Letters: Oct. 5, 1983

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HOLLYWOOD. TIME MENTIONS "ROOM-TEMPERATURE BURGUNDY AND CHOPPED CHICKEN LIVER" AS THOUGH THESE LUXURIES INVALIDATE POLITICAL

OPINION. TIME, WHOSE EDITORS EAT CHOPPED CHICKEN LIVER AND WHOSE PUBLISHERS DRINK ROOM-TEMPERATURE BURGUNDY, KNOWS BETTER.

ORSON WELLES Hollywood, Calif.

Well-fed TIME feels that the public should be kept informed about Hollywood politics, from soup to nuts.—ED.

1945 I refer to TIME'S "piece" [Sept. 24] on the Imperial Hotel of Tokyo, Japan: I happen to be the ar chitect, and the time-honored formula for an un timely finish seems to be already well into its second stage where TIME is concerned. The formula is: first, Success, then, Arrogance, then Downfall. I refer to an all too arrogant falsehood in the piece, which was not only a gross misrepresentation of my sentiments but proving in black & white that TIME can be a reckless liar.

Let my secretary speak:

"Dear Mr. Wright: TIME'S quotation of your conversation with them . . . is entirely false. I was present when you spoke over the telephone to them and in reply to their questions you said: 'No, I have received no request from Japan nor from anyone to rebuild the part of the hotel that was damaged—but even if I were to receive such a request I would have to turn it down because I am much too busy at work building in my own country to go to any other country to build at this time. Besides, I prefer independence to interdependence.' You repeated this statement several times. Eugene Masselink, Secretary to Frank Lloyd Wright."

Recently, speaking of "Non-Objective Art," I suggested that TIME (among others) take a course in "Non-Adjective Writing." The matter now seems hopeless. So, I disrespectfully suggest that we, right here and now, drop the whole Art Department of TIME as a malicious libel not only upon the entire subject of Art but all honest artists everywhere.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT Spring Green, Wis.

The facts: Domei reported the hotel's request, and TIME disrespectfully condensed arrogant Architect Wright's adjectival reaction.— ED.

1946 When I have a highball or two I tell the truth about things. The truth, as you continually show in your pages, is tough. It is not then so much my talk that is tough as the stuff it deals with. But I'm not the town drunk. With the reputation you give me, I'll be expected to drink everybody in Kansas City under the table and I can't do it—not me.

THOMAS H. BENTON Kansas City

Said TIME: "Tom Benton, who does know how to drink . . ." No town drunk does.—ED.

1947 TIME reported words said to have been spoken by me to Samuel Putnam, in Paris.

"My God, Sam!" it begins. This is impossible; I don't talk like that.

It goes on: "You have no idea how dumb she is!

Why, when we were at school, I used to have to do all her homework for her." All quite impossible. "I used to have to do" puts my teeth on edge. Neither "dumb" nor "homework" are in my vocabulary.

Gertrude was a brighter pupil than I was, and more often "honorably promoted," that is, without the obligation of final examinations. We did no homework and the word was not in use with us. If Author