Read Mrs. Astor Regrets Online
Authors: Meryl Gordon
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"Dearest, Darling Annette": Brooke Astor to Annette de la Renta, Nov. 2002. Collection of Annette de la Renta.
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She scheduled her annual: Brooke Astor's schedule, Jan. 28, 2003; "Mrs. Astor leaves
Holly Hill for Westchester Airport. Virginia Melhado and Bunny du Pont will meet you at the Palm Beach Airport."
142 Four days before: "Dinner in Mrs. Astor's honor at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Marshall." Feb. 1, 2003.
"miles of scenery": Walter Kerr, "Theatre: Electric 'Extremities' and a Muffled Alice,'"
New York Times,
Jan. 2, 1983.
"I swore I'd never": Jesse McKinley, "He Is His Own Producer and Much More,"
New York Times,
Dec. 17, 2003.
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"Charlene's a delightful person": Author phone interview with Mary Rodgers Guettel, Mar. 20, 2007.
Tony also had a real fear: Anthony Marshall to Terry Christensen, Oct. 3, 2001, guardianship files.
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"I always saw them bristle": Naomi Packard-Koot interview.
"At Holly Hill, we'd sit in the library": Author phone interview with Sophie Marshall, Apr. 2008.
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"I didn't give her important jewelry": Author interview with David Rockefeller at his office, Dec. 18, 2007.
"Would you take": Naomi Packard-Koot interview.
"What can I do for Tony?": Francis X. Morrissey, Jr., to Anthony Marshall, Mar. 4, 2004, guardianship files.
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informed Tony by letter: Henry Christensen III to Anthony D. Marshall, Apr. 28, 2003, guardianship files.
"I was very keen": Anthony D. Marshall memorandum, "Meeting with Terry Christensen," Feb. 11, 2004, guardianship files.
"It was really sudden": Naomi Packard-Koot interview.
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"I wasn't expecting": Philip Marshall interview.
"It felt to Philip": Author phone interview with Nan Starr, Mar. 2008.
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"Dear Tony": New York State Supreme Court, file no. 500095/06, Brooke Astor to her son, Aug. 12, 2003.
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"rift between the Marshalls and Mrs. Astor": Christopher Ely notes, guardianship files.
"seemed to want me": Ibid.
"I told her": Ibid.
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"John, I'm gaga": Author interview with John Hart in Manhattan, Sept. 26, 2006.
9.
THE TREACHEROUS CODICILS
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"He used to go visit Brooke": Author interview with Catia Chapin at her home, Mar. 19, 2007.
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Vincent Astor had so disliked: Author phone interview with Linda Gillies, Apr. 2008.
"Everything was fine:" Author interview with Alice Perdue in Manhattan, Oct. 3, 2007.
Alicia Johnson ... noticed: Author interview with Alicia Johnson, July 2007.
"I knew there was no way": Author interview with Philip Marshall, multiple interviews, July 28, 2006–June 2008.
154 "I did think it was odd": Alice Perdue interview.
"All the nurses got dressed up": Author interview with Minnette Christie in Manhattan, Jan. 14, 2008.
"Suppose I'm taking her": Author interview with Pearline Noble in Manhattan, Jan. 14, 2008.
"I started in Holly Hill": Author phone interview with Beverly Thomson, Aug. 29, 2007.
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"I just wanted to put down": Pearline Noble interview.
"She is dead set": Pearline Noble, nurses' notes, Sept. 25, 2003.
"A very restless night": Minnette Christie, nurses' notes, Sept. 28, 2003.
"Mrs. Astor would tell me:" Minnette Christie interview.
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"Mrs. A. curtsied": Pearline Noble, nurses' notes, Sept. 30, 2003.
"This is how you do it": Ibid.
"The first thing that struck me": Author interview with Moises Kaufman at his office, Apr. 5, 2007.
"The theatre is a little like": Robert Hofler, "Delphi Predictions,"
Variety,
Dec. 15, 2003.
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the ultimate civilian medal: Jesse McKinley, "He Is His Own Producer, and Much More,"
New York Times,
Dec. 17, 2003.
"periods of confusion and illusions": Minnette Christie, nurses' notes, Dec. 13, 2003.
"Periods of confusion": Minnette Christie, nurses' notes, Dec. 14, 2003.
"Paranoia, undecipherable words": Pearline Noble, nurses' notes, Dec. 17, 2003.
"She was on automatic pilot": Author phone interview with Barbara Goldsmith, Mar. 2008.
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"I have enjoyed": First codicil of Brooke Astor's will, Dec. 18, 2003, Westchester County Surrogate's Court, file no. 2127/2007.
"Wanted to know who": Pearline Noble, nurses' notes, Dec. 18, 2003.
"they are putting her away": Minnette Christie, nurses' notes, Dec. 19, 2003.
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"Brooke didn't know": Barbara Walters, Manhattan Supreme Court, May 21, 2009.
