Decca, p.76
Decca, page 76
In any event, I hope I’m not a good German. My only reason for not being in the CP is that it seems to me to be in a sort of doldrums at the moment, hence a waste of time from my point of view….
Best regards,
To Katharine Graham
Oakland
June 19, 1978
Dear Kay,
…Dread Lynn137 called this a.m. Bob had advised me not to tell her that I had talked with you as then she’d find some way of putting this fact in her book. So I thought that was jolly good advice; merely told her that I was unable to reach you as you were out of Washington, but I’d thought the whole thing over & decided that since you didn’t want the book written, I should prefer not to be interviewed. So she sighed & cried & damn near died. (Not really, but she was cooing away about how disappointed she was & wouldn’t I reconsider.) Then I got all cozy & writer-to-writer with her. I said she had an awfully uphill task, and that if I were her I’d chuck it & look to some other subject to write about. I told her the sad (and true, for once) story about an assignment I had to interview Ronald Reagan many years ago, when he was but a twinkle in the eye of Republican far-right, for Esquire. RR refused an appointment with me; I told this to Esq., but they said to go ahead anyway. I labored mightily, went down to Hollywood & saw everyone who had ever known him—did my absolute best. But the thing was a total fizzle; Esq. rejected it, so I had to peddle it to some obscure mag that nobody reads. I said I feared the same thing might happen to her book, & that the smart thing to do would be to pull out now without all that investment of time & work.
I much doubt this will have any effect, but anyway I tried….
Love, Decca
Back to Bob Gottlieb:138 I’d suggest seeing him in some private place such as his house, as his office is, like most, a hotbed of flapping ears (sorry for mixed metaphor but you know what I mean). Also I wouldn’t bother about an agent as yr. lawyer could read the contract. I don’t know why I have an agent as my out-put is v. small; just a security blanket I guess. I don’t think they do that much for you unless you want to auction a book to highest bidder in which case you might get stuck with some idiot of an editor.
To Philip Toynbee
Oakland
September 30, 1978
Dearest Philip,
I did love “innocent but wily” (Ben),139 perfect. I wonder what they’ll say about you? and me? Am rather hoping you are not assigned to write mine—which may be coming up sooner than you think as I’ve been stricken with PHLEBITIS (Nixon’s disease, which makes it even more boring). Joke, actually, as it was a light attack & better now. One thing you’d have liked: We were staying at a super-plush seaside house in E. Hampton when it happened, & went to see a Dr. there. In the course of examination the Dr. said in a tentative sort of way, “Do you like an occasional glass of wine?”; “DO I!” said I, “absolutely, whenever available”—thinking he was going to say well you’ll have to cut that out. Instead, he said that’s v. good as alcohol acts as a blood-thinner, so the more the better—as ‘twere turpentine for paint-thinner, I suppose?
So, the only treatment was lying about with legs up (Bob says I always do anyway, so no great sacrifice) whilst incessant troops of interesting folks who live nearby plied me with lovely doses of Thinner.140
Fancy the community folding—glad Mammon is back on his (or her) feet, though. What became of Blissful Bim?…141
Have just finished a collection of me articles published over the years, to be called The Making of a Muckraker.142 … It’s got a longish introduction—how to make people talk, how to gather info etc—plus a Comment on each article, story-behind-story, spurious research all the way and even more spurious intent: to sell it to journalism students who will think it is useful. Mammon, mammon all the way. Will be published here in the spring, I’ll shoot a copy along. Actually it was rather fun doing it….
Fondest love to all, Decca
To Mildred Hamilton143 Oakland
December 10, 1978
Dear Mildred,
That story was REALLY EXCELLENT, but yours always are…. So marvelous the way you managed to re-kindle those old flames (Amer Way of Death) & make them burn as brightly as ever!
