. It's just a confusing, horrific mess in this country.
Well, our lawyers have told us that we're not allowed to talk about the sex lives of living presidents or potential presidents. Which is really a shame. Which is a shame.
We can have a lot of material about that.
Oh my God, could we ever? So if anyone wants to hear that, you're going to have to come back in like 10 years. That's what you'll have to do. But you have written a book called Sex with Presidents, The Ins and Outs of Love and Lust in the White House. What made you want to write this fascinating book, Eleanor?
Well, my first book was Sex with Kings, and I looked at the sex lives of European royals. The second book was Sex with the Queen. My third book was pretty much Sex in the Vatican. And then I did a lot of other books. And then this came out in 2020, Sex with Presidents. I figured I should turn my attention to U.S. history and really did a deep dive. I'm more expert on European history, and I was shocked to learn a lot about my own nation's history.
Do you think – it's kind of – it's a weird one because most of us have sex. Most of us have sex. But there is something about power and sex that goes together. Do you think with all the research you've done around kings and queens and presidents that something happens when you get given that much power when it comes to sex?
Yes, it's true. There's actually a psychological disorder. It was accepted as such by the psychiatric community in 2009 called – Hubris disorder.
Wow.
Unlike most mental illnesses, which develop in early adulthood, this one is triggered by wielding power over a period of time. And when that individual loses power, the illness subsides.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What happens on Inauguration Day for a new president?
0:00–2:12
2
Who is Eleanor Herman and what is her book about?
2:12–5:44
3
What is Hubris syndrome and how does it relate to power?
5:44–9:06
4
What do we know about George Washington's love life?
9:06–11:47
5
Did Thomas Jefferson have a scandalous affair?
11:47–16:14
6
How did Thomas Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemings impact history?
16:14–20:02
7
What were JFK's notorious actions regarding infidelity?
20:02–24:32
8
How did Jackie Kennedy cope with JFK's infidelity?
24:32–35:16