Decca, p.54
Decca, page 54
Please give my love to all the loved ones in Los Angeles.…
much love, and from Bob, Decca
To Barbara Kahn
New York
December 21, 1965
Dearest Barb,
…A SNCC party on Sunday… was given by a shirt-mfr. called Van Heusen, and all the guys were there: the Bloomingdales, who own a store hard by at 58th and Lex, Peter Tishman16 … it was just like Maine Chance. The speeches were pretty bad, esp. when my commonlawsoninlaw17 passed up a note to the host, who said, “And among our honored guests is Mrs…. Mrs…. Jessie Midriff, the famous writer.” Benj did not help the situation by saying loudly, “We call her Bulge at home.” Mrs. Belafonte made a speech, mostly about Viet Nam, upon which a lot of people got up and left; consequently, only $2500 was raised. Well that’s life, I say….
That clever Dink’s idea of living seems to be to starve you until about 5 p.m., then take you to a series of parties where you are stuffed.…
McCall’s adored my article, so that’s OK. Shall be at the shops at crack of dawn, spending the loot from same.
The kiddies are smashing, at least to me! Just to see the dears is a treat. To whit: Benj loathes St. Johns, mostly I gather because of the geometry. Dear (I say ineffectually), it’s either the geometry or a rifle on yr. shoulder.18 Bob, of course, being a gentleman & scholar, is giving deeper and better-reasoned reasons for staying in college. Time will tell.
The Dink is a pleasure, esp. her eyelashes, always smashing; I tried to pull them off today (thinking they must be false, because of their extreme luxuriance and length) but they stuck. She is the essence of sloppy hospitality, I do love her….
Fondest love to all the loved ones, Decca
To Barbara Kahn
New York
December 29, 1965
Dearest Barb,
Thanks v. much for yr. wail, faithful of you to write.…
Life is so kaleidoscopic (sp?) that I scarce know where to begin …
The nourishing Pleydell-Bouverie19 is in NY, staying with a Russian lady; he had a dinner pty. for us, v. grand with the Swedish ambassador and several White Russian fascists—“because, my dear, incongruity is the salt of life.” He called up to tell us his seating plans. “Tell Benjy that I prefer to seat the youngest of the party next to the oldest. On his right will be a beautiful young woman, but on his left will be Marianne Moore.20 Now he may think she is just a homespun old lady, quiet and mild, but tell him that underneath it all she will be probing, probing, probing.”
Had lunch with Bob Gottlieb, a soul-searching session; result, I’ve really and truly and definitely decided to cut out all the crappy articles (the Vogue horror is the last) and get to work, Red Times-wise….
Today I went to see the ed. of McCall’s (Bob Stein). Maine Chance will be in their March issue…. They tried to get Arden’s to send them some pix of the joint (just saying McCall’s wants them, not mentioning me) but they wouldn’t because of the Herb Caen21 item, I mean they were on to the whole ploy. That silly Marion’s fault, I shall speak to her….
On Xmas eve, we were invited to a party at Dinky’s boss’s house. I got rather dressed up for it, and we went at 9. To my extreme surprise, it was a 4th floor walk-up in the Village. To my extremer surprise, the boss22 looks about 15 (is actually 23), and sweet. So is his common-law wife (they are all common-law in these parts. I call J. Forman my common-law-son-in-law, and just introduce him as “Common,” for short). This kid was a SNCC worker, and got the job of running the enterprise from a multi-multi type SNCC contributor. He and Dink are the chief execs. of the outfit;23 she just dashed out to buy $8,000 worth of office furniture, and next week has to hire 15 office workers. Can you beat it? The enterprise is selling pix on a Book-of-the-Month Club type deal, originals, prints, etc. Quelle drole whole thing.
Back to Jim: I’m getting to adore him. His beard has vanished without leaving a trace, by the way. He has a merry quality, and above all (as Aranka would say) he makes my daughter ha-ppee. No indication of Intentions; the wife still hasn’t buggered along to Mexico for the divorce, I gather. The other main thing is that Bob likes him very much. In fact old Scrooge knocked himself out to buy him a chess set for Xmas, j. decent….