I’ve just returned from Darkest Tennessee, Murfreesboro (I am not kidding, that’s the name of the town), Mid-Tennessee University, where I gave a lecture on prisons. There was only one amusing moment: a total troglydyte (sp?) of a sociology teacher had brought two of her classes, thus packing lecture hall to my pleasure—she hadn’t a clue as to what my point was going to be. So in the question period she mentioned studies she had read which prove that criminal genes can be transmitted from parent to child so wouldn’t it be a good idea to pass a law requiring sterilization of all criminals? Well, said I, possibly; but one would have to start with the Nixon family, & I’m not sure the public would go for that poor Tricia & Julie & their offspring being seized by the sterilizers. Upon which the soc. teacher stormed out—but the STUDENTS STAYED! So it was all worth it…. TONS OF THANKS for your superb article,
Love, Decca
To Lorin Wertheimer144 Oakland
January 8, 1979
Dearest Lorin,
I have read your manuscript with the greatest interest and pleasure. There were many fascinating moments: the idea of mouse & canary nipping off into the blue! The suspense-filled pictures of a bear’s paw and a snake’s tail—leading to the next page!
In my view, it is not, however, publishable in its present form. Of course I may be quite wrong and you should consult other writers and editors about this.
1 have a few suggestions for your consideration, some purely technical, others of more substance:
1). There should be a cover page, giving your name & address and the date of completion of the ms.
2). Write on one side of the page only. Number all pages (the copy you sent me had some pages numbered but not all, which makes for easy mixing-up by reader).
3). Get some plain writing paper—or, if the only paper you have is that of the Columbia Gas System Service Corporation, cut the top off before getting to work. HORRID THOUGHT: Suppose your book were published as is, and all your fan letters went to 120 East 41st Street, which is the address given for Columbia Gas System? If you haven’t got any writing paper, please tell me & I will send some.
4). I thought the story started off very well, creating an atmosphere of high suspense. However, later I detected a certain repetitiveness; “finly they made friends” occurs more than once. (Incidentally, another spelling for that word is “finally,” preferred in most up-to-date dictionaries.) I believe that your diffi culty in constructing a good ending is one suffered by every writer. Think it over very carefully next time; perhaps write the ending first? I mean, a draft of possible ending, so the whole story doesn’t taper off?
Again, very many thanks for letting me read your ms., which will be returned under separate cover.
Much love to all, Grandec
To Katharine Graham
Oakland
February i, 1979
Dear Kay,
… Did I tell you that Carl145 has done the most smashing “Afterword,” for me muckrake book? Oh I’m so pleased, he’s such a hero to the young (& for good reason).
Am not sure just where I’ll be for that extra week … might nip down to see Va Durr in Wetumpka, Ala., for the weekend. But one way or another, do let’s give it a try (the reunion).
Yes do forget that super-forgettable Rosellini creature—in fact what you should be doing is getting on with your own memoirs.
Much love, Decca
To Katharine Graham
Oakland
April 30, 1979
Dear Kay,
… Have just finished reading Halberstam146 not quite correct as I skipped over Luce & Co. & actually only read the Washington Post bits, a book in itself.
I must say that (although it was an enormously fascinating rag-bag of gossip) I did not recognize you at all. What’s all this business (repeated 84 times) about you being dowdy, insecure, middle-aged etc etc? Absolutely ridiculous as when we knew you (Esmond & I) we noted that you were very pretty, amusing, & well-educated & informed about all that was going on—I admit I mainly remember shrieks of laughter with you & Phil, but couldn’t for the life of me repeat the actual jokes; that’s only because of old-age forgetfulness. Obviously your life stopped being a joke fairly soon thereafter, but I still resent & really hate the Halberstam portrait of you. Am keen to know what you thought of his book. I shall contrive to choke down the rest of it (CBS, Time Inc, NY Times etc) one day. Was also surprised to note whilst leafing through the Index that Ramparts magazine147 isn’t in it. I mean, they should be if only because NY Times used so much of their stuff in front-page stories, the first ever to actually document CIA malfeasance. In a word, I feel that Halberstam must be a bit of a light-weight, a facile (and v. fascinating) writer but bemused by POWER as he sees it & not terribly depthy (if there is such a word, I hope there isn’t).