"I'm sorry, but I don't believe": Vartan Gregorian,
The Road to Home
(New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003), p. 277.
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"She extended her arm": Francis X. Morrissey, Jr., memo, Jan. 19, 2004, guardianship files.
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He met with Mrs. Astor: G. Warren Whitaker memo, "Re: Brooke Russell Astor Codicil execution date," Jan. 12, 2004, guardianship files.
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"Golden boy & tutor": Pearline Noble, nurses' notes, Jan. 12, 2004, 4
P.M.
"They started to pull": Pearline Noble interview.
"four men are in the house": Minnette Christie, nurses' notes, Jan. 12, 2004.
"It has not been easy": New York State Supreme Court, file no. 500095/06.
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But Dr. Pritchett later stated: Court evaluator's report, Dec. 2006, guardianship files.
The experience was so traumatic: Pearline Noble interview.
"On entering our apartment": Anthony D. Marshall, "Subject: Meeting with Terry Christensen," Feb. 11, 2004, guardianship files.
163 "I did not describe": Author phone interview with Terry Christensen, Feb. 2008.
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"Presumably you determined": G. Warren Whitaker to Terry Christensen, Feb. 13, 2004, guardianship files.
Worried about what: Anthony D. Marshall, "Memorandum to files. Re: Terry Christensen. Subject: Brooke Astor. Can the situation be resolved without litigation? Even if the opinion that it could be, would it be good judgement to prepare documents with which to proceed if Terry Christensen does not cooperate? Who/ how should Terry Christensen be faced with the issue? (In a friendly manner: by Francis Morrissey? By Warren Whitaker, who has acted as BA's lawyer? By Ken Warner?)"
"I considered publicly": Terry Christensen interview.
Executors' fees: "Brooke Russell Astor Estate Planning," G. Warren Whitaker to Anthony D. Marshall, Mar. 2, 2006, guardianship files.
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Two years later: Serge Kovaleski, "Recollections of Witnesses to Astor Wills Are Cloudy,"
New York Times,
Nov. 1, 2006.
"I agree with Charlene": Francis X. Morrissey to Anthony Marshall, Mar. 4, 2004, guardianship files.
"Her son arrive": Pearline Noble, nurses' notes, Mar. 2, 2004.
"me and the driver will protect": Pearline Noble, nurses' notes, Mar. 4, 2004.
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"She wouldn't get out of the car": Author interview with Nancy Kissinger at Kissinger Associates, Mar. 13, 2008.
"David Rockefeller told me": Author interview with Henry Kissinger at his office, Sept. 19, 2007. (Note: David Rockefeller does not recall this story.)
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"She looked like a deer": Author phone interview with Nan Starr, Mar. 2008.
Charlene later insisted: Vicky Ward, "In Mrs. Astor's Shadow,"
Vanity Fair,
Dec. 2006, p. 243.
"She played possum": Author phone interview with Marciano Amaral, Jan. 2007.
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"She was always frail": Author phone interview with Sandra Foschi, Jan. 31, 2008.
"Ever since I was a little girl": Minnette Christie interview.
"To me, just writing this": Philip Marshall interview.
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grandmother's many wills: Brooke Astor's wills, 1992–2002, Westchester County Surrogate's Court, file no. 2127/2007.
Philip "acted strangely": Ward, "In Mrs. Astor's Shadow," p. 235.
"A man": Pearline Noble interview.
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"Pearline, I'm toast": Annette de la Renta interview.
"Mrs. Astor would stroke her hair": Minnette Christie interview.
"She was like a child": Pearline Noble interview.
"I went to see her": Author interview with Vartan Gregorian at his office, Mar. 24, 2007.
"I would go to have tea": Author interview with Philippe de Montebello at the Metropolitan Museum, Mar. 12, 2008.
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"Chris was wonderful": Author interview with David Rockefeller at his office, Dec. 18, 2007.
"After Chris was fired": Author phone interview with Barbara Goldsmith, Mar. 2008.
"During the past two years": Anthony D. Marshall letter of recommendation for Christopher Ely.
Mrs. Astor had left Ely: Brooke Astor will, Jan. 30, 2002, Westchester County Surrogate's Court, file no. 2127/2007.
"I thought it was a little late": Philip Marshall interview.
172 "We showed her a picture": Minnette Christie interview.
10. "
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULD BE ARMAGEDDON"
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"I remember going": Author interview with Annette de la Renta at her home, multiple interviews, Jan. 29, 2007–July 2008.
"Brooke was sitting there": Author phone interview with Bob Silvers, Mar. 2007.
"I started saying": Author interview with John Richardson at his home, June 5, 2007.
"She didn't recognize me": Author phone interview with Viscount William Astor, July 2006.
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"We had a perfectly cordial:" Author interview with David Rockefeller at his office, Dec. 18, 2007.