I note the ribbon is giving out just in time, and Benj isn’t here to phix it, so will close with fondest love to all loved ones, Decca
To Pele de Lappe
New York
December 30, 1965
Dear Neighbour,
…Today turns out to be New Year’s Eve Eve; in this wild city, where pleasure reigns, everything clams down shut at 12:00 noon today. Some offices are not planning to reopen till middle of next week…. I expect you are e’en now slaving.
I just floated back to the hotel after lunch with Candida (me agent). It was an extraorder session. I told her I had decided to cut out the articles and like crap, to do me a book on Life & Red Times. She said, would you like a contract? I said, not specially because then I’ll have to submit a 1st chapter and outline. Don’t be daft (she said), you don’t have to do anything, just say if you want the contract, and I’ll negotiate it. She went on to say that she and Bob Gottlieb had talked me over and decided that psychologically, I’m the sort that would work much harder if I had a contract. (They are all in deep analysis so approach everyone and everything from this viewpoint.) So I said well that’s very nice, but I warn you this book won’t sell, as it will be a sympathetic account of life in the CP. She said you said the same thing about AWOD, and look at what happened. Anyway, on we chatted, and she explained there is a formula for working out advances, based on what the last book sold. She took out her trusty pencil and paper, did some figuring, said “somewhere between 50,000 and 125,000.” Of course, I thought she meant books, and that I would get 10% of that; turns out she meant bucks! Bob was sitting there roaring, having noted how I had misunderstood the whole transaction up to then. So, there you are. I told Bob that the next time that chap who keeps coming round to our house saying “That your Chevy? I do body work, could take out the dents and fix the chrome,” I’ve a good mind to say “Do.” It’ll be like a brand-new car.
I’m quite curious to find out if they decide on $50,000 or $125,000; my guess is, they’ll discuss me from a Froodian viewpoint, possible Oedipus complex, penis envy and the like, and decide on this basis. Wish I knew their analysts, who will prob. end up by deciding all. Anyway, so now I’ll have to write it. Will you do the jacket, as usual? …
Decca
In honor of New Year’s, postal difficulties, potential blackouts etc and my new contract, plus the fact that Bob gave me some stamps for Xmas, I’m sending this Sp. Delivery. Can just see your face as the Sp. del. man knocks you up at crack of dawn! Of such small pleasures is life made up.
To Aranka Treuhaft
Oakland
March 17, 1966
Dearest Aranka,
…[O]n the electoral front: YOUR SON is planning to run against Coakley, our old arch-enemy, for District Attorney. I shall be his campaign manager. The only hope of winning is that there are no other contenders, and Coakley might easily conk out from sheer apoplexy in the course of running against Bob. So, if Bob wins, I can see the national headlines: UNPARALLELED CRIME WAVE IN OAKLAND, as I’m sure he would never actually bother to prosecute anyone. This is serious, I mean he is actually seeking the endorsement of the Calif. Democratic Clubs. Next weekend will tell the tale. It ought to be rather fascinating, if he really does run. Why don’t you come out, and help run his campaign? You could at least mobilize the Hungarian vote.
We got a memo from Bob’s financial advisor, it does all sound weird. All I can say is, it looks to me as though 3 alternatives face us: I) getting rich, 2) jail, 3) spending our last days in the poor house. Looked at objectively, either one of those three would be quite interesting; so let’s go along, say I.
Late Flash: Bob just got home, says that the D.A. (Coakley) is already having fits, because he has learned that B. might be running against him. So be looking forward to a really wild campaign.
Much love, & to Edith when you write, Decca
To Cedric Belfrage (and various other friends)
Oakland
April 9, 1966
Dear Cedric,
Loathing form letters as I do, I am nevertheless impelled to write an urgent letter to old friends in other parts, to tell you that Bob is running for District Attorney of Alameda County in the upcoming June elections.