Much love, Decca
To Maya Angelou and Paul du Feu
Oakland
March 30, 1979
Dear Souls,
I was trained from a v. early age to send a prompt bread-&-butter letter if one had gone to stay somewhere. E.g., at age 9 one would be writing to some dismal aunt (having frozen and been ill-fed at her house): Dear Aunt Joan, Thank you very much indeed for having me to stay, I enjoyed it enormously. Age 17, Dear Lady Astor, Thank you so much for including me in your delightful house party, it was all such fun. Yours (in)sincerely (etc).
Well! I’m at a loss for words re yr. incredible hospitality The wayyou both nip around those ghastly freeways looking after this old creature…. I thought a lot about that on the plane. I mean, why didn’t you chuck me out at Gate 6 or whatever? But no, you came all the way—I can’t say how smashing it was ofyou. I was thinking ofyou going back in ghastly rush-hour traffic; oh dear.
Mainly, of course, it’s the incredible feeling of enclosing & enfolding kindness & huge jokes & marvelous chats that you both engender. Oh I did love it all. We really shouldn’t live all this far apart, come home, all is forgiven, & live in the Bay Area.
On to other subjects: … I thought a lot abt. [a political discussion we had] & I think, Paul, that you & I were being pretty elitist if that’s the right expression re said folks. We should start thinking through our mocking attitude, beginning now in my case—because you WERE awfully amusing about that whole campaign. Unfortunately there we are … it’s so far easier (speaking for myself) to laugh at things rather than weep or be constructive. Pity. I shall contrive to reform in me old age….
So: a ton of total thanks for all, Decca
To Philip and Sally Toynbee
Oakland
July 22, 1979
Dear Toyns,
We’d love to come and stay
It will be such fun meeting God after all we’ve heard about him over the years. But I do hope he’s not the sort to monopolize the conversation? Or deliver pontifical Judgments in the middle of a joke? …148
Am getting quite over-excited at the thought of it all. Clara trouble: we also are having Benj trouble. I mentioned this fact to B. Gottlieb— & how worrisome one’s children are, to which he replied, “Yes, of course you never gave your parents a moment’s worry.”
Fondest love to all,
To the Duchess of Devonshire
Oakland
November 9, 1979
Dearest Hen,
Welcome to Texas. I’ve put on the envelope “From her sister in Calif,” as sometimes self-appointed protectors of those on tour don’t give over letters for fear they are from mad people. So I tore up the first env. which said “From her old Hen in Calif” as then they’d have known it was from a mad person.…
Now Hen you’ve got to get on with yr. book.149 Are you doing it at all? Am still shocked by lack of cash advance. Point of advance is to provide FOOD and SHELTER to author whilst he produces ms. I can only suppose that your rotten publisher thinks you have adequate food & shelter without a penny from him….
The only other thing of interest (supreme interest to me, anyway) was an incredibly SANE and AMUSING letter from Benj, who is now living in Illinois. First time I’ve heard from him for such ages … his old self. I do wish I could get him to take the treatment (a thing called Lithium) for his malady.150 Trouble is, when I get that sort of letter—or see him in his ordinary Benj-like mood—I am so delighted that I can’t bear to say anything adverse, that might result in yet another non-speaking many months, so I shut my mouth (Old Texan Expression, Hen, means shut up as you have already divined). …
Yr loving Hen
ps… Do send all impressions of Miami, a place I hated like none other on this earth. I was there for 6 mths or so in 1939 (bar, written up in a book I don’t think you’ve read called Hons & Rebels), then again in 1971 (written up in yet another book, on prisons). Oh what a horrid town …
To Robert Gottlieb
Oakland
January 9, 1980
Dearest Bites,151
… BBC have been here non-stop. A dear soul called Julian Jebb is doing a film of Nancy’s life, based mainly on interviews with N’s sisters. He says he was warned by any number of people not to do it, that he’d be stepping into a hornet’s nest; so here he is, in midst of said nest. To wit: He let drop the fact that my sisters Debo & Diana had extracted an agreement with BBC to see the rough cut of the film, & to excise any portions they thought objectionable. Well! Don’t you agree that was terrifically nervy of them? Goodness I was cross on hearing this news. So I drew up my own memo, & caused J. Jebb to sign receipt of same, saying that unless they included a passage of one of N’s letters to me I should withdraw all permission to use any part of my interview or any reference to any of my books. The passage in question, dated November 1968 (the year that Sir O. Mosley’s erroneous autobiog. appeared) is as follows: “Have you noted all the carry on about Sir Os? He says he was never anti-Semitic. Good Gracious! I quite love the old soul now, but really—.! Also I’m very cross with him for saying Tud (Tom) was a fascist which is untrue though of course Tud was a fearful old twister & probably was a fascist when with Diana.152 When with me he used to mock to any extent & he hated Sir Os no doubt about that. If Randolph (Churchill) had been alive he would have sprung to his defence. I miss Randolph.”
