What an amazing book! As someone that came out in the dreaded Reagan era, I remember so much of parts of this from the outside. This isn't just gay history, its HISTORY.

This book is such a critical and important read about being LGBTQ+ in politics and presidential administrations. Chapters are organized by President and Kirchick has done an incredible amount of research through archives, personal histories and declassified materials. This book is an absolute must read to further our understanding of the history of gay lives working in politics and the behind-the-scenes success they had while at the same time being outed, fired and threatened. The emphasis is mostly on gay men, with a smidgen of stories about lesbians. On the one hand, I would say I could not put it down because it is so interesting but because of the density and length of the book, I had to read sections at a time and am really glad I did. I have not seen such comprehensive research into this topic before this book. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An absorbing chronicle of the untold histories of gay life in our nations capital. It is a simply, a revelation. James Kirchick’s chronicle paints this piece of our American history with understanding and dignity. Rich in research with interviews, documents and declassified documents, he introduces us to the smart, compelling and brave women and men who lived their lives for our country while concealing and protecting their privacy amidst blackmailers and informants determined to ‘blow the whistle’ on their ‘deviant behaviors’.
This is an illuminating read that never loses its momentum. Read in several sittings, there is much to ponder and much to be taken away at books end.
A highly recommended and much needed contribution to the working and making of our country.
Thanks to NetGalley, James Kirchick and Macmillan Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.

This fascinating book details the lives of gay and bisexual government officials and prominent citizens who lived in Washington, DC, since the 1920s. Thoroughly researched and written judiciously, the book recreates the moral hysteria common in the United States and shows the lengths LGBT people had to go to to protect their private lives. It also describes the various scandals when facts or suppositions emerged about the sexuality of DC denizens and how politicians and newspaper editors used these revelations for political purposes. This book is worth reading.

Fascinating read about the hidden life of homosexuality in DC. Meticulously researched and well written, this is a great read.

Fantastic research and intriguing information with historical information included. This book is very well put together and easy to read. I really enjoyed learning more about the private lives of those who built our country and understanding more about what it was like for queer individuals throughout history. Very interesting read! Highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the early release opportunity to read.