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She could be the first single president in eons.
By Amy Lamare — Written on Aug 02, 2019
Who is Marianne Williamson's husband? Wouldn't we all like to know? The spiritual guru and longshot to win the Democratic nomination for president has kept the identity of her daughter India Emma's father a closely-held secret for nearly 30 years. She was married briefly in the late 1980s/early 1990s. India was born in 1990. But Williamson has never disclosed who she was married to. Well, that proves one thing — the lady can keep a secret!
1. What about relationships?
For all we know about Williamson — she's the author of 13 books, seven of which were New York Times best sellers, she's a spiritual adviser to Oprah Winfrey and Cher, she has followers that truly believe in her message — we really don't know anything about her personal life. In her own words, Williamson was married "for a minute and a half" and she's never remarried.
2. Has there ever been an unmarried President?
There have only been two unmarried Presidents of the United States and it has been more than 150 years since the last one. James Buchanan, who was president from 1857 to 1861 was single. Grover Cleveland served two terms in office from 1885 - 1889 and then again from 1893 to 1897. He married his wife, Frances, in 1889, while he was President.
3. What about the duties of the First Lady/First Man?
Traditionally, the First Lady (or First Man, should the U.S. elect a woman or Pete Buttigieg president) is the hostess of the the White House. Over the years, the role of the first lady has changed significantly. The spouse of the president is now expected to be involved in the campaign for President, manage the White House, champion social causes and represent the president at official and ceremonial occasions. First ladies also usually publish memoirs after they've left the White House, giving people a closer look at their husband's administration. If Williamson wins, she could take a cue from President Buchanan. He had his niece fill the duties of the First Lady.
4. Are there other single candidates?
This is the 2020 race for President of the United States and the current field of Democratic candidates is diverse. Marrianne Williamson is a single mother. Cory Booker is also single, though he's hinted that things are serious with his girlfriend Rosario Dawson. Pete Buttigieg is a married gay man. Kamala Harris is step-mother to her husband's kids from his first marriage. There are a number of women running. There are people of color running. It's a pretty fantastic thing to see.
5. She's become an Internet darling
Let's face it, Marianne Williamson has little chance of winning the Democratic nomination for President. She's not part of the political machine. She has, however, gotten people's attention. During the debate on Tuesday, Google tracked which of the 10 candiadate participating in the debate that night were being searched the most. In Montana, it was that state's governor Steve Bullock. In the other 49 states it was Marianne Williamson.
6. Her latest book
Williamson's bread and butter is in preaching her gospel of love. Her most recent book, A Politics of Love, was released in April and it "confronts the cancerous politics of fear and divisiveness threatening the United States today, urging all spiritually aware Americans to return to — and act out of — our deepest value: love."
7. Celebrity following
Marrianne Williamson is not a traditional candidate in many ways more profound than simply being single. A 1991Vanity Fair profile of her read: "Marianne Williamson is not only the guru of the moment in Hollywood and a growing sensation in New York, but also a leading spokeswoman for a quasi-religious phenomenon that is making waves around the country." She first ran for California's 33rd district congressional seat (Which Ted Lieu holds) in 2014 as an Independent. She was endorsed by dozens of celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Sarah Silverman, Alanis Morrisette (who wrote a song for her campaign called "Today"), Nicole Richie and Katy Perry. She was a guest of Bill and Hillary Clinton at Camp David in 1994. She appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show a number of time. Gwyneth Paltrow called Williamson a "spiritual legend" during a Goop podcast interview with her last year.
Amy Lamare is a Los Angeles based freelance writer covering entertainment, pop culture, beauty, fashion, fitness, technology, and the intersection of technology, business, and philanthropy. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.