None of this evidence is convincing There is a passage in one of Eleanor s letters to Hickok which I ll paraphrase which seems to refute any claims that she was a lesbian Eleanor told Hickok in the letter that she did believe and value the fact that Hickok loved her However Eleanor continued she herself had no such feelings as between women She respected these feelings as legitimate but they were foreign to her To me this passage shows Eleanor s rare compassion and understanding of others as well as her honesty As for the frequently quoted line in another letter in which Eleanor says she wants to kiss Hickokwell in those days female friends were more soppy in general I don t know how else to put it It was common for women friends of all types and ages in that era to walk around hand in hand or arm in arm and to kiss And finally Eleanor s long close and affectionate relationship with her burly male bodyguard Miller extending to enjoying sports and private times together suggests to me a discreet quietly happy romance