So there was terrible flapping throughout BBC. I presented my memo to J. Jebb who started back-pedaling like mad, said he never had told me the sis’s had final say. In that case, said I, you can sign receipt with no qualms. Next thing, Jebb’s boss at BBC rang up from London (this was all before the filming started) to say there was no such agreement—although apparently the Peters agency had in fact sent a letter saying that Debo must have final say-so as to what went in film. There was a short, sharp tussle of wills (mine & Bill Morton, the boss) which I won; after all, by now J. Jebb was out here, had got a TV crew together at vast expense, so what could they do?
The whole point is that obviously they take tons of footage of which only a wee fraction will be in the finished product—and so easy for them to say that an aeroplane was going overhead at the time I read out that letter, or a thing called “a hair in the gate,” tele shorthand for something in the way of the photo. I’ve written all this to D. Rogers, & asked her to incorporate my memo into any contract with BBC, or release, etc….
The other feature of the program: it consisted of a) an interview by J. Jebb re one’s recollections of Nancy, b) reading out bits of her letters, c) reading from one of her books. I, natch, chose Wigs on the Green—send-up of Sir O. Mosley’s Brit. Union of Fascists, called the Union Jackshirts in Nancy’s book; and of Bobo, called Eugenia. Have you ever read it? Not likely as it surfaced but briefly in England in 1936 or thereabouts, never published in USA.…153
RE-reading N’s letters (from circa 1935 on) was fair torture, oh it did so make me miss her all over again—and miss not writing to her at least once a week. Then, the ones about her illness—words fail. God that was all too ghastly, 4 & ¼ years of it.
Much love, dearest Bites, & to all at Knopf, Decca
ps All that stuff about my memo to BBC is absolute EYES ONLY, because it is only to be sprung IF the sisters want that bit cut out. The last thing I want is another mammoth family row. That is, I know you think I thrive on rows but I don’t, I don’t. I long to be friends with Debo until death do us part which shouldn’t be long now.
To Ann Farrer Horne
Oakland
February 23, 1980
Darling Cyst,
… Latest news this end: I went into near-decline over the Nancy film & poss. non-speakers forever with Debo. … I dread losing Debo forever. On the other hand, I bloody well don’t see why she is self-appointed arbiter of all that goes on re the family (e.g. Pryce-Jones row), esp as I am 3 years older than she is. Anyway: I believe all is OK. Got a calming t.phone call from Julian Jebb (making the Nancy film) re the screening of rough cut for sisters. He said they loved it, much shrieking etc, & that Diana is to have right of rebuttal of my reading of N’s letter re Sir Os. Mosley—which is perfectly OK with me, because what can she say? But she did make one rather good point to J. Jebb: N’s letter had said that Tom was a fearful old twister, may have pretended to be a fascist when with Diana. Diana said that Nancy was also a fearful old twister. Rather true?
Also I’ve had various v. cordial letters from Debo (since my condition of being in the film was bruited). Did you know that SHE is writing a book? History of Chatsworth. Well, Nancy & I always used to think that if she ever put pen to paper (or even sharpened pencil) she would outshine all—one can tell from her letters that she’s one of Nature’s Writers. She keeps saying it’s v. boring, but I don’t believe a word of it.
