Queen Bess
Page 51
Page 111. “My role from the start of the campaign was to help Ed.…”: Associated Press, September 21, 1977.
Page 112. “I have had such trouble with fat, ugly reporters.…”: Susan Berman, “Bess Myerson Is One Tough Customer,” New York, November 17, 1977.
Page 112. “See, That’s Bess Myerson.…”: New York Times, October 11, 1977.
Page 112. “I have enormous respect and deep affection for Ed.…”: “Will Bess Be First Lady Come November?”
Page 112. “It’s always a possibility.…”: “Will Bess Be First Lady Come November?”
Page 112. Bernie Rome: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 113. “I didn’t hold press conferences denying the substance of that fantasy.…”: Edward I. Koch, interview with author, 1988.
Page 113. “dispel rumors of any hint of homosexuality”: Beth Fallon, “Frayed Mayoral Rivals in Cutting TV Debate,” New York Daily News, October 31, 1977.
Page 113. “ugly, scurrilous and deliberate attempt”: Jane Perlez, “Koch: The Media Whispers,” Soho Weekly News, November 10, 1977.
Page 113. Joyce Purnick: Interview with author, 1989.
Page 114. “I must have my privacy.…”: “Bess Myerson Shuns a N.Y. City Hall Job,” United Press International, November 10, 1977.
Page 115. “Bess is coming back from vacation.…”: Bernie Rome, interview with author, 1988.
Chapter 18: Obsession
The material from this chapter comes primarily from interviews with confidential sources and the woman identified as Charlotte Ames. The pseudonyms Charlotte Ames and J. Gordon Marcus have been used in this chapter to protect their privacy. The author also consulted the New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Times, and New York magazine.
Page 117. “I should have married someone like you.…”: Charlotte Ames, interview with author, 1988.
Page 117. “Here was someone who was Jewish.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 117. Charlotte had no idea there was another woman: Charlotte Ames, interview with author, 1988.
Page 118. “a little bit too crazy for him.”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 118. “He appeared to be really enamored with Bess.…”: Patricia Morrisroe, “Bess and the Mess,” New York, March 30, 1987.
Page 118. “If I were twenty years younger, this never would have happened.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 118. “Men go after me, and I choose among them.”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 118. Bess told him that a chambermaid had let her in.: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 119. “unidentified woman”: Charlotte Ames, interview with author, 1988.
Page 119. Gordon suspected Bess was responsible: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 120. “I have never confused my personal life.…”: Liz Smith, New York Daily News, November 8, 1978.
Page 120. “We have absolute evidence of adultery.…”: “Bess Myerson Named in Divorce Case,” New York Post, March 26, 1979.
Page 120. “My God, of course it’s not true.…”: “Bess Myerson Named in Divorce Case.”
Page 121. A woman was on the other end: Charlotte Ames, interviews with author, 1988 and 1989.
Page 121. She has since told friends that she went to Miami for cosmetic surgery: Confidential sources, interviews with author, 1988.
Page 122. Armed with this information, Gordon confronted Bess: Charlotte Ames, interviews with author, 1988 and 1989.
Page 122. “Dear Nothing, …”: Anonymous letter, obtained from confidential source.
Chapter 19: “Too Tall, Too Beautiful, Too Rich”
Among the people interviewed for this chapter were Maurice Carroll, Pam Chanin, Maureen Connelly, Linda Davidoff, Dick Eaton, David Garth, former mayor Edward I. Koch, Ken Lerer, and Joyce Purnick. Other people interviewed for this chapter include three people who worked closely with Bess on the campaign who requested that their names not be used. Material for this chapter was also drawn from the New York Times, New York Post, New York Daily News, and New York magazine. The author also consulted records on file with the Federal Election Commission.
Page 123. “I don’t have anything more to do.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 124. “who’s who” of the rich and famous: Federal Election Commission campaign records.
Page 124. Gloria Steinem: “Steinem to Bess: Don’t Run,” New York Post, November 19, 1979.
Page 125. “I’ve always been Queen Bess.…”: Andrew Kopkind, “Bess Bets, The Candidate of the ‘New Crowd,’” Village Voice, December 12, 1979.
Page 125. Dick Eaton: Interview with author, 1989.
Page 125. “emotionally bind”: Gail Sheehy, “Women and Leadership: Bess Myerson,” New York Times, December 20, 1979.
Page 125. “boat people”: Frank Lynn, “Three Democrats on the Road in Quest for Javits’s Seat,” New York Times, March 14, 1980.
Page 125. “special magic”: “Women and Leadership: Bess Myerson.”
Page 125. “I have a history of really impacting.…”: Michael VerMeulen, “They Remember Bess,” New York, September 1, 1980.
Page 126. “Bess had no concept of money.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 126. “She thought that the volunteers who came to work at the apartment were helping themselves.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 127. “liberation of the typewriter”: Confidential sources, interviews with author, 1988.
Page 127. “She knew the doorman.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 127. “If you want to work on the campaign.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 127. “Her favorite thing to say.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 127. “She showed many sides of her personality.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 127. “She is a very smart, very shrewd person.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 128. “In the campaign she always had to be in control.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 128. “I told her I want to stay out of the Senate race.…”: “Garth Says No to Bess,” New York Post, April 6, 1979.
