The Leonard Bernstein Letters (56 page)

While abroad on previous occasions, I have no reason to believe that my work or activities were a source of possible embarrassment to the government of the United States. Every impression I received, from both the foreign press and other observers, was to the contrary. I had reason to believe sincerely that I was making a small but genuine contribution to international good will and understanding. In this connection, I would like to point out that I have received official and semi-official letters of commendation from members of the Foreign Service of the State Department following my appearances at concerts in
European cities. I have also been invited to return on most occasions. The State Department has asked me on several occasions to submit material of a musical nature for dissemination in connection with its information programs abroad. As recently as July 9, 1952 I acceded to a State Department request for the use of my music from the production of
On the Town
for a Voice of America program. In 1947 I was invited by the State Department to appear on the Austrian section of its International Broadcasting Division and in 1948 I was invited to serve as a visiting lecturer at cultural centers maintained by the State Department in South America.

In retrospect, perhaps the most profound effect made upon my life, philosophy and thoughts was by the celebrated conductor Serge Koussevitzky under whom I studied and who was, among other outstanding achievements, initiator and director of the Berkshire Music Center and the conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1924 until several years before his death in 1951. Koussevitzky, already famous, and twice honored by the Czar as early as 1903, left Russia with the advent of Communism and in my close and long time association with him I came to know and share his strong antipathy for Soviet Communism and its evils. While he detested Communism he loved Russia and its people deeply and always looked forward to the day when they could join the people living in a free world.

Most of the events which have been discussed occurred when I was a young man and while I do not desire to take refuge under any claim of immaturity, I was in fact, inexperienced in the realm in which I dabbled. I have, since reaching my majority, voted almost exclusively in New York City where the voter, during this period has had the opportunity to vote for candidates of political parties other than the two major political parties. I have never, during this time, voted for or otherwise supported any candidates except those of the Democratic and Republican parties.

I have in the past spoken out against the inhibitions imposed upon creative artists, particularly composers, under the Soviet regime. I have frequently and publicly stated this viewpoint, in my lectures on 20th-century Operas and Symphonies at Brandeis University at Waltham, Massachusetts, commencing this year. In February 1948 I publicly expressed somewhat the same viewpoint in the Theatre Arts Magazine in which I commented on the proletarianization of Russian art and music. In this statement I referred to the Soviet effort to force its serious composers to write music limited by mass appeal and described one of the resultant products as “dreadful”. I added that in the case of the ballet suite in question “the Soviet idea of music for the masses seems to have reached an all time low”, and further, “there comes a point beyond which simplicity of thought can become infantile”.

In conclusion, I am informed that the United States Supreme Court has stated, in the case of an avowed official of the Communist Party itself, that many
organizations have several purposes or objectives, some good and some bad, that persons join such organizations for different purposes and that the evidence of membership to fulfill the bad purpose should be “clear”, “unequivocal” and “convincing”. What then should be the judgment in a case where membership is practically non-existent, the true purpose is unknown and the connection with the organization is of the most nominal and tenuous character?

I have attempted in the foregoing pages to set forth some of the facts which may be of assistance to the State Department in the consideration of my passport application. I express the hope that they may place in better perspective the allegation which has given rise to the long delay in passing upon the problem.

I realize now that I might have made the task of the Passport Division of the State Department an easier one if in 1949, when I came to realize that I had been imposed upon, I had made a public disavowal of the harmful significance which had been attached to the use of my name and prestige by questionable organizations. Unfortunately I did not do so and confined my efforts to advising only my friends and associates of the true situation. I recall that in 1949, in discussing the matter in correspondence with Mr. Edward A. Norman, President of the American Fund for Israel Institutions, that I stated in part as follows:

I wish to conclude this affidavit by repeating in the most solemn way the affirmation of loyalty to the United States and opposition to Soviet Communism which I expressed at that time.

Leonard Bernstein

Subscribed and sworn before me this 3rd day of August, 1953.

Maud T. Sauss, Notary Public.

Cher Baudümü,

It is hard to know where to write it up on you: are you still in France? Did you get set back by the strikes? Will this letter get to American Express? Are the trains running? These and other questions beset me. But better to write & not reach you than never to write at all.

This morning I am drawing my first breath after a long haul: Brandeis → Stadium → Tanglewood, without interruption. I am dädt. We have changed our plans brilliantly (Feloo's decision): to remain here blessedly until the first of Sept, & loaf & compose and swim. Then I to Brazil on the 5th, alone (Chile wasn't such a good idea after all), then on to Iz [Israel]. Felicia, barring a great starring role, will join me in Iz (maybe with baby) around mid-October, & continue on through Italy with me.

Remember our rehearsed Washington investigation in the Napoleon bar in Boston? Well, it came true. Not a subpoena: but since my passport was not to be seen I finally went down to Washington & had to have a hearing with an ape at the State Department, &
got it
!! The great experience of it all was my lawyer whom I was insanely lucky to get – Jim McInerney,
⁶⁸
formerly heard of Criminal Investigation in the Dept of Justice – an old Commie-chaser – just the right
person to have on my side. And what a great person he is. It was worth the whole ghastly & humiliating experience just to know him, as well as the $3500 fee. Yes, that's what it costs these days to be a free American citizen.

