Aug 19, 2021, 12:24 PM ETInterview

Gary Ginsberg, author of "First Friends"

Gary Ginsberg's book First Friends explores nine presidential friendships, prompted by his realization that no prior literature examined the "first friend" role.
The author's interest originated in childhood regarding the presidency, specifically a sixth-grade play on Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
Ginsberg identified the unique dynamic of "first friends" during the 1984 Gary Hart campaign (observing Warren Beatty) and the Bill Clinton administration (observing Vernon Jordan), noting their ability to bypass staff formalities.
The book covers friendships ranging from Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to Richard Nixon and B.B. Rebozo, selected through interviews, historical research, and family consultation.

The Jefferson-Madison friendship is characterized as the most consequential in American history, spanning 50 years (1776–1826) and generating 1,250 letters.
The partnership was a functional collaboration between Jefferson's bold personality and Madison's "exacting mind," resulting in the U.S. Constitution and the two-party system.
Madison's constitutional intellectual grounding was provided by Jefferson, who sent him dozens of books on political philosophy and science while in Paris.
Despite initial disagreement, Madison eventually agreed to include a Bill of Rights in the Constitution, a shift driven by their mutual respect.
Post-presidency, both men dedicated the final nine years of their lives to establishing the University of Virginia.

Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed shared a double bed in Springfield from 1837 to 1841, a period where Speed prevented Lincoln's suicide following a depression triggered by a broken engagement.
Despite Speed's pro-slavery stance (believing it was necessary to preserve the Union) and Lincoln's evolving anti-slavery views, their friendship persisted through frank debates in the 1850s.
Upon his 1860 election, Lincoln requested Speed's assistance, which secured Kentucky as a border state loyal to the Union; Lincoln's strategy of framing the war as a preservation of the Union rather than an abolitionist crusade was critical to this outcome.
Lincoln shared the draft of the Emancipation Proclamation with Speed before issuing it, even though Speed advised against it at the time.
Speed enabled Lincoln to "save the name" of Abraham Lincoln, transitioning from a private depression risk to a historically significant figure.

John F. Kennedy's closest foreign policy advisor was David Ormsby-Gore, a British citizen and the British Ambassador to the United States, whose friendship began in 1938 London.
Ormsby-Gore introduced Kennedy to the concept of "nuclear disarmament" and the "missile gap" narrative during the 1960 campaign.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962), Ormsby-Gore attended EXCOMM meetings despite having no official instructions from his government, playing a pivotal role in strategy formulation.
Ormsby-Gore specifically advised Kennedy to reduce the naval blockade perimeter from 800 miles to 500 miles to allow ships more reaction time, a decision he made solely based on his relationship with the President.
He also suggested releasing satellite photographs to prove the non-existence of certain missile sites, a tactic Kennedy approved and executed.

B.B. Rebozo, a high school graduate and former Pan Am steward, contrasted sharply with the intellectual, brooding Richard Nixon, yet they formed a deep bond after meeting on a houseboat in 1951.
Secret Service agents reported that Nixon and Rebozo rarely spoke during long boat rides or beach walks in San Clemente, communicating instead through silence and non-verbal cues.
Rebozo acted as a financial facilitator for Nixon, raising off-the-books campaign funds, including a $100,000 payment from Howard Hughes which was effectively a bribe.
Ginsberg asserts that Nixon's motivation to bug the Democratic National Committee in 1972 was directly linked to the need to repay the illicit funds received from Rebozo and Hughes.
The friendship ultimately turned Nixon's worst instincts outward, with Rebozo serving as the "first enabler" whose involvement in financial impropriety contributed to Nixon's resignation and impeachment.

Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy: Caroline Kennedy identified David Ormsby-Gore as her father's closest friend, a revelation that surpassed the expected figures of Lem Billings or Ben Bradley.
Franklin Pierce and Nathaniel Hawthorne: This pairing is unique in that the friend (Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter) is more famous today than the President.
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison: Their correspondence included letters as long as 17 pages, reflecting the logistical challenges of pre-modern communication.
Eddie Jacobson: He is highlighted for convincing Harry Truman to recognize the state of Israel.
Vernon Jordan: The author's former colleague was Bill Clinton's designated "first friend," though Clinton was the only president for whom the author could directly verify this relationship; Jordan passed away in March 2021.