Billie Jean King by Jonathan Exley / CC BY-SA; Victoria Woodhull by Mathew Brady / Public domain
S6E5: The Man | Billie Jean King & Victoria Woodhull
This week, we’re taking a look at a couple of American originals. Tennis legend Billie Jean King married her best friend Larry when they were a couple of lovestruck kids bonding over a tennis net. Alicia has the decidedly not trashy story of how Billie Jean came to terms with her sexuality, and how Larry supported her every step of the way. Though divorced, the pair remain permanent friends.
Then Stacie hops on the Trashy Divorces time machine to take us back to the 19th century with the bonzo story of Victoria Woodhull, America’s first female presidential candidate. Was she the most successful con artist of her day, or a medium and social reformer driven by her strong ideals? Honestly, we don’t have any idea.
Related: Here’s the Henry Ward Beecher story on Patreon that first got Stacie onto Victoria Woodhull.
Alicia’s Receipts
‘Battle of the Sexes’ Sugarcoats Billie Jean King’s Tragic Love Affair
American Masters billie jean king (YouTube)
Stacie’s Receipts
The Beecher–Tilton Affair (The New Yorker)
Original NYT write-up of the arrest of Woodhull, Tennie, and Col. Blood for mailing obscenity
Notorious Victoria: the first woman to run for president | Eileen Horne (The Guardian)
9 Things You Should Know About Victoria Woodhull (History.com)