A History of the African-American People (Proposed) by Strom Thurmond (2 page)

Now, as they say here on “The Hill,” let’s get down to business, shall we?

I think you should begin.

Sincerely,

Barton Wilkes

Barton Wilkes, Advisor, Public Relations

The Hon. Strom Thurmond

Memo: Snell to McCloud

May 29, 2002

Hey Juniper!

Have a nice Memorial Day? It’s my favorite holiday, Memorial Day is.

Here’s who knows what. Barton Wilkes? Maybe you can figure it out. Try. Can you?

Ask the guy for a proposal, but tell him the usual about
how we aren’t interested.
Make that emphatic. Don’t leave any room for doubt.

Do you keep a cat? I find a well-groomed cat a great comfort. My ex-wife hated cats.

S
IMON
& S
CHUSTER
, I
NC
.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

June 1, 2002

Mr. Barton Wilkes
Advisor, Public Relations
The Hon Strom Thurmond

Dear Mr. Wilkes:

Martin Snell, an editor here at Simon & Schuster, has asked me to respond to your letter.

Please indicate in standard proposal form what your project is exactly. At that point, we can evaluate its suitability for

Simon & Schuster.

Understand that this in no way indicates any interest on our part in the project. We receive many proposals and can proceed with only a small fraction of these.

Sincerely,

R. Juniper McCloud

R. Juniper McCloud (Mr.)

Assistant to Martin Snell

O
FFICE OF
S
ENATOR
S
TROM
T
HURMOND
217 R
USSELL
S
ENATE
B
UILDING
W
ASHINGTON
, D.C. 20515

June 4, 2002

Mr. R. Juniper McCloud

Assistant to Martin Snell, Editor

Simon & Schuster, Publishers

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Dear Mr. McCloud,

Surely not coincidental that we are both Assistants to important people, me to the Senior Senator of All Time, Claude Pepper having died, and you to the man who is doubtless the Senior Editor there. It’s a small world. “I was a child and she was a child/ In our kingdom by the sea.” Do you know Poe?

Now, it’s easy to see why you are being standoffish. Perhaps I would be too, though it’s a matter of our inner nature, really, when the sun goes down. Don’t you agree? For instance, my guess is that it is not at all your own decision to be so very formal. I know it wouldn’t be mine. Neither of us is quite his own person, though, not to be presumptuous.

Anyhow, as I said, this will be
A History of the African-American People by Strom Thurmond.

Would you need more details—like the number of pages, illustrations, that sort of thing? If not, I think this can stand as description and what you call proposal. I couldn’t at this point supply such details anyhow, so there we are.

Puissant name, “R. Juniper.” Are you from the Charleston McClouds? My own name is a matter of some pride to me, as yours is to you. Someone at your place called me “Blanton.” Oh my.

Memo: Snell to McCloud

June 22, 2001

We have reason to believe that this guy is connected to Thurmond, but he doesn’t seem to have very many tines to his fork, does he?

It’s almost certainly a no-go, but see if you can find out more. Get him to send you a proposal.

Do NOT encourage him, by any word or gesture. Don’t even hint that we might be interested—give him to understand just the reverse.

Do you wear boxers or briefs? Also, you haven’t answered my question about kitty.

S
IMON
& S
CHUSTER
, I
NC
.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

June 23, 2002

Mr. Barton Wilkes

Junior Advisor, Public Relations

The Hon Strom Thurmond

Dear Mr. Wilkes:

We are in receipt of your letter of June 4. Please send us a detailed proposal. Such a proposal should include, but not be limited to:

—a full description of the project

—a detailed chapter outline

—an analysis of the projected audience for such a book

—an estimated time frame for completion

—a discussion of other books in the area and how this proposed book will meet the competition

Do understand that our receipt of such a proposal, should you choose to send it, in no way indicates any interest on our part in the project, much less in publishing it.

Sincerely,

R. Juniper McCloud

R. Juniper McCloud

O
FFICE OF
S
ENATOR
S
TROM
T
HURMOND
217 R
USSELL
S
ENATE
B
UILDING
W
ASHINGTON
, D.C. 20515

June 27, 2002

Mr. R. Juniper McCloud

Mr. Martin Snell

Simon & Schuster

Dear Friends,

Much as I have come to rely on and, indeed, feel some warmth for Mr. McCloud, I expect it is time that he evaporate from the meadow. Marty and I can take it from here.

I am trying to understand your peculiar hesitancy. I do not wish to make judgments hastily, or, indeed, at all. You are evidently not paranoid, nor are you in business in order to drive away profit-making ideas. Or are you? Here I come at you with the plan of the decade (put modestly) and you treat it as one more book on O. J. Simmons, or Mick Jagger, or Spanking. I do suppose you receive lots of ideas that are just plain kooky, or very tired, or both. But try to be alert when the real thing comes ding-donging at your door.

But I think I would be as skittish as you, perhaps, all things considered.

Strange, you will say, that Senator Thurmond did not contact us directly, did not phone, did not set up a meeting. Well yes, strange according to your way of doing business. I ask you simply to respect the fact, undoubted fact, that your way of doing business is not Senator Thurmond’s. This is in no way to impugn you or your practices. It is just that the Senator has his own views on things. It is easier for me to think this way, as I am with him day and night; but now you know.

One mystery I can clear up. The Senator insisted that I convey his views in this manner for the simple reason that he is a believer in justice, equal justice. His words to me were these: “If they like the proposal, that’s fine. If they don’t, that’s fine. That’s how I see it.” I think that’s how I see it too. I would suppose you do too.

The proposal is this: Senator Thurmond proposes to write what he terms
A History of the African American People by Strom Thurmond.
As the history of the African American People has been, to a great extent, coextensive with the Senator’s own, he will be able to draw on his own life experience (and not just in politics) for much of his material. For the earlier years in America (prior to the Senator’s coming of age, let us say), he will employ books and the research of scholarly advisors.

Perhaps that will do for what you need. Kindly let me (not the Senator) know of your interest, what shape that interest takes, and where it will lead.

p.s. Mr. McCloud, perhaps we can continue our discussion in a parallel fashion, running as a kind of oblongata to the main business.