Sent a crate of grape-fruit, but no avocados as they didn’t have them.
Will ring you later on next week. I miss you and love you
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE DEWEY
Gemini
Boynton Beach, Florida
14 February 1964
Dearhearts—
To follow up on our conversation last night—I really meant it: I’d love to have you as my guests for a spring holiday in San Francisco. I have lots of very attractive friends there, and I know we would enjoy it. We could stay at the St. Francis (or the Mark Hopkins) for a week—and maybe go down to Hollywood and let the Selznicks give a big party for us. Maybe, instead of going to New York, Vi [Tate] would like to come with us.175 The middle of April would be the best time. Think it over and let me know as soon as you can.
Charlie and I are alone here now—except for 22 servants (not counting 2 French chefs and a small army of gardners [sic]), so come on!
Incidentally, Marie, don’t be upset about Nelle. That’s just the way she is. And always will be. It doesn’t mean a thing. She adores you both.
I forgot to thank you for the dear valentine. I loved it!
Hugs & kisses
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE DEWEY
Gemini
Boynton Beach, Florida
28 Feb 1964
Darling Folks—
Had Marie’s sweet letter today. The G’s came back from Mexico, and we’ve been flying around. Went to the Liston-Clay fight—which was fun (if rather phony).176 Jackie and Mrs. Rose Kennedy here for a quiet dinner last night—Jackie very thin and sad but able to smile a bit. Charlie and I [are] leaving Tuesday for New York and I will call you then (when we get there).
About S.F. Actually, the invitation included the plane tickets (what kind of host do you think I am, eh?). You could fly from Denver. Come on. Let’s go. It won’t cost you nothin’. Think it over. Incidentally, don’t mention it to Vi if you’re not going. I’m very fond of her, and would like to cheer her up, but I wouldn’t want to be solely responsible for her on such a junket.
Love and hugs
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE DEWEY
[Brooklyn, N.Y.]
28 March 1964
Dearhearts—
I think you had better write to Vi, and advice [sic] her of our program, and get our schedules co-ordinated. Here is a partial list of engagements—
April 18th: Reservations St. Francis Hotel, S.F. Arrive no later than 6 P.M.
Saturday, April 18th: dinner-party at Whitney Warren’s. 8 P.M. Whitney is a bachelor (highly eligible). He is certainly the most elegant, and probably the richest, man in California.
Sunday, April 19th: Lunch: Fisherman’s Wharf.
Evening: dinner-party given for us by Mr & Mrs. Herbert Caen.
They are young and very amusing. He is leading writer on San Francisco Chronicle. She is a famous Mexican beauty.
Monday. April 20th. Lunch: not settled.
Evening: Dinner in Chinatown with Kenneth Hoitsma.
Tuesday. April 21st. Lunch: with Mr. & Mrs. Barnaby Conrad—Very High Society.
Evening: dinner with Mr. and Mrs. William Wallace. Also High Society. He leading S.F. lawyer. She former Ina Claire.
Wednesday. April 22. Depart for L.A. Reservations Hotel Bel-Air, Beverly Hills.
Evening: dinner-party given by Selznicks. Lots of movie people.
April 22nd. Dinner party given by Mr & Mrs. Irving Lazar.177
And so on!—Enclosed check is for Tickets Denver to S.F.—Will call soon. Love
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO MARIE DEWEY
[Brooklyn, N.Y.]
as from: Box 501
Bridgehampton, N.Y.
8 May 1964
Dearest Marie—
Forgive me for disregarding your request, but I feel I must comment on your letter which arrived this morning. First of all, I knew you were not feeling too well at times, but I had no idea of the real strain you were under. You seemed, as always, so sweet and charming and warm and easy-to-be-with—indeed, you could not have “pleased” me more: I thought you were wonderful, and so did all my friends—and it deeply distresses me that you could have thought otherwise. You have such a kind of natural gaiety and self-assurance that it just never occurred to me that you needed the little boosts that Vi, being alone and not an intimate friend of mine (as you and Alvin are), needed. I’m sorry: I should have been more sensitive. Believe me, it would be impossible for me to be fonder of anyone than I am of you. Or prouder of you than I was. That is the truth, and anything else is a misconception.
