Saul Steinberg: A Biography Part 26

The subterfuge was so credible: McIntosh, Sisterhood of Spies, p. 65; "German Soldiers on Leave from the Front Have Only to Wear a Heart on their Uniform," Was.h.i.+ngton Post, October 10, 1944; Herbert A. Friedman, "Propaganda Ricocheted 'Round Both Sides," American Philatelist, November 1985, p. 1018. Copy in YCAL, Box 9, Folder 6.

Steinberg was able to indulge: Information that follows is from Edward Lindner, interview with Sheila Schwartz, September 17, 2002, SSF. Photos of ST's works are in Friedman, "American Propaganda Postcards."

all of which showed the new turn: ST to AB, November 23, 1945. ST writes that he has not used a pencil "in ages."

Around this time, he began to decorate his letters: ST to HS, August 10, 1944, AAA.

After the war, he took delight in telling: The story appeared in P.M., March 11, 1946, among many other places. Hedda Sterne verified that it was apocryphal in several conversations.

a group execution he had witnessed: ST to HS, February 14, 1944, AAA.

"just kids 16, 17 years old": ST to HS, n.d. but internal evidence suggests late September 1944, AAA.

Steinberg feared that the Italy he knew: YCAL, Box 67, 2 pp. in ST's hand, interview with "Marchi, born 1925."

After the war, he wanted: Undated letter to HS.

"Give me all your Tootsie Rolls": Information that follows is from DB interview with Barbara Lauwers Podoski, January 30, 2008.

Sichel wondered how much: Peter Sichel, interview with Sheila Schwartz, September 13, 2002; Sichel, email to Sheila Schwartz, August 27, 2002; both SSF.

Lindner remembered how Steinberg hid under a desk: Edward Lindner, interview with Sheila Schwartz, September 17, 2002, SSF.

"had a lot of Weltschmerz": Edward Lindner to ST, December 1, 1988, YCAL, Box 9, Folder 6.

nostalgic for the work of "the Miles organization:" Correspondence in YCAL, Box 67, Folder "Correspondence 1944," includes postcards wis.h.i.+ng Captain Bob Corrigan "Ding-hao" greetings for the New Year and thanks for "the lift over the Hump." Cards to Lt. Henry Gibbins were returned to ST with the envelope marked "deceased." He wrote about it to "McGonigle" and asked him to "drop me a line about what's new." Phil Talbot's letter filled him with "nostalgia" when he wrote from Chungking to tell how Gibbins's plane had been ambushed by j.a.panese fighters.

this became his first cover: January 13, 1945.

was proud to be in "the society service": This appellation is one that is often applied to the Navy.

he continued to wear: There are photos of him wearing these clothes in East Hampton with Tino Nivola as late as 194849. The photo of him in full uniform with HS was taken at a time when he was authorized to wear civilian clothes.

he was interviewed by an intelligence officer: Information that follows is from "Interview with Lt. j.g. Steinberg of MO, 8 November, 1944," National Archives (decla.s.sified), copy in YCAL, Box 9, and SSF.

it arrived safely at Hedda's: HS, interviews throughout 2007, listed these things at various times. Also, many of them are distributed throughout YCAL boxes.

Some of the elaborate engravings: These too are distributed throughout the YCAL boxes.

"splendid teamwork": Eugene Warner to ST, November 20, 1944, YCAL, Box 20; Brig. Gen. William J. Donovan to all MO Personnel, 2677th Regiment, November 3, 1944, YCAL, Box 20.

"a difficult officer to appraise": Officer's Fitness Report, December 1, 1945, National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), Officer Fitness File (OFF); copies in YCAL, Box 20, Folders "US Navy," 1 and 2.

he had to secure permission: ST to Commandant Third Naval District, August 28, 1951, YCAL, Box 20.

"I don't want two weeks leave": ST to HS, n.d. but internal evidence suggests September 1944, AAA.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: STARTING AGAIN IN THE CARTOONS RACKET.

"I'll have a hard time starting again": ST to HS, n.d. but internal evidence suggests January 1944, AAA.

Saul left for China: HS, interview, April 18, 2007: "I couldn't make up my mind what name I wanted to use in those days, so it was pretty confusing."

"that horrible drawing": ST to HS, December 2, 1943, AAA; TNY, October 30, 1943; All in Line, not paginated.

