DREW PEARSON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/12/1964 - HFSID 31859

DREW PEARSON
The extremely popular political commentator writes letter to friend, columnist Louis Sobol, about boycotting a testimonial dinner and about Sobol's book, signs name in blue ink
Typed letter signed: "Drew Pearson" in blue ink. 1 page, 8½x11. Written on New York Mirror: Daily and Sunday letterhead. New York City, New York. May 12, 1964. Addressed to Louis Sobol, a Broadway columnist and author, whose book Some Days Were Happy Pearson refers to in the letter. In full: "Dear Louie: Thanks for your nice handling of a rather difficult subject - my vetoing that "testimonial dinner". Nobody asked me if I wanted a dinner and nobody told me anything about it until the tickets were sent out. Then, as an afterthought, the "committee in charge" called me and I told them - all ten of them, in a row - that I wouldn't attend. But they proceeded with their plans in spite of this, thinking perhaps, that, to save myself embarrassment, I would surrender. I wasn't playing hard to get. I've always vowed I'd never attend a testimonial dinner for myself to which the public is black jacked into paying an exorbitant price for a plastic chicken or slice of roast beef, as opposed to an informal get-together of a half dozen old friends. But enough of that hogwash. What prompted me to pound this out was a book I picked at random out of our sun-porch library this evening. "Some Days Were Happy" was the title. Remember? I had read it when it came out in 1947 but, tonight, it had all the appeal of a fresh approach. For over an hour, I lingered over its pages, fascinated by your graphic recall of those good old days. As I chuckled over some of the long forgotten incidents you brought back to life, my wife asked: "What's making you grin so much? That must be an amusing book." Then I showed her a reference to myself in which you had me on a pedestal occupied also by Al Jackson and don Marquis, and there was awe in her emerald eyes. You painted old Chris Downey with photographic accuracy and Duke Bowes - Mike Suchelli - George Pandajis episode gave me what Duke Darling, the Man With the Green Gloves, would call "an abdominal guffaw!" Anyway, I had a much more pleasant evening with your book than that abortive testimonial would have provided. Best wishes always, Louie. Sincerely". Columnist Andrew Russell Pearson (1897-1969) is best known for his "Washington Merry-Go-Round" column, in which he frequently attacked public officials and politicians for alleged misconduct and other transgressions, sometimes with little real proof. He also hosted a popular radio program titled Drew Pearson Comments. Pearson, who joined "The Washington Post" in 1941, was one of the few journalists to speak out against Joe McCarthy in the early 1950s, playing an important role in McCarthy's downfall. Normal mailing folds. Toned. Slightly worn and soiled. Creased throughout. Pencil notes in top margin in unknown hand. Ink spots throughout. Corrective annotations throughout. Otherwise, fine condition.