Page 128. “There was no way that Bess was going to beat that.…”: David Garth, interview with author, 1988.
Page 129. “I’m very proud of her.…”: Maurice Carroll, “Bess Myerson Formally Declares Her Bid to Unseat Senator Javits,” New York Times, May 8, 1980.
Page 130. Nancy Capasso: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 130. “Andy Capasso was really putting on the moves.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 131. Ken Lerer: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 131. Candy Jones: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 131. John Lindsay: Jane Perlez, “Bess Wears Turncoat Well, Lindsay Charges,” New York Daily News, August 20, 1980.
Page 131. “I have no question about my loyalty to consumers at all.”: “Bess Wears Turncoat Well, Lindsay Charges.”
Page 131. New York Daily News published a poll: Joan Nassivera, “Bess Is the Primary Favorite with New Yorkers,” New York Daily News, September 1, 1980.
Page 131. New York Times poll: Frank Lynn, “Poll Shows Bess Myerson Drawing Varied Support in Race for Senate,” New York Times, September 2, 1980.
Page 132. Maureen Connelly: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 132. The Times polls worried members of Holtzman’s staff: “Miss Holtzman Livens Campaign,” New York Times, September 3, 1980.
Page 132. Holtzman launched her harshest attack: Description of debate comes from interviews with the candidate’s campaign aides and from “Miss Holtzman Livens Campaign” and Bella English, “Liz
Belts Bess over Job with Israel Boycotter,” New York Daily News, September 3, 1980.
Page 132. “against every defense appropriation …”: E. J. Dionne, Jr., “Bess Myerson Steps Up Her Attack on Holtzman Arms Budget Votes,” New York Times, September 6, 1980.
Page 133. “If I win, he can sing.…”: Maurice Carroll, interview with author, 1988.
Page 133. “She was yelling and screaming at everybody.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 133. Marilyn Funt: Patricia Morrisroe, “Bess and the Mess,” New York, March 30, 1987.
Page 133. Pam Chanin: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 134. “too tall, too beautiful, too rich”: New York Daily News, March 31, 1981.
Page 134. “Queen of the Jews”: “Bess and the Mess.”
Page 134. Ken Lerer: Interview with author, 1988.
Chapter 20: The Letters
Most of the material for this chapter comes from the woman identified as Charlotte Ames and interviews with other confidential sources. Charlotte Ames and J. Gordon Marcus are pseudonyms used to protect the privacy of these sources.
Other material in this chapter is drawn from articles published in the New York Times and New York Daily News. The letters mentioned in the text were provided by a confidential source. Bess Myerson declined to discuss the letters, her relationship with the man identified as J. Gordon Marcus, and the police investigation.
Page 135. Charlotte Ames: All quotes and description of her feelings and thoughts come from Charlotte Ames, interviews with author, 1988 and 1989.
Page 135. Gordon had immediately suspected that Bess might be responsible: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 135. She had been furious with him: Confidential source, interview with author, 1989.
Page 135. Gordon was convinced that Bess was responsible for the letters: Charlotte Ames, interviews with author, 1988 and 1989.
Page 135. Bess angrily suggested … that Charlotte might be writing the letters: Confidential source, interview with author, 1989.
Page 136. July 15: Description of telephone calls with Bess’s secretary and Bess comes from Charlotte Ames, interviews with author, 1988 and 1989.
Page 140. Gordon was spending most of his time with a young woman who worked as a producer: Confidential source, interview with author, 1989.
Page 141. Bergdorf Goodman shopping bag: Details about the incident come from Charlotte Ames, interview with author, 1988, and confidential sources, interviews with author, 1989.
Page 141. Gordon called Bess: Confidential source, interview with author, 1989.
Page 142. November 14: Confidential source, interview with author, 1989.
Page 142. O’Meara’s report: Joyce Purnick, “Behavior of Myerson Cited in ’80, Police Report Found Obsessive Conduct,” New York Times, June 20, 1987.
Page 142. Years later Bess refused to discuss: Bess Myerson, interviews with author, 1989.
Page 143. McGuire recalled telling Koch that Bess might be “acting out.…”: “Behavior of Myerson Cited in ’80.”
Page 143. Koch acknowledges: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 143. “It was a very low time.…”: Bess Myerson, interview with author, February 1989.
Page 143. “telephone relationship”: Bess Myerson, interview with author, February 1989.
Page 143. “When she lost that campaign.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 144. “He is a stand-up guy.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 144. “After the election was over.…”: Patricia Morrisroe, “The Bess Mess,” New York, March 30, 1987.
Page 144. “I watched him, and my memory came back.…”: Bess Myerson, interview with author, February 1989.
Page 144. Andy would tell his wife he had to attend late-night meetings: Nancy Capasso, interviews with author, 1987 and 1988.
Page 145. “Sweat came pouring down my face.…”: New York Daily News, April 15, 1981.
