Video clip from the television program The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
February 3, 1976, with guest, comic, Don Rickles:
[Carson] “Speaking of the election, Barbara Walters — “
[Rickles] “Nobody, Johnny, was more distraught than Barbara about the possibilities of a possible Wockefeller-Widge ticket in ‘68.”
[Carson] (laughing) “I’m sorry. Wockefeller? Don’t you mean — “
[Rickles] (deadpan) “Come on, Grandpa, keep up with me.”
[Carson] “Whatever happened to Ridge? He just disappeared.”
[Rickles] (picks up his glass of water with his pinky extended, then returns it to the desk in a fey motion) “I have no idea.”
[Carson] (flustered) “Okay now, let’s be nice...”
July 1964, San Francisco, California
Margot wore a forced smile as she and Carter joined Governor Rockefeller on the dais of the Cow Palace. The boos were deafening, as the raucous convention floor erupted in an incessant roar of jeers and chants of “We Want Barry!” Rockefeller had just given his five-minute speech to the attendees following the reading of the party platform. It was an ignoble end to a fruitless campaign, and as he stood with his clenched jaw scanning the thousands of conservatives hoisting their placards and banners for Goldwater, Rockefeller turned to Carter and shouted into his ear over the din, “They love me.”
Carter laughed, and soon they all descended the stairs to the back, and entered the labyrinthine catacombs of the convention hall. Cables and electrical boxes were everywhere, as were various party officials and handlers. Rockefeller’s campaign manager came over and gave him a somber nod as he shook his hand.
“Oh, Rocky, I’m so sorry it ended like this,” Margot said. She rubbed his upper back with her silk-gloved hand, and then said, “Let’s head back to the hotel for some drinks.”
Rockefeller smiled and said, “No, I think I just want to relax by myself for the evening. It’s been quite a few days. But thank-you, Margot. You and Carter were wonderful tonight.”
After a final handshake and wave, Rockefeller made his way through the dark tunnel towards his waiting car. Margot and Carter walked in a daze after the punishment they had just witnessed, and despite the handshakes and greetings from various party functionaries as they continued back out onto the convention floor towards the South Carolina delegation, Carter felt as if he had failed. The self-criticism that he had perfected all of these years, of needing to be not just good, but perfect, and over-delivering, had returned. Maybe it was because he was with Margot, who seemed to be an unconscious instigator for that inner condemnation he had carried with him from his childhood up until he’d met Gabriel. Regardless, he realized he felt as if he was back on that virtual escalator, moving ever upward again with Margot by his side. Now that the Rockefeller launch had exploded, this was the time for him to tell Margot that he, too, was finished.
Carter’s thoughts went to Gabriel, who was surely watching the convention back at his parents’ home in Spartanburg. It was after 10 p.m. in San Francisco, so even later back east, and Carter was hungry and tired. As they passed the Rhode Island delegation, the state’s delegates saw him and cheered. Carter waved back, shaking hands with their governor, Lincoln Chafee.
“You’re up, young man,” Chafee yelled into his ear over the noise on the convention floor. “1968 is your year!”
Carter gave a weak smile back and kept walking, wading through the throng with Margot. Once Carter had come back to join the rest of his state’s delegates, Darren walked over and leaned in to tell Carter that Senator Thurmond wanted to meet with him up in the Goldwater V.I.P. suite in the rafters above the Cow Palace floor.
“Thurmond wants to see me,” Carter told Margot. “And then afterwards, let’s leave.”
Carter showed his credentials to the burly security men guarding the final flight of stairs up to the skybox where Goldwater’s closest advisors were holding court. As he and Margot arrived at the top, a second security detail, presumably the Secret Service, opened the door for them. Inside the large room was a wall of televisions, one for each of the three networks, and against the thick glass windows stood several recognizable figures, one of who was Senator Thurmond. He turned when he saw them walk over, and excused himself from the other men standing watching the gleeful bedlam on the convention floor.
“Governor, Miss Margot,” he said smiling, “Thank-you for coming at this late hour, I know y’all are probably ready to head out for some dinner.”
Margot gave Thurmond a kiss on his cheek, and said, “Heavens, it is so much more civilized up here than down there with the rabble!”
Carter shook Thurmond’s hand and said, “Well, when you call, I listen, senator. What can I do for you?”
Thurmond motioned over for one of the suite’s waiters to bring some drinks, saying, “What would y’all like? The senator has some of this fizzy gold punch that one of his supporters is trying to market, but it takes like, well, I don’t quite care for it. How about some scotch, Carter. Isn’t that your drink of choice?”
“Good memory, sir, yes, that would be fine,” Carter said.
“And for you, Miss Margot? Some champagne perhaps? Honestly, I didn’t know that you’d be joining us also, but it’s just as well.”
“Champagne would be lovely, dear,” Margot said.
Thurmond nodded to the waiter who left to prepare their glasses.
