Erudition & Humility
I Knew Gene Kelly. The President Is No Gene Kelly.
To the Editor:
Re “Soft Shoe in Hard Times” (column, March 16):
Surely it must have been a slip for Maureen Dowd to align the artistry of my late husband, Gene Kelly, with the president’s clumsy performances. To suggest that “George Bush has turned into Gene Kelly” represents not only an implausible transformation but a considerable slight. If Gene were in a grave, he would have turned over in it.
When Gene was compared to the grace and agility of Jack Dempsey, Wayne Gretzky and Willie Mays, he was delighted. But to be linked with a clunker – particularly one he would consider inept and demoralizing –
would have sent him reeling.
Graduated with a degree in economics from Pitt, Gene was not only a gifted dancer, director and choreographer, he was also a most civilized man. He spoke multiple languages; wrote poetry; studied history; understood the projections of Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes. He did the Sunday Times crossword in ink. Exceedingly articulate, Gene often conveyed more through movement than others manage with words.
Sadly, President Bush fails to communicate meaningfully with either.
For George Bush to become Gene Kelly would require impossible leaps in creativity, erudition and humility.
Patricia Ward Kelly
Los Angeles, March 16, 2008
Mike, what you are missing is the original article my Dowd. Here you go. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/opinion/16dowd.html
Comment by Jen — March 26, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
“our energy policy has not been very wise” Did George II actually say this? I’m speechless. I’ve been out in the woods too long here in The Canyons of the Ancients (4-corners). I’m going back right now.
Comment by rakkity — March 26, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
I’m also missing my mind as I added your daughter’s name as the author of this post.
I loved Patricia’s letter. Can you imagine us electing a president who embodied as well rounded and accomplished as Gene? John Kerry had to hide the fact he was fluent in French from our pathetic populace.
Comment by michael — March 27, 2008 @ 7:39 am
Dowd just wanted to evoke fancy footwork to a generation no longer very familiar with tap by using a known name and would no doubt apologize were that useful. She might better have used some vaudevillian or carnie, but obscurity would’ve doomed the reference. Maybe Shirley Temple … ? Or Boyle’s Young FRAHNK-en-shteen monster … ?
Curiously, though, the rest of her knife-sharp piece seems merely incredulous, not the deep-in-your-bones afraid the Strangelovian spectacle could be expected to engender …
Comment by adam — March 27, 2008 @ 8:41 am
I swear Adam. Sometimes it’s like you just ain’t speakin’ ma language. All that book-learnin’ you got makes me mighty envious. Don’t try to explain. I’ll just feel sadder than a pot of taters about to be mashed.
Comment by Jen — March 27, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
“yet George Bush has turned into Gene Kelly, tap dancing and singing in a one-man review called “The Most Happy Fella.â€
Seems pretty harmless to me. Just goes to show how much people despise this president that they feel the need to write a letter to the editor to complain about a comparison. He’s incomparable, she knows that (both of them, W and Gene).
That is a beautiful pic of Gene Kelly.
Comment by La Rad — March 27, 2008 @ 8:16 pm
In purest vernacular (which can’t match yur’n fer sheer poetry), I believe Adam sorta meant that she likened Bushie’s sorry arse to a softshoe hack but picked an inappropriate example. And she only called said hack “loco” in her piece but coulda well said, “Be afraid, be very afraid … ” In so many words …
Comment by el Kib — March 27, 2008 @ 8:16 pm
Is that what this means? Sometimes I just get plum lost.
“Curiously, though, the rest of her knife-sharp piece seems merely incredulous, not the deep-in-your-bones afraid the Strangelovian spectacle could be expected to engender …”
Comment by Jen — March 28, 2008 @ 9:13 am
Which means, roughly…
If you see Dr Strangelove dancing, you shouldn’t be slack-jawed at the sight. You should be screaming in fear.
Comment by rakkity — March 28, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
And a fine spin on it, that is … ! Nicely conflated!
Comment by el Kib — March 28, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
“Who knew this post would attract ten comments?” I said to myself this morning.
“I wonder who wrote that letter for the (must be quite) elderly widow of Gene Kelly?” I asked myself continuing the conversation.
“I better Google her and find out.”
“But I thought you wanted to go to the ocean for some photo ops?”
“Can’t I do both ? One today and one tomorrow?”
“Sounds like procrastination to me”
“MYOB!”
Pat’s the third wife of Gene and a writer.
Comment by michael — March 29, 2008 @ 7:49 am
OK now I’ve twice posted a comment on BoHo and it’s dissappeared both times. Whassup?
Comment by jennifer — March 29, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
The Pat’s link gives a 404. Should be this.
Comment by rakkity — March 29, 2008 @ 6:24 pm