"I want [to see] the proofs": They appeared in TNY, January 15 and February 5, 1944.

"I act like a photographer": ST to HS, n.d. but internal evidence suggests January 1944, AAA. All quotations are her remarks.

"that triple name publisher": ST to HS, January 12, 1944, AAA.

"of no concern to us": HS to ST, YCAL, microfilm of HS letters. Three other YCAL letters (HS to ST) make reference to Knopf's offer: January 26 and 29, 1944, and (by internal evidence) February 1944.

"It was the sad time of my residence in Santo Domingo:" ST to HS, January 12, 1944, AAA.

She was outraged: HS, interview, April 18, 2007.

Hedda said Steinberg told her he "knew anti-Semitism": IF, interview, October 12, 2007. Other versions of this incident are in Smith, Steinberg at The New Yorker, p. 227, n. 30.

Saul trusted her judgment: ST to HS, February 2, 1944, AAA.

Steinberg didn't really like it: HS to ST, YCAL, microfilm reel, "February 15 [1944]."

"the kind of silly cheap stuff": ST to HS, February 19, 1944, AAA.

"getting madder and madder": ST to HS, February 24, 1944, AAA.

He did not blame Hedda: ST to HS, March 29, 1944, AAA.

Meanwhile, at The New Yorker: ST to HS, April 20, 1944, AAA.

"eventually [the] same one": ST to HS, May 31, 1944, AAA.

"something like 'c/o Postmaster' ": ST to HS, June 3, 1944, AAA.

Geraghty was so eager: ST to HS, n.d. but internal evidence suggests Summer 1944, AAA.

Divorcing Fred Stafford: The following account is based on interviews and conversations with Hedda Sterne throughout 2007.

"very lovely true girlfriend": HS, interviews, April 18 and September 9, 2007.

"When he was in the navy": HS, interview, September 9, 2007.

"He wanted to get married": HS, interview, March 29, 2007.

Their courts.h.i.+p by mail gradually eroded: HS letters to ST are on microfilm at Beinecke Library, YCAL, reels 14445. She seldom dated them, usually writing only the day of the week.

"the ideas of other people": ST to HS, January 23, 1944, AAA.

"in all the years of our relations.h.i.+p": HS, interview, September 9, 2007.

Through them she met the artists: Eckhardt, Uninterrupted Flux, pp. 11920.

"after the show": HS, YCAL microfilm reel, internal evidence suggests early 1944. HS usually used dashes for punctuation. I have supplied some periods and commas where appropriate.

"without their even knowing it": HS, YCAL, microfilm reel, p. 3 of letter dated "Monday 28"; internal evidence suggests early 1944.

Geraghty wanted to nurture and promote: HS, YCAL microfilm reel, n.d. but internal evidence suggests MayJune, 1944.

"All I desire now": ST to HS, March 29, 1944, AAA.

"in a studio": ST to HS, April 5, 1944, AAA.

"trying to be very 'good and heroic' ": HS, YCAL, microfilm reel, undated letter with her quotation marks; internal evidence suggests April 1944.

"I feel lousy": HS to ST, YCAL, microfilm reel, V-mail dated "19 June."

CHAPTER TWELVE: THE STRANGER SHE MARRIED.

Steinberg arrived in New York: Jeanne Steig, quoting her late husband, William Steig, interview, May 19, 2007.

"where his services are desired": ST, Officer Personnel File (OPF), National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), copies in SSF folder "War Service-Archival Doc.u.ments."

"the first of Saul's phony doc.u.ments": HS, interview, October 11, 2007. By "phony doc.u.ments," she is referring to ST's false diplomas and other official-appearing drawings.

"always made Saul weep": Ibid.

"indispensible as a teacher": Diary entry, n.d., following entry for June 4, 1991, YCAL, Box 75.

"de facto art director": YaG.o.da, About Town, p. 106.

became one of Steinberg's best friends at the magazine: Lee Lorenz, interview, September 12, 2007, recalled that "Saul loved Carmine. He was a kid off the street with no art training, but eventually became a.s.sistant to the layout guy and then he took over. Every time Saul came in, he would stop in the makeup department, which was on the floor below the art department. He loved Carmine and he loved it there."