“The Senator plans on announcing his running mate tomorrow night,” Thurmond said. “We’re looking for some balance on the ticket. One has to consider many things in making such a monumental choice, as I’m sure you are aware.”
Carter nodded and wondered where all of this was leading.
“Thank-you,” he said to the waiter when he brought their drinks.
“Well, Senator,” Margot said, “I’d like to give a toast to Senator Goldwater, our next President of the United States.”
Thurmond arched his eyebrows and with a grin said, “Cheers,” raising his highball. “Besides geographical balance, the senator was also wanting to unite the party behind him with a more moderate vice-presidential pick.”
“I see,” Margot said after sipping from champagne. “Do tell.”
“Well, Carter, I’ve been walking around the convention floor the past few days. You know it’s amazing what folks are willing to tell you, all of this gossip, all of these stories that folks come up with in their head,” Thurmond said, waving his hand as if he was pushing through a crowd. “I love to listen to folks, though.”
He gave Carter a friendly wink, and then continued.
“Scranton’s finished, Rockefeller is dead in the water, and Nixon, well, he’s damaged goods, but he’s going to be putting the Senator’s name into nomination tomorrow night. Has a lovely speech all written up and been practicing it like one of those wind-up toys you give your kids.”
“I met with the former vice-president not too long ago,” Carter said, “He’s a formidable speaker, I’m sure he’s going to do a great job.”
Thurmond smiled, and said, “Hmmm. Yes, well. I’m sure he will.”
He put down his highball on a table next to him, and crossed his arms across his chest, as if he were examining Carter. “What I heard from a great many delegates down there, Carter, was that you’ve generated a lot of interest. Yes sir. A lot of folks are expectin’ great things from you. You’re the next big thing, picking up the fallen banner for all of those moderates and liberals who are drowning their sorrows tonight.”
“That’s kind of you to say, Senator,” Carter said, as he began to feel uncomfortable.
“Oh, but that’s not all they’re sayin’, son,” Thurmond said, fixing his gaze more directly on him. “No sir. Folks are saying that you’d be a wonderful pick for vice-president.”
Margot gasped, and looked at Carter.
“My word,” Margot said, “What a compliment! Carter, dear, isn’t that wonderful?”
Carter returned Thurmond’s gaze, not betraying any emotion.
“Yes sir,” Thurmond said, “Everybody is all excited about the young governor from South Carolina, this handsome young man with his fortune, and his lovely wife,” he said turning to Margot. “But, I’m wondering, is everything as it appears? My experience has been that sometimes when something appears too perfect, that there’s something a bit off about it, you know, a little queer.”
Carter stood straighter, staring at Thurmond in the eyes.
“So, what about this good-looking young cadet of yours?”
Margot shot Carter a glance, but Carter still trained his stare on Thurmond.
“Yes, this young companion, what’s his name? Cadet Sawyers, I believe,” Thurmond said. “Seems like you two are awfully close. Awfully close.”
He looked down and picked up his highball for a sip.
“I’m sure it’s just rumors,” Thurmond said. “People love to talk.”
Margot cleared her throat, and knowing her, Carter was sure that she was reaching in her rhetorical arsenal for the equivalent of an atomic bomb. She had her own rumor to share, regarding Thurmond’s black daughter, his illegitimate love child, and he was certain that she was not afraid to use it despite Carter’s forbidding it. With the possibility of his being crowned the next in line, whether as Goldwater’s running mate, or as the de-facto heir apparent following Goldwater’s inevitable loss in November, Carter knew that Margot would use everything at her disposal to secure his place.
But it wasn’t his place anymore. He had already mentally left the playing field, and his mind was already running to Gabriel, and the life they would lead once this was behind him.
“Senator,” Margot began.
“No, Margot,” Carter said, putting up his hand. “Don’t.”
She gave him a fierce look, as if she had just unsheathed a sword and was going in for the kill. Her lips were pursed, ready to unleash the sad tale of how a poor, young white man, living in the backwater of Edgefield County during Jim Crow, had impregnated the family’s black housekeeper. Before she could deliver her venom, Carter said, “Senator, you’re right.”
“Excuse me?” Thurmond said, surprised.
“You’re right, I do have a male companion. Cadet Sawyers,” Carter said, his heart pumping doubly hard. He was no longer speaking just for himself, but for Gabriel as well. He took a deep breath and continued.
“He and I are lovers.”
“Carter!” Margot said. “What are you saying?”
Carter turned to her, and squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin, said, “It’s true, Gabriel and I are lovers. I am ending my political career. I’m sorry to have to tell you this way, but I was going to tell you later tonight anyway. It’s over.”
Margot appeared as if she were in shock, as if she were watching everything in front of her dissolve into mist. Senator Thurmond didn’t say anything, until finally murmuring, “I’m going to let the two of you alone.”
Carter stood quietly, looking at Margot. There were no tears in her eyes, but there was an angry hurt that seared his soul.