All too depressing, but at least it's settled. I am told that the other things will be cleared as a result: the Committee files, & even
Red Channels
. McI[nerney] knows all these people on first-name terms: he's a great & valuable ally. But it's shameful that one needs such an ally to retain 1st class citizenship.

Where are you & where are you going? Dubrovnik?

Let us hear!?!

Love from all of us.

Ladümü (Lennuht)

Dear D,

This is the first moment for a breath in some months now. It has been an uninterrupted madness – the Brandeis festival, the two crazy weeks at the Stadium (recording each night from midnight on after the concert),
⁶⁹
and boom, Tanglewood. It's over now, & here come a blessed two weeks up here in the hills to loaf & compose & swim. I thought it would never happen. I am off to Brazil on 5 Sept. until the end of the month. Then all of Oct in Israel (why don't you hop over?) – then from Nov 5 on in Italy (Scala,
Florence
, & Rome). Isn't it nice – concerts in Florence too? Felicia will be with me from mid-October on, and we can make up for lost time.

Your letters all sound so ecstatic that I'm beginning to think you should never return to this country. Apparently you have everything you want now (except more performances: and they're coming). Let's hope it sustains: and why shouldn't it?

I have had a to-do in Washington getting my passport renewed. Ghastly & humiliating & expensive experience. But it worked out, largely due to a great lawyer named McInerney; and I can travel. But it's a pretty pass one has come to when one has to suffer so much embarrassment & costliness to retain one's first-class citizenship! I sometimes tremble for my country.

We have had the best Tanglewood summer so far: only a dearth of new works and/or American works. But it has been smooth & highly successful on
the academic level. Chávez was here, & a charmer he is. I did Sibelius 4th & stupefied the audience, poor kids, who didn't know what to make of it.

Now these two weeks I have to cram in a violin & orchestra piece & an opera (begin them, at least) – since it will be steady conducting until December. Very hard to know how to balance one's life & work. And you – are you turning exclusively literary? Libretto – and I hope music too.

Best to you and Ciro.
⁷⁰
It's not long til November.

Love,

Lenny

Lennie dear,

This time I think I have it. I don't know, but maybe Voltaire's
Candide
. I think it could make a really wonderful combination of opera – prose – songs. It's so obviously right that I wonder nobody has done it before, or have they? I am very excited by it, but I want to read it two or three times more, think about it, and not decide until – Anyway, please reread it quickly and let me know what you think, if you are free when you come back, etc. I think done right, it could have real style & wit, and great importance. Write quick. Much love to you, Madame, child & Italians.

Lillian

I wouldn't want to do the song lyrics. So if you like the idea – and I still do by the time you write – who would be good? Maybe a good
poet
?

And it would have to be written with kind of doll-like fairy tale scenery.

Dearest Lennie,

Your many questions from exotic parts I shall answer in a moment, but I must start with some news which we hope you will like and which might affect your plans – nay,
will
. George A[bbott]. is feverishly anxious to revive
On the Town
– and to do it at once. Both Adolph and I love the idea, and so does Jerry, and George will talk to Oliver about it. The idea, although not worked out at all yet – would be to have the six of us possibly getting all the money ($100,000 George thinks) together among ourselves, so we would own the thing. Ideally, we should
open in January – and George thinks a week of prevues in N.Y. and no out-of-town session. There are of course some workings on it we would all like to do. G.A. for some reason wondered whether we'd write another song for it. I don't think anything that drastic need be done – but of course we can't do this without you – nor would it be any fun to do it without you. I told George I'd write and get your ideas and schedule. This would of course eliminate your going on with your tours to any of those other cities beyond beginning of December. Coincidentally, two nights ago Chris showed the movies he had filmed of the performance of
On the Town
– and they looked simply marvelous and whetted our desire to see the wonderful thing running again. George is sure it will be a smash. We think it will be, too. What do
you
think? Please come home December as planned hmm?

As far as working on other shows in December we are still faced with no Hollywood date in Feb. We have made no, but I mean
no
, show plans – meeting daily though we have been. True, I have been getting settled here with help problems that cripple the creative spirit – but things are straightening out now.

The other questions: Yes, Atkinson on
Carnival
[
in Flanders
]
⁷¹
was great, and as you know the show has moved to the elephant graveyard along with
Hazel Flagg
.
⁷²
We are still the warmest ticket on B'way
⁷³
– with
Can-Can
⁷⁴
breathing hotly on our necks. The performances have been excellent. As for road company, Roz's
⁷⁵
plans, and the theatre TV deal, we have had three or four meetings since you left, and they have all been as thoroughly unresolved and unsatisfying as the one you attended. Roz won't say if she's staying or going, and we are on the same old tenter-type hooks.

As for other departments, Susanna is back at school – Alan is big and plump. Steve is fine. We had a party last night for Lena [Horne] and Lenny H[ayton], small but musical and late – and I merely stayed up a few minutes longer to give Alan a bottle at 5:45. I could pretend that sleepiness makes me write this way – but you know better – having plowed through the same hieroglyphs on Baker's pudding and other vital topics.

Anyway – isn't it exciting to think of
O
[
n
]
T
[
he
]
T
[
own
] again! And please tell us when to expect you.

Best on the tour, which sounds wonderful – and much, much love.

Bäddim