Jack & Lem: John F. Kennedy and Lem Billings: The Untold Story of an Extraordinary Friendship

I have to say that this a unique book about JFK. Most authors out there have written about the same stuff over and over again and David Pitts found an untouched JFK topic. This book is about JFK's relationship with Kirk Leymone Billings, a man that he met during his days at Choate (now Choate Rosemary Hall). "Lem" Billings was JFK's childhood friend and they remained close till JFK's death on 11/22/63. Not many people out there know about Jack and Lem's close friendship and I am very glad that Mr. Pitts wrote this book. Definitely a good first book and a good read. By the way, I corresponded with David Pitts via email and he is a very nice guy and welcomes comments about his book. His website is: http://www.jackandlem.com/

I enjoyed reading Jack and Lem. Due to my age, I don't have first hand remembrances of Jack Kennedy - his life or presidency. I was a good student so I do have a learned historical perspective. Also, I am politically aware and involved so Teddy is a presence and Jackie was too. While I was familiar with many of the events of Jack's life through other reading, David Pitts made these seem new (I guess seeing them through different eyes - Lem's) and helped keep my interest. I thought Lem was presented as a compelling character. His devotion to Jack was very moving and important to reveal. I don't think the friendship could have continued for 30 years if Jack hadn't had a similar regard for Lem. I think the theory was proved that Jack had great character in keeping Lem as a friend. And Lem had every right to make that claim too. I know there have been questions about a biography of a behind the scenes individual. Since we cannot all be the great one, the one on whom the spotlight shines, I find it helpful to know who is (was) in the background. David Pitts performed a valuable service researching this book - the letters between Jack and Lem reflect on Jack as much as Lem. Obviously, not every fact or event can be included in any one work. While there seems to be a long-standing rapport between Lem and Rose Kennedy, the limited references to her (absent during Jack's illness while he was a Choate and not attending Kathleen's (Kick's) funeral) make me wonder whether Lem liked her. There appears to be an error on page 116. The photo credit is 1945, but the pages that precede the photo indicate that Lem went to the South Pacific in 1944 and while the war ended in 1945, it wouldn't be until 1946 that Lem was able to return home. He could not have been in Palm Beach in 1945. There are a few instances of David Pitts using his authorship to editorialize. These appear in parenthesis. As a resident of D.C., I agree with one of these (the District of Columbia is without full representation). Another is a reference to Tony Blair, (as the current prime minister). These parenthetical statements are temporal so if we - when we - get representation and a different person holds elected office they will date the book. Instead of editorializing, it would have been reasonable to stick to the facts only. Jack and Lem included some very touching recollections of these two men's lives, separate and together, and made me think about and better understand life in another time. I found "The Sea Change (1933 vs 1973)," the penultimate chapter, very interesting. I have sometimes wondered how much earlier I would needed to have been born to not feel comfortable today as a gay man. Most of my adult life I have been out to my family, co-workers, and neighbors. I'm also not confusing comfort with safety. I'm not naïve. Far too frequently there are press reports of hate and violence against not just gay people (the nooses of late are appalling). But no

David Pitts offers a view of John F. Kennedy which is seldom found in the multitude of other books on JFK. The author had access to new material especially from the Billings material at the JFK library. However, considering all the assistance he acknowledges I can only wonder how a reference to the King of England in the late 1930s would be to "George V". Still, a book worthy of being read for its insight into aspects of JFK often overlooked.

Pitts, David. "Jack and Lem", Carroll & Graf, 2007. JFK's Gay Best Friend Amos Lassen and Literary Pride There has been a great deal written about the Kennedy administration and it is still hard to believe that President Kennedy has been gone so long. One of the things that has just appeared in print is something new--Kennedy's oldest and most trusted friend was gay. In "Jack and Lem", author David Pitts looks at the relationship between the late president and Kirk LeMoyne Billings or "Lem". Lem profited from the friendship--he was an official member of the Kennedy clan, he went to fancy White House parties and even had his own friendship at the presidential mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. When Kennedy first took office, Lem flew to Washington almost every weekend from New York and was given his own room on the third floor which became known as Lem's room. He came and went as he pleased and many thought he was a Secret Service agent. Nothing was ever said about his being there--everyone knew he was the presidents best friend, a friendship that had begun when they were prep school students at Choate. In all the literature about Kennedy, the only mention of Lem is that he was Kennedy's prep school roommate and that is it. This is very odd since Lem was at the White House every weekend of the Kennedy administration. Lem was a big, good-looking guy who told wonderful stories and kept everyone happy but some presidential aides resented him as they no reason for him being at the White House. However, people knew better than to question his presence. He had come into Kennedy's life when they were high schoolers and he never left it. Some wondered if he was gay but t was never talked about. Lem was discreet. Whatever he did, he did so privately. He was probably very careful because of the times and the general feeling toward homosexuals at the time--remember we are talking about the 60's. The Cold War was raging and times were not easy--especially for gay people. To write this book, David Pitts examined hundreds of letters that had not been released before. He looked at telegrams and interviews. Lem was dead so everything in the book is based upon what was written and what others have said. What the book is the story of a true and enduring loving friendship between two men, one of whom controlled the power of the United States. I loearned a great deal from this book and to me that makes it so valuable. It enhances the Kennedy myth of his being one of the people. This book proves just that.

The author has done a remarkable job of presenting the touching but implausible story of a 30-year friendship between President John F. Kennedy and a gay man who was his primary confidante and devoted source of support from age 16 until his untimely death. When I read about this new book in The Advocate magazine, I immediately ordered it, read it, and was not disappointed. Just when you think you've read everything there is to read about JFK, you discover the story of Lem Billings, whom I had never heard of. His devotion not only to JFK but to three generations of the Kennedy family is nothing short of amazing. This well-researched book also skillfully presents the context in which JFK grew up, became interested in politics, and was elected to the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. I learned a lot from this book about pre-WWII Europe, the war itself, the struggle for civil rights in the U.S., the early 50's McCarthy era, the relationship between JFK and Jackie Kennedy, other influential people in JFK's life, and his assassination and aftermath. A whole chapter about the history of public opinion toward gays and the rise of the gay rights movement in the U.S. is very moving and elucidating. I could go on, but suffice it to say that this is one book that I didn't want to see end. It's a real contribution to our understanding of 20th Century history.