I hope the foregoing is clear, but it may not be as I have just come from the doctor where I got quite a shock. It seems that the trouble I’ve been having with my upper lip is caused by a cancer. They won’t know until next Friday what sort of treatment I must undergo—whether surgery (which will leave me very disfigured) or X-ray. They don’t think it is anything very critical, but of course I can’t help being upset. I will call you when I know what will happen. Incidentally, don’t mention this to anyone.
My love to you and dearest Alvin.
always your loving friend
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE DEWEY
[New York]
Monday
[18 May 1964]
Dearhearts—
This a hurried note to tell you everything is Okay! Dr. March was —I could kill him for putting me through such an ordeal. The Biopsy came out negative—and though there is something wrong it ain’t cancer. Boy, these so-called Specialists!
So I was in a good mood for the weekend with Jackie, and she was in better spirits than usual. So it was very pleasant in a quiet way.
Am going back to the beach on Friday.
Hope all is well.
Much love
T.
P.S. I saw Nicky Dunne on the street, and he said he and Lynne had had such a sweet letter from you.178
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE DEWEY
Bridgehampton, N.Y.
Box 501
23 May 1964
Dearhearts—
I was going to call you tonight, but there is something wrong with the phone—they have put in some new kind of dialing system, and the lines seemed to have got all mixed up. Incidentally, the number has been changed to: 516 5370507. So will wait now till next weekend, when maybe we will have heard something about the hearing. Although the court probably won’t hand down any decision until the following week. I don’t know if I can endure the suspense!
I spent all of last week in the city—where [I] was caught by Mr Duane West. Nelle and I (for our sins) took them to see “Hello, Dolly”—ugh. I thought he was bad, but the wife is ! The End! What a pair! Never again.—Saw Pat Lawford, who sends you her best, and said to tell you she has at last found an apartment (in N.Y.) and when you come will give you a party.179 The ceremony at the Institute (see clippings) was quite impressive.180 I wish you could have seen me sitting on the Dais trying to look Distinguished. Ha Ha. I love you and miss you!
Hugs
Coach
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ALVIN DEWEY III
[Bridgehampton, N.Y.]
25 May 1964
Dear Dewey—
You have a very real talent—one worth training and developing: I don’t say that very often to anyone—the world is too full of frustrated (and misguided) artists.
“True Blue” is interesting, and shows a distinct flickering of a real litererary [sic] gift—faint but definitely there. But it is not a play, not even a one-act play. Technically, it is a sketch—and even so it is not entirely realized. The method of the Absurd (which is really only a momentary literary fashion) is a beguiling trap for young would-be writers—because the contents are so arbitrary, so undisciplined, so easy to come by. And because it is so easy to seem meaningful and profound when one is being merely enigmatic and pretentious (and full of hot air). This is not true of All the Absurd school (Beckett is gifted, and so, to a lesser degree, is Ionesco); but it is neither a healthy or helpful form for young writers to imitate.
One cannot be taught to write. One can only learn to write by writing—and reading. Reading good books written by real artists—until you understand why they are good. I’m quite sure you have never done this; and you must. Here are a few books which I want you to get from the library; I choose them because I think you will enjoy them and because they are what real writing is all about. 1) “The Red Badge of Courage”, by Stephen Crane. 2) “My Antonia” by Willa Cather 3) “A Lost Lady” by Willa Cather 4) “The Collected Short Stories of Katherine Mansfield” 5) “The Heart is A Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers.
This might seem to some people a curious list; but I have my reasons. Moreover, it is only a beginning; and when you have read these books I will send you another list. If the books are not available at the library tell me and I will obtain them for you.
Meanwhile, forget about publishing. You have lots of time and a long way to go. And a hard one. But with your sensitivity, and your imagination, I think you just might make it. And I will help you all I can.
Love to Paul and Pete and Pappy and Marie and you
Truman
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO CECIL BEATON
Box 501
Bridgehampton, N.Y.
11 June 1964
Dearest Cecil—
Forgive this invalid scrawl, but I’m just up from my days in bed with the most paralyzing, agonizing attack of shoulder bursitis. Ugh. Prior to that, I went through two hellish weeks because
