John Steinbeck

I always thought that Steinbeck was a bit of a radical and not altogether in love with America. I got the idea from the only book of his that I read in college. I cannot even recall the book. I think it is one of the lesser ones. It was about radicals fighting against the agricultural establishment. Apparently, one ought to be wary of making big conclusion based on the reading o a single novel. In this article, we learn that Steinbeck volunteered to spy for the CIA.

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Steinbeck

"If during this [trip to Europe] I can be of any service whatever to yourself or to the Agency you direct, I shall be only too glad." ... Again – I shall be pleased to be of service. The pace and method of my junket together with my intention of talking with great numbers of people of all classes may offer peculiar advantages."

General Walter Smith, Director of CIA

"You can, indeed, be of help to us by keeping your eyes and ears open on any political developments in the areas through which you travel, and, in addition, on any other matters which seem to you of significance, particularly those which might be over looked in routine reports," wrote Smith. "It would be helpful, too, if you could come down to Washington for a talk with us before you leave. We might then discuss any special matters on which you may feel that you can assist us."

-- Christian Science Monitor

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My Right Foot

Sometimes I think my right foot is getting better; then I realize that I am kidding myself.

Poetry in the September of Life

My Robert Frost biography was delivered yesterday. I am enjoying it very much, but I feel some regret that it is a little late in life for new passions. Considering Pop’s health, I might not even have the whole summer. I also have in mind the idea of getting biographies on T. S. Eliot and E. E. Cummings. Along with their poems.

If I am enjoying it, it is good, right? It is not like I would have been able to make something out of it if I had gotten into it in my twenties, right? Whatever sweetens the day is just what I need. Wowing and wooing others was never an option, I guess. I have to be happy with being able to make my life bearable, distracting myself from the meanness and pettiness of my life.

American Psycho

It is still early on in the novel, and Bateman has yet to score his first kill on stage. We just have the boys at Harry’s, their after-work hangout, talking about girls like frat boys who have an impressive panty collection back at the House.

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Supreme Court

The Roberts Court has knocked down another limit on campaign spending, and has paved the way for more deregulation of campaign finance. Giving money to candidates, it turns out, is the highest form of free speech.

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Every Chief Justice takes on a project. Earl Warren wanted to desegregate the South. Warren Burger wanted to limit the rights of criminal suspects. William Rehnquist wanted to revive the powers of the states. It increasingly appears likely that, for John Roberts, the project will be removing the limits that burden wealthy campaign contributors—the “whole point” of the First Amendment, as he sees it. So far, that project is doing pretty well.

-- Jeffrey Toobin at The New Yorker

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