Philip Nobile was on Bill O'Reilly's show Tuesday night, discussing this theory going around that Abraham Lincoln was gay. O'Reilly was obviously deeply troubled at the very notion ---and loudly reminded Nobile several times that he, too, was an "historian" ---and that the whole thing was just bunk.
This annoyed me for several reasons.
First, Bill O'Reilly isn't an historian in any meaningful, legitimate, or actual sense of the word. And it's fucking nonsense for him to say so and not be kidding about it.
Second, I would be utterly astonished to learn that Bill O'Reilly is any kind of an expert on the life of Abraham Lincoln. Is there any reason to believe he is? I'll bet I could kick his ass in "Double Jeopardy" on that topic ---and I wouldn't call myself an expert on Lincoln or an historian.
Third, it takes a high degree of egotism for a former gossip-peddler to sit there in front of an actual investigative journalist ---and, I daresay, an historian--- and presume to match wits with him on any historical subject. Philip Nobile is a well-respected writer and a great debunker of myths. His legendary 1993 Village Voice article exposing Alex Haley as a fraud had a huge impact on me ---and I've been an admirer of his work ever since. (If anyone reading this knows how I can come by a copy of that article, please drop me a line.)
Lastly, it seemed to me that O'Reilly's only interest in the subject of Lincoln's homosexuality is to use it as a cudgel on the Log Cabin types in his audience. It wasn't an historical question for him; it was a current events topic. And, as such, invalid.
If Lincoln was gay ---and I don't believe he was--- it would be a very interesting fact of his life ---and would have absolutely no effect on his stature among America's Great Men. History is full of great men who were as gay as Isaac Mizrahi at a dance recital ---and the world is a far greater place for their existence. So stop politicizing that stuff, Mr. and Mrs. Republican. It doesn't flatter you.
Not incidentally, Nobile thinks the Gay Lincoln theory is bullshit, too. But Nobile hardly needs the bloviating Bill O'Reilly to help him make his case ---except as a conduit to the size of audience his work deserves.