Page 145. “She was completely disoriented.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 145. Nancy Capasso: Interview with author, 1988.
Chapter 21: Andy and Nancy
Among the people interviewed for this chapter were Nancy Capasso, Myrna Felder, Raoul Lionel Felder, Sam Fredman, and Judith Yeager. Many of the details about Andy’s early life were drawn from court records, including divorce papers from Capasso v. Capasso. The author also consulted records from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and articles published in Newsday, the New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, New York magazine, and Vanity Fair. Except where noted, all of the quotes from Nancy Capasso come from several interviews with the author in 1987 and 1988. Andy Capasso declined to be interviewed for this book.
Page 146. “I’ve received a press release.…”: New York Times, January 2, 1981.
Page 146. “She would call him Mr. Capasso.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 146. “sleazy”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 146. Carl Andy Capasso was born: Details about Andy Capasso’s early life come from interviews with his ex-wife, Nancy, and from his presentence memorandum, filed March 24, 1987, with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.
Page 147. Andy still remembers the electric company: Andy Capasso’s presentence memorandum.
Page 147. Allyn Kandel: Letter from Allyn Kandel to U.S. district judge Charles B. Stewart, February 5, 1987.
Page 147. Richard Haas: Letter from Richard Haas to U.S. district judge Charles B. Stewart, undated.
Page 148. “There was instant chemistry.”: All quotes and details about Nancy Capasso’s background come from Nancy Capasso, interviews with author, 1987 and 1988.
Page 148. “So when are you going to invite me in for a cup of coffee?”: Nancy Capasso, interview with author, 1988.
Page 149. Judith Yeager: Interview with author, 1989.
Page 149. “He was madly in love.…”: Judith Yeager, interview with author, 1989.
Page 149. He claimed the N in Nanco stood for Naples: Capasso v. Capasso divorce papers.
Page 151. former Teamster boss John Cody: Murray Weiss and Doug Feiden, “Capasso Wheels and Deals,” New York Post, September 22, 1977.
Page 151. “There isn’t a person who is using cement.…”: Marie Brenner, “Compromising Positions: Bess Myerson and Her World,” Vanity Fair, December 1988.
Page 152. “social Sahara.”: “Compromising Positions: Bess Myerson and Her World.”
Page 152. “Things were bad before Bess.…”: Cindy Adams, New York Post, December 16, 1988.
Page 153. “light and space of an Italian piazza”: Architectural Digest, April 1983.
Page 154. Judith Yeager: Interview with author, 1988.
Chapter 22: The Other Woman
Among the people interviewed for this chapter were Nancy Capasso, Raoul Lionel Felder, Myrna Felder, Mort Fleischner, Sam Fredman, and Judith Yeager. The author also consulted records from Capasso v. Capasso. The author also drew material from articles published in Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Times, New York magazine, and Vanity Fair. All of the quotes from Nancy Capasso in this chapter come from several interviews with the author during 1987 and 1988. Andy Capasso declined to be interviewed for this book.
Page 155. “I had a bad fall.…” “Bess: ‘Off my back and feeling great!’”, New York Daily News, February 4, 1981.
Page 155. “I think he was in total awe of her.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 155. “You think I don’t want to go out.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1989.
Page 155. “table manners”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 155. “He seemed like such a nice man.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 156. Jud
ith Yeager: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 156. “Bess gave him all of that.…”: All quotes from Nancy Capasso come from interviews with author, 1987 and 1988.
Page 156. “The best is for Bess.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 157. “took the whole diet out of context.…”: Jane Brody, “Assessing the ‘I Love New York Diet,’” New York Times, March 10, 1982.
Page 157. “It was a curiosity.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 157. six-figure contract: “TV Agent Suing Bess Myerson,” New York, November 15, 1982.
Page 157. Mort Fleischner: Interview with author, 1989.
Page 158. he saw investment potential: Capasso v. Capasso divorce papers.
Page 159. “just friends”: Nancy Capasso, interview with author, 1987.
Page 159. Bess was not thrilled: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 159. “Be nice to Nancy.”: Patricia Morrisroe, “Bess and the Mess,” New York, March 30, 1987.
Page 159. Some of Bess’s friends were appalled: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 160. Tony Bailey: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 160. “I never knew whether he was going to be there.…”: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 162. she had put cyanide in his food: Capasso v. Capasso divorce papers.
Page 162. “You just worry about making money.…”: Capasso v. Capasso divorce papers.
Page 162. Judith Yeager: Interview with author, 1989.
Page 163. “Where are you going? …”: Capasso v. Capasso divorce papers.
Page 163. Andy was enraged: Description of beating comes from Nancy Capasso, Judith Yeager, and court testimony before family court judge Bruce Kaplan.
Page 164. “seriously depressed …”: Capasso v. Capasso divorce papers.
Page 164. “Mr. Capasso is the sweetest, gentlest of men.…”: “Bess and the Mess.”
Page 165. Judge Bruce Kaplan: Court transcript, family court hearing, December 28, 1982.
Page 165. “cruel and inhuman treatment”: Capasso v. Capasso divorce papers.
Page 165. she was thinking about dumping Andy: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.