1985-01 (January)

Foote Diary: January 6th, 1985 Melting snow slush froze in the night but began to melt again when the thermometer rose above freezing by midmorning. Cereal breakfast, then fed Booker. Still no word from Mary who’s been gone since she left early on Thursday in the thickening snowfall. If she is not here by leaving time tomorrow (8am) what will I do about the animals? Wait and see. Carroll Satunsman? Called inviting me to speak at the Country Club with her and Richard, but I beggeXX? off, on the claim that I had to stay here and pack for New York. Tuna and lettuce for lunch; last for a while. In afternoon temperature rose to beyonod 40, helping to de-ice the streets and driveways. A steady slow dripping from melting snow on leaves and trees. Glad to see it leaving; glad to see clear weather. Began packing around 2; by 3 had one side of a suitcase linens ect.) finished. Took a break for TV football (NFC) and then came back to it; packed suits and oddments – glasses, tobacco, raincoat, ect.

Foote Diary: January 7th, 1985

Got up at 6:30; was making coffee when (thank God) Mary arrived. Had breakfast; left for airport at 7:45. Checked bag with porter at Republic ramp, then parked Mercedes in underground garage. Walked and escorted to gate 27, only to find I didn’t have my tobacco pouch. Against the advice of the clerk, made a fast trip back underground- and found the pouch lying on the pavement besides the car, where I had dropped it. Hurried back upstairs in time to board flight 522.

Late take off, but nonstop flight arrived Laguardia only thirty minutes late. Shared cab into city with a woman from Columbus Miss.; reached Algonquin by 1:20. Washed up, had lunch in Rose Room- roast beef hash with fried egg.

Upstairs again, unpacked and hung up suits. Set out next for Paterson’s Music House on west 56th street. Got the score of Berg’s violin concerto at last; also Haydn’s string quartets, Opp. 74, 76, 77; also Bach Cello suites? And sonatatas . On way back stopped in Bob Russel’s office, only to have Ann Ellen? Tell me he’d broken his ankle playing tennis. Talked with him on phone at home.

Back to hotel. Looked through scores; read paper; watched TV news. Ordered club sandwich and pot of coffee after I bathed and put on pajamas. Watched a little more TV; then read chapter 2 Dostoyevsky’s Idiot. Asleep by 11:30.

Foote Diary:January 8th

New York- Algonquin. Work at 7:15; got dressed and went down to Rose Room for breakfast. Back up to room, then caught a cab for 20th century fund on east 70th. Got here on schedule at 9:30; meeting started at 10; paused for drinks and lunch at 12:30. Recovered at broke up at 3:30. Best discussion so far: “The Military and the Media,” I had more to say than at earlier sessions. Guest witnesses were Mike Burch, Asst. Sec. of Defense for pub. Affairs, and General Bruce Palmer, former vice chief of state U.S. Army. Like latter, disliked former.

Took a cab to Random House, visited with Bob Loomis. He agreed not to pursue the proposal that I accept a cut in royalties (to 12 ½ %) in order to hold down the cost of the volume per volume of The Civil War. Good thing, too: I’d have withdrawn my $140,000 excessive? Royalties. Price will be $35 a volume. Outrageous; but I suggested they offer the 3-vol set for a flat $100. He said he’d suggest it. I hope they do it. Walked back to hotel. Stopped by Stenibach’s but didn’t see anything I wanted. Dinner at Le bistro with Charles Cordding and Peter Rassarito. I had leeks vinaigrette and molasses? Marinara?. Good meal, pleasant conversation. Back at Algonquin by 10 o’clock. Took shower, washed hair. Lights out at 11:30.

Foote Diary: January 9th, 1985

New York. Up at 7:30; breakfast again in the Rose Room. Cab to 20th Century, Guest witnesses were Bernard Diederich of TIME, Drew Middleton, war correspondent NY Times, and two women reporters from CBS, Marlene Sanders and Gale Wallace. Interesting talk beforehand with Nathaniel Zunwalt and Col. Sommers about Volunteer army. Good lunch; brief reassembly, then breakup. Walked down Madison with Hedding? Carter and B Diederich; stopped at Sherry’s, but no XXXXXX XX brandy. Walked over to Barsfield Book store on 57th; no Clarissa. Also to Gotham Book Mart on 46th; ditto. Stopped by Sam goody’s; no Berg Violin Concerto. Back to Algonquin in bitter cold: decided to stay in room again instead of going out for dinner or supper?. Called Russel to ask how his broken ankle is doing. He’s better; swelling going down. Had a warming drink; ordered up a club sandwich (again) and a lot of coffee. Watched NBC news, then Reagan’s press conference- which, as usual, put me to sleep. Woke up after about an hour; watched a rather good program on Dashiell Hammett. Clicked off the 11 o’clock news to read The Idiot. Lights out when I got sleepy again at 11:30.

Foote Diary: January 10th, 1985

Slept till 8; Rose Room for breakfast. Weather report says colder still; chill factor puts 18 degrees down around zero. Leisurely reading of NY Times; now that 20th century business is over; I have nothing required to do before Gwyn’s arrival on Air France around 3 o’clock at Kennedy Airport.

Walked out on a hunt for Berg’s Violin concerto-slick, Czech Phil. Found and bought it at Record Hunter on fifth between 43rd and 42nd. Came back and left it in room; took a cab from Times Square to XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX in lower Broadway. No luck on Clarissa. But went on (by cab again) to Dean’s and Delucca’s on Prince Street; got the “Peppermate“ twill? that I wanted. Came back uptown on subway. God! Lunch in Rose Room; chicken pancake, with a glass of white wine, coffee afterward. Back up to room to wait for Gwyn. She called at 4 from down in the lobby: “You want some company/” Went down and brought her up; was delighted to see her and have her home again. Diner in Rose Room; liver and fine herbs for Gwyn sweet breads for me. Jet lag not bad except for lose of sleep. Gwyn dozed off at 9:30, I at 11:30.