"We were upset": Annette de la Renta interview.
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"What I said": David Rockefeller interview.
"If I had not heard": Author interview with Philip Marshall, multiple interviews, July 28, 2006–June 2008.
"We were told": Author phone interview with Beverly Thomson, Aug. 29, 2007.
"She did not leave": Author interview with Pearline Noble in Manhattan, Apr. 10, 2008.
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"When I die": Ibid.
Brooke Astor's mortality: Francis Morrissey/G. Warren Whitaker letter to files, Aug. 23, 2005, guardianship files.
"I was a driver": Author phone interview with Marciano Amaral, Jan. 2007.
"Tony said that he was terribly sorry": Author interview with Alice Perdue in Manhattan, Oct. 3, 2007.
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"Ambassador Marshall": Author interview with Daniel Billy, Jr., in Manhattan, Mar. 3, 2008.
"You'd make an appointment": Author phone interview with Robert Pirie, Oct. 22, 2007.
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"I think of my grandfather": Tony Marshall speech to Marine Corps University Foundation, Oct. 25, 2005, transcript.
"
NO ONE
is to be": Daniel Billy, Jr., memo to staff, Dec. 9, 2005, guardianship files.
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"If you put me": Marciano Amaral interview.
"They said there's no way": Pearline Noble interview.
"heartfelt thanks": Charlene Marshall to Brooke Astor, Dec. 20, 2005, guardianship files.
"They could see that she was declining": Author phone interview with Peter J. Kelley, Dec. 26, 2007.
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the Juilliard school received: Serge Kovaleski. "In-Law's Charity Has One Donor, Astor, and Few Public Details,"
New York Times,
Aug. 8, 2006, p. B1.
184 "If I want to see my father": Author interview with Tenzing Chadotsang in Manhattan, Dec. 14, 2007.
"I did not want my father": Philip Marshall interview.
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"We weren't saying anything": Author interview with Pearline Noble in Manhattan, Jan. 14, 2008.
"Chris egged me on;" Philip Marshall interview.
"I thought, 'Oh, good'": Alice Perdue interview.
"It was really tearing Philip up": Author phone interview with Toby Hilliard, Aug. 2007.
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"Dear Mr. Rockefeller": Philip Marshall to David Rockefeller, Mar. 6, 2006.
With permission of Philip Marshall.
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"I talked to Annette": David Rockefeller interview.
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"I was amazed at how much;" Annette de la Renta interview.
"I wasn't going to fake it": Philip Marshall interview.
"I guess it was a fantasy": Author phone interview with Nan Starr, Mar. 2008.
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"No one wanted him": Tenzing Chadotsang interview.
"Philip is mild-mannered": Author phone interview with Sam Adams, July 2006.
"People ask me:" Philip Marshall interview.
"He spent a long time": Author phone interview with Marta Grabowska, Sept. 12, 2007.
Invoices from CodeShred: Leslie Gordon Fagen, for JP Morgan Chase Bank, Reply Affirmation in Support of Temporary Guardian's Application, Supreme Court of the State of New York, file no. 5000095/06, Sept. 12, 2006, p. 9.
"If you consider a scrap": Daniel Billy, Jr., interview.
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"It was very traumatic": Author phone interview with Oscar de la Renta, Mar. 2008.
"In a way it was a good thing": Author interview with John Richardson at his home, June 5, 2007.
"I thought I was doing": Annette de la Renta interview.
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"We knew the trickiest part": Philip Marshall interview.
"I want to visit": Ibid.
"Philip was the most stressed out": Nan Starr interview.
"I had to believe": Author interview with Henry Kissinger at his office, Sept. 19, 2007.
"I was freaking": Philip Marshall interview.
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"I said, 'Let's call a meeting'": Author interview with Beverly Thomson, Aug. 29, 2007.
"I saw two big plastic containers": Marta Grabowska interview.
"It was hot and stuffy": Author phone interview with Sandra Foschi, Jan. 3, 2008.
"Make no mistake": Author interview with Ira Salzman at his office, Dec. 4, 2007.
The lawsuit would charge: In the Matter of the Application of PHILIP MARSHALL for the Appointment of Guardians of the Person and Property of BROOKE ASTOR, an alleged Incapacitated Person, Supreme Court of the State of New York, file no. 500095/06, index.
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"Dr. Pritchett later stated": Court evaluator's report, 2006, guardianship files. "When she was feeling well": Author phone interview with Sam Karalis, July 2007.
195 "All the money stuff": Ira Salzman interview.
"Her diet is inadequate: Guardianship lawsuit, ibid.
"If we weren't effective": Philip Marshall interview.
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"I knew it was something weird": Author interview with Susan Robbins, Oct. 2006.
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"I thought it would be taken care of": Annette de la Renta interview.
"I'm worried": Philip Marshall interview
"No, Philip": Ira Salzman interview.