It came about this way: The incumbent, J. Frank Coakley, has held the office for 16 years without opposition, mainly because the lawyers here are (for obvious reasons) scared to run against him. Coakley’s administration has been marked by the most vile sort of racial bigotry. As prosecutor of the 800 defendants in the Free Speech Movement trial, he was unspeakably vicious and vindictive. In fact he is an utter brute in all ways, as anybody who lives here would tell you.
As the filing deadline drew near, and no other lawyers had come forward to enter the race, Bob began to think about running. Last Saturday we went to the county convention of the California Democratic Clubs—more or less to sound people out about what they would think of Bob’s candidacy. The outcome was really astonishing. Bob was nominated, there was a standing ovation, he was overwhelmingly endorsed by the 900 delegates. (A spontaneous grass-roots movement to nominate me for Coroner, with the campaign slogan “drop dead,” fizzled, however.)
He took a deep breath and filed, just before the deadline. It is a 2-way race (Bob and Coakley). It could have tremendous repercussions, not only in this state, but nationally—because of Coakley’s links with the Knowland24 machine, which runs Oakland and influences national policies.
The campaign shows terrific promise in terms of people offering to help, enthusiasm etc. There are a number of very important campaigns going on hereabouts (Congress, state legislature etc), which in one way is awfully good—because voter registration will be high, and precinct workers for other candidates will carry Bob’s literature.25
In another way it is not so good, because the trouble is, money is scarce as hen’s teeth in these parts (much of it has been siphoned off by the other candidates), and there are half a million voters to be reached in the next two months.
If you are thinking to yourself, “What a hell of a nerve to ask me for a contribution with all the demands on me for local causes etc. etc.,” I can only agree. But if you can find it in your heart to help, we shall be most extremely grateful.
Yours for Treuhaft for D.A., Decca
To Leonard Boudin
Oakland
June 24, 1966
Dear Leonard,
… The election campaign was tremendous fun and tremendously tiring; I went into an absolute decline after it was over. All you lovely New Yorkers were dears to contribute. Bob got 28.5% of the vote county-wide, which was amazingly good considering that ¼ of the county is a vast wasteland of transplanted white southerners. He carried a majority of the Berkeley precincts, and won overwhelmingly in West Oakland.26 It was all worth it, and stirred many a lovely stink in these parts. The greatest was having Dinky come out, she was marvellous, a true diplomat and so efficient.
Give my love to all the NY chums and chumesses…
Love from Decca
To Aranka Treuhaft
London
September 29, 1966
Dearest Aranka,
…We hired a car and drove to Wales to stay with the Toynbees last weekend. On the way (or rather, about 100 miles out of the way) we stopped to see Mabel, used to be our parlormaid at Swinbrook, now aged 85 and living in Yeovil. We just drove up and rang her bell, she was astonished as you can imagine. We had an intensive chat over tea. She reminisced about the sad event of Debo’s birth—the whole family went into mourning, because a boy was wanted. “I could tell the minute I looked at his lordship’s face, like thunder it was, oh he was put out,” said Mabel. “I don’t think anyone looked at her for several weeks. But she turned up trumps, didn’t she.” …
Much love, Decca
To Robert Gottlieb
Oakland
December 14, 1966
Dear Bob,
Are you there? I heard you had been cavorting in London amidst the miniskirts, which is partly why I haven’t written to you since we returned from those parts at end of October. But the other reason for non-writing was extreme discouragement with my so-called book that I had started. All of a sudden, just now, a bit of light is looming, so I must tell:
As you had so brilliantly foreseen when we discussed that possible book a year ago, the question of tone proved rough indeed (you may have forgotten, but you said “What will be the tone of it?”; And tone-wise, it has been foundering badly). Not only tone, but shape of, has been giving extreme trouble—as it isn’t going to be a narrative, the way Hons & Rebs was. So I’ve been having a perfectly beastly time not getting on with it.
I had actually done about 4 chapters ages ago, before starting on AWOD—about 5 years ago, I suppose. On re-reading those chapters, I thought they were rather good. But going on from there was beastly, and everything I wrote was dross and had to be thrown away the next day.
