DEATH OF A SON

Letters

Thank you for Gloria Vanderbilt's story ["A Mother's Tale," May]. We survivors of a child's suicide are a family indeed. It is a lifelong test.

VIRGINIA ALBERT Falmouth, Virginia

"A Mother's Tale" made me feel emotions I've kept inside since my brother's suicide 10 years ago. Ms. Vanderbilt speaks of being in a glass bubble, a feeling I've had also since birth. I wish my hands could hold Ms. Vanderbilt's for a moment to let her know that she is not alone, that her pain is shared and understood. A woman I will probably never meet has touched my life with her story, a story of loss which echoes my own. Ms. Vanderbilt, I will try to work my way out of my bubble in memory of your son and my brother.

NICHOLAS CORRIN Whittier, California

Gloria Vanderbilt shows us the depth of grief that a mother can have at the loss of a child—a grief that transcends class and wealth. It seems that some people are under the impression that money buffers this kind of pain. Ms. Vanderbilt shows us that there is no gauge for such grief, unless it is a very primordial one.

JEFF STRAW Oakland, California

When I began reading Gloria Vanderbilt's account of her son's death, my first reaction was one of "yet another poor-little-rich-girl story of tragedy." But as she unfolded the horror and strange occurrences surrounding his suicide, I realized that the "haves" and the "have-nots" share at least two things— the sense of overwhelming grief over the loss of a child and the ability to survive it.

Having survived AIDS for more than six years now, I would be lying if I said that I had not thought of ending my life on more than one occasion.

I know now that I could never end my life. Regardless of the pain and uncertainty that may lie ahead, I could never leave my family with the doubts and unanswered questions Ms. Vanderbilt is facing. Her honesty and willingness to share with the public one of the most tragic and private things a family can experience has saved one life.

JOHN HOLLISTER Washington, D.C.

Scaling Mount Olympus

Annie Leibovitz's photographs of "The New Olympians" ["Let the Games Begin .. . ," May] were absolutely stunning.

What a gift to each of those athletes—and to us. MATTHEW E. CLOWNEY Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

As the daughter of a fencer, I found David Halberstam's "Anatomy of a Champion" [May] most informative.

At the time of his death, in February 1993, my father was the oldest living fencer in New York City, and he always considered it a privilege when a much younger man asked to fence with him.

ELIZABETH VOGT ROSSUCK East Hampton, New York

Your Annie Leibovitz "photolympics" portfolio was sensational, but you missed a great opportunity and dropped the ball—the fieldhockey ball, that is. Although the photo of the U.S. men's team was pleasant to the eye, why not bring to the public's eye the U.S. women's team, a bona fide medal contender, filled with world-class athletes?

SHARON STEELE Duluth, Georgia

Surely you could have selected a different pose for Mark Henry and Dominique Moceanu on your May cover. Throughout this country's history and legacy of slavery, black people, especially men, were often used and portrayed as "beasts of burden," as objects to be used and abused by adults, and as playthings for children. Ms. Moceanu is sitting on Mr. Henry's shoulder as if he were a chair.

CYNTHIA A. EVERETT Miami, Florida

Bravo! on your May '96 cover and coverage of the Olympic Games. It was worth the $3 for Annie Leibovitz's cover shot alone, to say nothing of the rest of her photographs.

KIMBERLY M. GOLDSTEIN Santa Barbara, California

Smoke Signals

Marie Brenner's article ["The Man Who Knew Too Much," May] was breathtaking in scope. The story provided more insight than any broadcast media could hope to offer. Even as all allegations against whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand were addressed, the picture was unmistakably clear: Big Tobacco, presuming that the public cares about Wigand's personal or marital battles, is blinded by smoke.

Brenner's article should be required reading in every junior high school in the nation to peel away any whitewashing public-relations hype these companies are trying to sell to create the next generation of nicotine addicts.

NANCY LINE JACOBS Omaha, Nebraska

Readers of Marie Brenner's article on Jeffrey Wigand might conclude that the challenge to Mr. Wigand's credibility was unfair, inaccurate, and perhaps even sinister. On the contrary, if any industry other than tobacco were involved, the scrutiny would be considered entirely appropriate and routine.

Mr. Wigand made serious public charges against officers of Brown & Williamson, some of which, if proved, could result in criminal indictments. Yet he has refused to be examined under oath and to substantiate them. The current charges must be considered in the context of his only available sworn testimony. In a January 26, 1994, deposition given under oath to the U.S. Department of Justice, Mr. Wigand answered this series of questions:

"Are you aware of any intent by Brown & Williamson to use outside counsel or its legal representative to further any crime or fraud?"

"Are you aware of any criminal or fraudulent behavior by Brown & Williamson as it relates to the manufacture and sale of cigarettes?"

"Are you aware of any effort by Brown & Williamson to prevent any of its current or former officers or employees from speaking to officials of the United States Government about its activities?"

"Or any effort by Brown & Williamson to influence anyone to testify falsely or give false information?"

