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Eastern's Balcerski to Discuss His New Book 'Bosom Friends'

by Dwight Bachman

Willimantic, CT (09/11/2019) — Tom Balcerski, assistant professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University, has published a book titled "Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King." The book published by Oxford University Press, examines the friendship of the bachelor politicians James Buchanan (1791-1868) of Pennsylvania and William Rufus King (1786-1853) of Alabama.

Balcerski will present his findings in a talk entitled "James Buchanan: The First Gay President?" on Sept. 19 at 3:30 p.m. in Room 301 of the Science Building. He will also autograph copies of his book. The public is invited. Admission is free.

Buchanan and King's intimate friendship has elicited much speculation through the years. In his book, Balcerski narrates Buchanan and King's relationship and each man's rise to national prominence. King was elected vice president in 1852 and Buchanan became the nation's 15th president in 1856.

Balcerski's highly acclaimed book has received coverage in the national news media, including CNN, NBC News and Time and Smithsonian magazines. "'Bosom Friends' is a revelation," said Douglas Egerton, author of "Year of Meteors: Douglas, Lincoln and the Election That Brought on the Civil War."

"Exhaustively researched, (Balcerski's book) sheds fresh light on antebellum politics through its discerning analysis of a distinctive, intimate friendship that crossed sectional, if not sexual, boundaries. Prepare to be surprised and enlightened by Balcerski's findings."

Written by Dwight Bachman

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving 5,200 students annually at its Willimantic campus and satellite locations. In addition to attracting students from 160 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 29 other states and 20 other countries. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in an array of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 30 public universities in the North Region by U.S. News and World Report in its 2019 Best College ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review nine years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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