Sunday, October 25, 2009

The Yale Political Union turned 75 . . .

. . . and one of the pix in its gala dinner program showed WFB and George McGovern debating before the Union in 1980. I describe that debate on p. 99 of Right Time, Right Place.

Also on view at the dinner Saturday night, in the Presidents' Room in Woolsey Hall, were posters and pictures announcing or depicting other Union guests: Jerry Falwell, Allen Ginsberg. There was also an early shot of WFB speaking. His body language in formal situations was like a matador's or a dancer's — shoulders back, chest up, spine slightly bent. It was nervous in both the 18th- and 21st-century senses of the word: strong and vigorous, but also high-strung. Speaking was always work for him, exciting but intense.

After the dinner, I attended the Bacchanalian Orgy of the Party of Right, where I told members of the classes of 2009 to 2012 what WFB had done for us — pleasant work. The Chancellor's cup helped too.

10/25 07:37 PMShare