He and Saul bonded: HS, interview, October 11, 2007.

It was, in fact, such a deep friends.h.i.+p: Leo Steinberg, interview, October 31, 2007. The book was given to Perelman by Aline Bernstein and was signed by her as well. At his death, ST left the book to PC, who in turn gave it to Leo Steinberg, whose estate has it as of this writing. See also PC, "On S. J. Perelman," The Company They Kept (New York: New York Review of Books, 2006), p. 179.

She spent the whole evening caressing: IF, interview, October 12, 2007; HS, interview, October 11, 2007. ST told this story to IF sometime after 1978.

Hedda thought he was like a little boy: IF's remark, made during a discussion with DB of ST's and HS's memories of their wedding dinner, October 12, 2007.

"rather proud of himself": HS, interview, September 9, 2007.

"idea of marriage": HS, interview, October 24, 2007.

"To know Hedda through Saul": IF, interview, October 12, 2007.

"ordinary superst.i.tious Romanian fatalism": IF, interview, October 12, 2007; AB, interview, June 19, 2007; Stephane Roman, interview, January 12, 2008.

Saul told him fiercely: Norman Manea, interview, June 11, 2008, New York.

After he started to work: ST's letters to AB throughout 1945 mention food, clothing, and sums of money that he has sent to him and Ada. On November 18, 1945, he promises to send food at least eight times per month and asks AB to give half to Ada. On January 26, 1946, he tells AB that Ada is now in Rome so there is no further need to divide the CARE packages with her.

"trained for a future overseas a.s.signment": ST, Officer Fitness File, NPRC, January 25, 1945, copy SSF. His fear of recall is also mentioned throughout the 1945 letters to AB.

"alive and well": ST to AB, September 5, 1945.

Saul resumed contact with her: Internal evidence in her YCAL correspondence verifies the resumption of the correspondence, as does HS, interview, October 24, 2007.

"get up every morning": ST to AB, November 18, 1945.

"Those were the years": ST, diary entry, n.d. but following May 19, 1991, YCAL, Box 75.

"t.i.tle for book": ST, appointment book, January 7, 1945, YCAL, Sketchbook 3074. The page is reproduced in S:I, p. 238, n. 58.

Fan mail poured in to the magazine: Reader responses are in YCAL, Box 57, and TNYR, Box 62.

Steinberg's success coincided: For descriptions of this historical moment at the magazine, see Smith, Steinberg at The New Yorker, pp. 1920; YaG.o.da, About Town, pp. 16881; Brendan Gill, Here at The New Yorker, pp. 16768. My brief comments here rely on their full and authoritative discussions.

"wordless dispatches": Smith, Steinberg at The New Yorker, pp. 1920.

"may have been embarra.s.sed": ST to Kurt Vonnegut, n.d. but internal evidence shows that it was written in 1989, YCal, Box 94, folder "Correspondence 1989."

"the problem of ident.i.ty": Harold Rosenberg, "Saul Steinberg's Art World," HR/Getty; this was translated into French for "L' 'Art World' de Steinberg," in Steinberg: Le Masque: textes par Michel Butor et Harold Rosenberg; photographies d'Inge Morath (Paris: Maeght Editeur, 1966).

because the artists who were his friends: "The Rose Is from the Cabbage Family," R & S Outtakes, copies at SSF and YCAL, Box 38.

"milk that huge cow": Alain Jouffroy, "Visite a Saul Steinberg," Opus International, December 1971, English edition, pp. 11718.

"it contains the two most important": ST, "Ginza 1964," R & S Outtakes, copies at SSF and YCAL, Box 38.

"Owing to "political circ.u.mstances": When the Romanian-Soviet armistice treaty was signed, Romania agreed to pay reparations of more than $300 million to bear all costs of the Soviet occupation. This followed the plunder and looting by the departing Germans so that the total amounted to three and a half times the national income from the last prewar statistics, gathered in 1938. See Jelavich, History of the Balkans, p. 320; Paul Lendvai, Eagles in Cobwebs (New York: Doubleday/Anchor, 1969), p. 245.

Neither money nor certified mail: Harry Steinberg to R. and M. Steinberg, October 2, 1945, Romanian letters, SSF.

Armed with the official approved list: ST to R & M Steinberg, June 7, 1946, Romanian letters, SSF.