So I was just starting to wonder what to do next in life, such as have a restaurant which I’ve always wanted to or Learning a Skill, when an idea struck. Mary Russell Mitford wrote a book called Sketches of English Life and Character (c. 1810, I think) so why not Sketches of American Life and Character? … [O]rganized into sections of which me 4 chapters could be a part. That way, one wouldn’t be stuck with narrative or sequence—or even with just one subject, which had been going to be the CP and life in same.
Anyway, I shall be striving in this direction. I’m coming to NY … so that will be Goal #1, to have bits of it done to bring for you to see. Can I sit and watch you read it to see if you think it’s funny?… Do be for this plan.…
Love from Decca
To Barbara Kahn
New York
February 6, 1967
Dearest Barb,
Faithful of you to write….
Last night … I went to dinner at the Dink’s, cooked by Jim, delicious broiled chicken. I gather from my conversation with him (and from what I’ve heard from others) that he is mainly trying to act as a brake on the SNCCers who want to exclude all whites etc. He gave me some chapters of his book to read (he’s doing an autobiog. and hist. of the Move-ment). Alas, it isn’t very good; yet I think it could be if he would really struggle with it a bit. Barb, it is too predictable, somehow. I mean guess when he first learned he was a Negro (aged 7). When he wasn’t allowed to sit at the counter and have his Coke in a glass, but was caused to buy one out of the machine, and he ran home crying all the way. Which I bet happened; yet I think I’ve read this before. In other words one wonders if people are not enormously influenced by what they’ve read before in relating the (perfectly true) things about themselves. Because all auto-biog. is by its nature fearfully selective, I mean one has to pry out a few telling points from the huge morass of recollected things. Also what I care not for in his writing is the constant use of words like shit (not going to take any, from no cracker). Pity, because what he has to tell is fascinating; but he will have to buckle down to it more than he has so far. (I shld. talk! At the moment, being the prize goofer-off of all time.)…
Much love, Decca
To Nancy Mitford
Oakland
April 6, 1967
Darling Susan,
… Muv’s diaries: the thing I loved was her engagement books, of which the 1937 vol. had entries like: “Heifer born today. Mabel 2 weeks hol. Decca married. Tea with Fuhrer.”
News from here: Susan you won’t like what I’m about to tell you, except I expect you know it already (because Sonia Orwell27 was here for ages, entering into our lives): Dinky’s going to have a Baby in June. Beige power is my slogan, as I expect that will be its color. I don’t quite fathom why she doesn’t get married (as the babe’s father, Jim Forman, and her have been living together for ages); but she seems happy with her rum lot, so that’s a comfort.…
Much love, Susan
To Nancy Mitford
Oakland
May 4, 1967
Darling Soo,
… The Isle is sold!28 Finally, after all this time. …
Loved yr. review in Life of B. Russell, and him being a tease like Voltaire.29 I thought him more teased than teasing (in the book, I mean). I’m sending along mine.30
The other day Prof. Arnold Toynbee31 came to dinner, he is lurking nearby as visiting prof. at Stanford University. He is a dear old soul. I had never actually met him, over all these years; but looked him up on the grounds of Philip…. Prof. T. made some remark at dinner about Esmond; I said I didn’t realize you knew him? “Indeed I did! And he gave me a great deal of trouble!” said T., indignantly. He proceeded to tell the trouble as though it was yesterday; actually, it was in 1933, when Philip ran away from Rugby, and Esmond sheltered him….
Yes I do agree about the drugging being awful. It is spreading like mad here (LSD, which is the dangerous sort; what Muv used to call Marriage Uana is apparently not specially dangerous). And apart from the danger, the annoying thing is the people of one’s age who try it. Goodness they are boring about it. They at once become pitying of one for not having some. Asked what it is like, they can only say, “Indescribable!” Also it makes one love everyone, they say. For instance, a locally well-known poet called Ginsberg32 said it made him feel very sympathetic to Lyndon Johnson. I wish they would invent a Loather’s Drug.
Mrs. O.33 slightly mis-reported me about minding no marriage. I only said that now, if someone says “Would you want yr. daughter to marry a Negro?”; I could answer, “Rather.” New York friends say she is v. happy, and the word radiant recurs….
