“I would have so liked to be able to talk to him about world affairs and politics. But we frankly never talked much.”—Norris Church Mailer, on her short-lived but intimate relationship in the 1970s with Bill Clinton, rising young Arkansas politico (and fiancée of Hillary Rodham), in A Ticket to the Circus: A Memoir (2010)
President Clinton gave a famous explanation for why he became involved in the relationship with Monica Lewinsky that, for a time, imperiled his Presidency: “Because I could.”
Norman Mailer, whom the model Norris Church would eventually marry, gave a far more interesting—creative, if you will—explanation of his philandering. To get in the proper mood for his doorstopper of a novel about the CIA, Harlot’s Ghost, “He said he needed to live that kind of double life, to know what his characters were going through,” according to his widow.
Nearly 30 years ago, listening to Mailer address a college writing class, I marveled that he could speak so fluidly and extemporaneously. I imagine that I would feel the same way if I heard the ex-President in a small setting, too.
With that said, I think I would find Ms. Mailer to be far more congenial company than the two charming but narcissistic rogues with whom she was involved. She has met all kinds of interesting people, carved out a career as a model, actress, and now, writer--but at least she has never had pretensions about surpassing Hemingway or JFK.
President Clinton gave a famous explanation for why he became involved in the relationship with Monica Lewinsky that, for a time, imperiled his Presidency: “Because I could.”
Norman Mailer, whom the model Norris Church would eventually marry, gave a far more interesting—creative, if you will—explanation of his philandering. To get in the proper mood for his doorstopper of a novel about the CIA, Harlot’s Ghost, “He said he needed to live that kind of double life, to know what his characters were going through,” according to his widow.
Nearly 30 years ago, listening to Mailer address a college writing class, I marveled that he could speak so fluidly and extemporaneously. I imagine that I would feel the same way if I heard the ex-President in a small setting, too.
With that said, I think I would find Ms. Mailer to be far more congenial company than the two charming but narcissistic rogues with whom she was involved. She has met all kinds of interesting people, carved out a career as a model, actress, and now, writer--but at least she has never had pretensions about surpassing Hemingway or JFK.
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