Overdrive
Page 23
After dinner there is some general conversation, but Pat, worn out by the Vice-President's non-party, has excused herself. My colleagues leave early, and, upstairs, I find that Pat is already asleep, the television blaring. I turn it off, and so risk waking her. I undress. The chair by my bed is stacked high with books and magazines. But I am tired, and settle for the blaring headline of the evening paper. There is a story that the Stamford Advocate has fired the roommate of Kathy Boudin, because the publisher didn't believe her story about not knowing that Ms. Boudin was a fugitive from justice. The Stamford Advocate is owned now by the Los Angeles Times. It was a suggestion from the then-editor of the Stamford Advocate, made to Harry, that caused Harry to call me in 1962 and propose that I write a newspaper column.
But my mind is wandering now, so I turn off the light.
Weariness, Bill—you cannot yet know literally what it means. I wish no time would come when you do know, but the balance of experience is against it. One day, long hence, you will know true weariness and will say: "That was it"
Letter from Whittaker Chambers,
April 9, 1961.
LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS
Frontispiece
James Knowles' Cross.
Chapter 1
Looking out from the office. (Jan Lukas)
Heading for New York with Jerry Garvey, Olga Murillo and Rebeca Giron. (Jan Lukas)
Attempting the conversation with the President at Firing Line's 15th anniversary party. (Jan Lukas)
With Christopher and Pat, scattering Harry's ashes into the Sound.
Frances Bronson. (Jan Lukas)
Aboard the Orient Express with Drue and Jack Heinz.
Rosalyn Tureck.
Chapter 3
Priscilla. (Jan Lukas)
David Niven at the easel.
Reception aboard the Britannia.
Heading back to Nicholas Nickleby from Sidney Zion's eatery. (The New York Daily News)
Chapter 4
Millbrook School, Class of 1943.
The cover of National Review that depicted the debate on the Panama Canal. Clockwise from WFB's left: Admiral John McCain, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, George Will, James Burnham, Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker, Senator Sam Ervin.
The set for Brideshead.
Gerald Ranck's performance on Fernando Valenti's Challis. (]an Lukas)
Chapter 5
Warren Steibel and makeup artist preparing for Firing Line. (Jan Lukas)
Governor John Y. Brown of Kentucky. (Copyright © 1981 The Courier-Journal and Louisville Times Co. Reprinted with permission)
Chapter 6
Fernando Valenti.
Bootsie and Van Galbraith, being sworn m by Chief of
Protocol Lee Annenberg.
Phil Weld. (John Blanding)
The pool. (Jan Lukas)
Chapter 7
Tom Hume.
Christopher. (Wide World Photos)
Father Gerhart Niemeyer with Bishop William C. R. Sheridan.
James Burnham receiving applause at NR's 25th. (Christopher Little)
Pat, Rowley, Blenhie, and Beep. (Photograph by Horst.
Courtesy House & Garden. Copyright © 1982 by the Conde
Nast Publications Inc.)