To each and every question, Mr. Wigand responded with an unqualified "No."

In light of the contradictions between these statements and Mr. Wigand's statements to the press, the accused challenged his credibility. To that end, materials and facts that shed light on Wigand's personal and professional life were culled from the public record and made available to the press through my office. They were openly offered to, accepted by, and indeed requested by several news organizations.

After The Wall Street Journal examined the materials and essentially dismissed them, the Louisville CourierJournal, a nine-time Pulitzer Prizewinning newspaper and no friend of the tobacco industry, completed a lengthy investigation of the same documents and reported on March 28, 1996, that "an independent examination by this newspaper of available evidence concerning Wigand's professional and personal lives disclosed a consistent pattern of conflicting statements and embellishments." The CourierJournal concluded that "Wigand's actions may furnish his opponents with ammunition to paint him as a man with an inflated sense of self whose word cannot always be trusted and whose integrity may be suspect." The Courier-Journal also reported that these matters of character and past behavior will most likely be admissible in court.

If Ms. Brenner or a member of her family were publicly accused of a possible crime without proof by someone with Mr. Wigand's personal and professional history, would she not challenge his credibility? Of course she would— with total vigor. Mr. Wigand's targets simply exercised the same rights.

JOHN SCANLON Sag Harbor, New York

Mr. Scanlon is a paid consultant for the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.

Speaking of moral turpitude! Laurence Tisch is a perfect example of the type of person at the helm of American business today, where greed and personal power are the motivating forces. A concern for our children and the average person seems to have no place in business or social consciousness.

CLAYRE HAFT Coconut Grove, Florida

Fashion Victims

Everyone I know who shops in Barneys has lost sleep over your article ["Bringing Down Barneys," by Jennet Conant, May]. It seems to me that all of those people waiting for the demise of Barneys and gloating over the Pressmans' problems are suffering from a huge case of sour grapes. Whenever I visit New York, Barneys is always a destination.

LAURA GOLDBERG Miami Beach, Florida

Alas, weep not for Donna Karan and Hugo Boss for the uncollected debts they've amassed selling to Barneys. They'll survive. Sad to say, there are many small vendors and contractors owed a minute percentage of what Donna Karan is owed that may no longer be in business because they made the mistake of falling in with this vile company.

A more just justice would have taken the company away from the Pressmans and then sent the family to some Devil's Island, made out of itchy, limegreen (I take that back—lime green's too fashionable a color right now) polyester. Good riddance. It couldn't have happened to a nicer family.

M. C. MARTINO Glen Rock, New Jersey

When giant suppliers such as Hugo Boss, Donna Karan, and Hickey-Freeman do not get paid for merchandise delivered, who gets fired? Regrettably, employees who toil hour after hour, bent over sewing machines making goods that supply Barneys, a store they'll likely never shop at or visit. While Gene Pressman is dining at fashionable restaurants for $200, these fired workers are feeding their kids on macaroni five nights a week and, maybe once a week, some chopped meat for variety. Their vacations are not trips to Hawaii or Paris, but a walk to the East River or sitting on a stoop to catch the evening air.

To pamper yourself with a surfeit of luxuries while owing money to people who trusted you is to build a life upon the ruined lives of others.

MAGGIE SMITH Arlington, Virginia

I am a friend and neighbor of Holly Pressman's and found the references to her in your May article to be troubling. Holly is an intelligent and considerate person with great integrity. She is respected tremendously in our community as a person of commitment and an excellent, dedicated mother. She has taken her responsibilities at Barneys very seriously and has created a wonderful young boys' department, as fine as any in the city.

DEBORAH S. COGUT Greenwich, Connecticut

Your article about Barneys could have been titled "Lifestyles of the Spoiled Rotten." Would it be stretching the limits to compare the brothers Pressman and Menendez? In both cases we see two brothers spoiled rotten, endlessly greedy, and out of control. One pair killed their parents, while the other seems intent on killing their family dream—Barneys.

JAKE GREENBERG San Anselmo, California

Hunt No Further

Helen Hunt ["Mad About Helen," by David Kamp, May] is certainly one of that group of actors who have built careers on consistent good work. Enough with "the next hot thing"—give us the ones who have already proved themselves in that difficult arena that is Hollywood.

KENT MARTIN Burbank, California

A Day in the Life

Each time the mailman brings Vanity Fair, all activity planned for my day stops! It is one of my luxury moments in life to be able at 78 to sit quietly and absorb all that Vanity Fair offers. I had to send this thank-you to all who give their best talent to a magazine that, in my opinion, has no competition.

MILDRED P. WHITWORTH Chino Hills, California

CORRECTION:InJune's "Hot Type," by Elissa Schappell, the title of Nancy Friday's new book was given incorrectly. It is The Power of Beauty.

Letters to the editor should be sent with the writer's name, address, and daytime phone number to: The Editor, Vanity Fair, 350 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Address electronic mail to vfmail@vf.com. The letters chosen for publication may be edited for length and clarity.