People, Feb. 21, 1972

• Share

The really big question in Washington was: How did Senator William Proxmire (D., Wis.) get two black eyes? Gossips ruled out a barroom brawl (he doesn't drink) or a domestic disagreement (he is separated from his wife). The Senator would only say, "No comment." The most likely explanation was blepharoplasty—plastic surgery to remove bags under the eyes.

"He is the living giant of film history. I would compare him to Picasso in the art world." Martin E. Segal, president of the Film Society of Lincoln Center, was confirming that Charles Spencer Chaplin was coming to Manhattan for an 83rd birthday party at the center before going on to Hollywood to receive a special citation at the Academy Awards on April 10. Charlie Chaplin, a British subject who refused to return to the U.S. for 20 years after the Attorney General demanded that he prove his "moral worth," said he had no more hard feelings. "I had my say," declared Charlie. "They said I was a Communist and I said 'So what.' In fact, I never engaged in any Communist activity." Times have changed; David Rockefeller Jr. is in charge of the champagne supper and film showing with a price range of $100 to $250 per ticket.

In a bit of sisterly hair pulling, Women's Liberator Betty Friedan (The Feminine Mystique) allowed as how Editor-Founder Gloria Steinem of Ms. magazine is "ripping off the movement for private profit. The media tried to make her a celebrity," Betty went on, "but no one would mistake her for a leader." Ms. Steinem said that her "stomach dropped" on hearing the remark. The truth, she replied, "is that the magazine has cost a lot of money, and it continues to cost me money, and every penny is worth it." Ms. Friedan responded by claiming she had been quoted out of context, but Ms. Steinem was having none of it. Though she and others were contributing half of their speaking fees to the movement, she said, "Betty doesn't think it's fair to expect that she should."

Television Newsman Walter Cronkite and Democratic National Committee Chairman Lawrence O'Brien were lunching in a Washington restaurant when a man who looked just like Henry Kissinger stopped at their table. "Why, Henry," said O'Brien, "I thought you'd be in Paris, or Peking, or some place." "Kissinger is," said Kissinger. "I'm really Howard Hughes."

Meeting Philippe de Vosjoli, former head of French intelligence in the U.S., was a lucky break for Novelist Leon Uris, who based his popular novel, Topaz, on Vosjoli's account of his experiences. Now it is Agent Vosjoli's turn to feel good about the whole thing. The Los Angeles Superior Court has ruled that Uris broke his contract to split the Topaz profits with Vosjoli and therefore must pay Vosjoli $352,350, plus interest, plus half of all future earnings derived from the book.