People: Aug. 29, 1969

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Scoffing at the recent defection of Novelist Anatoly Kuznetsov, the Soviet government pointed to Vladimir Ashkenazy, 32, one of the world's great pianists, as an example of a Soviet artist who travels happily in and out of his homeland. "A travesty of truth," replied Ashkenazy from Greece, where he was vacationing. Indeed, the pianist has not set foot on Russian soil since 1963, when he fled Moscow in fear and disgust. Ashkenazy explained that he had been forbidden to travel for three years after his U.S. tour in 1958, and was later granted an exit visa only on condition that his wife remained in Russia as a "moral hostage." Eventually, Khrushchev gave them permission to travel together, arid once they left home, they never returned. "No sane person would wish to run such a risk again," said Ashkenazy.

If the movie is anything like the cast, it ought to be a winner. With Raquel Welch, Mae West and John Huston already in the fold, 20th Century-Fox has just signed smart-set chronicler and film critic Rex Reed for a "starring role" in Myra Breckinridge. Reed wants everyone to know that he is not —repeat not—playing gay young Myron Breckinridge, who goes under the knife to emerge as Raquel Welch. His part now calls for a young writer who is Myra's "alter ego." Rex thinks the experience will help him as a critic and" is not afraid of fellow critics' brickbats. "What can they do to me?" he asks. "Destroy my acting career?"

He has survived all the crises and name-calling, and received high marks for his composure. So it was only sensible that Columbia University should finally turn for its 15th president to Andrew Cordier, who has been acting in that capacity for the past year. Cordier stepped loyally into the breach—but let the university know of his own desires. At 68, the onetime diplomat and former U.N. undersecretary hopes to return to his old post as dean of the School of International Affairs. He agreed to the presidency with the proviso: "For one year or until a new president is in a position to assume the duties of office."

New York City's embattled Mayor John V. Lindsay was on his way to Charleston, S.C., to speak to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and a vice president of drugmaker Bristol-Myers was flying to the same meeting in the company's jet. How about a lift? asked the Bristol-Myers man. Thanks, said the mayor and he climbed aboard. Then the city's Democratic politicians heard about the ride. They remembered that Section 1106 of the City Charter forbids city employees to accept "any valuable gift" in the form of a "service, loan, thing or promise" from anyone doing business with the city. And they were quick to point out that Bristol-Myers had sold New York $859,000 worth of drugs last year. Before long there were editorials in the papers and demands for a Board of Ethics investigation—which is just what John Lindsay does not need with election day approaching.