Up until now, the only time that Gertrude Stein was ever a presence at the White House, as far as I know, was on December 30, 1934 when she and Alice were invited to tea by Eleanor Roosevelt. From what I’ve read, a good time was had by all.
Teatime with Eleanor, 1933
Not sure if Barack or Michelle are aware of Gertrude in recent days, but someone on the presidential staff may have taken a major step backwards into the era of the Salem witch trials or more recently Joseph McCarthy’s un-American activities committee, when they felt the necessity to re-issue the May 1st proclamation announcing the 7th annual Jewish Heritage Month.
Once upon a time in Salem...
Joe Mc and friend, 1954
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The following post is rated R ,”Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian!”
In the last few months there has been a controversy raging following the publishing of Barbara Will’s book Unlikely Collaboration: Gertrude Stein, Bernard Fay, and the Vichy Dilemma. In her book, Will delves into one of the aspects of Gertrude’s life that is recounted every few years in various books and articles: how did she and Alice as lesbian, American Jews survive in Nazi-occupied France during WWII? Gertrude’s close friendship with Fay, a Vichy government sympathizer, and his role in preventing GertrudeandAlice from being rounded up by the Nazis is not new information. However, it is Will’s contention that Stein too held strong pro-Vichy and pro-Nazi sentiments that has caused a firestorm in a large contingency of the Stein Fan Club.
But now there is a new, potential controversy brewing regarding my picture book Gertrude and Alice and Fritz and Tom.
The word “Pussy” is used four times in the book- pages 4, 13, 35, and 61 and is one of the many affectionate names GertrudeandAlice had for each other.
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