The US Presidential elections this week have got me thinking about our time living in New York in the late 80's.
My then business partner, Anne Summers, and I were the owners of Ms
Magazine, and as a result, we got invited to a lot of high-class
political events, including George Bush Snr.'s inaugural ball.
Actually, there are around five inaugural balls, with a couple of
thousand people at each, so it's not quite as classy as it sounds,
although I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel pretty damn smug about
being there.
We re-launched Ms Magazine at the Capitol Building in Washington.
That was pretty special, too. I met Teddy Kennedy that night, and
I can report that his nose resembles nothing so much as a giant
mulberry. By the end of the evening, his means of acquiring it were
self-evident.
We met all the famous feminists too - Gloria Steinem, Kate Millett,
Betty Freidan, Bella Abzug. I sat next to Oprah Winfrey at
dinner, and had my photo taken with the US's most famous male feminist,
Alan Alda - who (you'll have to trust me on this) is extremely dishy.
It all has a slightly surreal quality to it now - I can't quite believe
it happened, but there's nothing like a bit of instant celebrity to
convince yourself you're having a great time.
On the day we announced to the media that we had bought Ms, I staggered
out to dinner late that night for no other reason than I was too tired
to cook, and was greeted by a squealing waitress "omigod - I just saw
you on the news!" Mr S was hugely impressed, and I was sneakily
quite pleased myself, although I noticed it didn't translate into a
better table!
It was a wonderful time, and it's left me with a great deal of
affection for Americans. Like the rest of us, they can be
foolish, or pompous, and just plain silly sometimes, but there is a
warmth, and a genuine sense of hospitality that radiates from most
Americans that I find very appealing. Big states like Texas, and
Alaska, seem to have a special affinity for Australia, and Australians.
When Bob and Hazel Hawke visited Austin, Texas, for the opening of the
School of Australian Studies at the University of Texas, we took Hazel
to meet Liz Carpenter, who had been LBJ's press secretary. Liz
was a great old dame, who regaled us all with completely unprintable
stories about her famous past. In retirement, she had a network
of "widders", widowed women who lived in the same neighbourhood, and
who looked out for each other. Every morning, they had a
telephone tree, where they would call each other in turn, and ask each
other two questions: Are you OK, and then, are you alone?
Their ribald sense of humour, and unquenchable optimism made we want to
grow old just like them.
Alas, it was all a long time ago, but I hope our American friends chose
wisely this week. One President in any family, I think, is quite
enough!
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Change of Life 
