VANITY FAIR

APRIL 2008

NO. 572

VANITYFAIR.COM

FEATURES

WHO SAYS WOMEN AREN’T FUNNY? | 182

Finding humor in the tragic, 12 of the funniest females in show business—including Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Sarah Silverman—get tarted up as today’s tabloid train wrecks for Annie Leibovitz’s camera, while Alessandra Stanley debunks the notion that comedy lies on the Y chromosome. (Wonder where she got that idea.,.)

THE GAZA BOMBSHELL | 192

His legacy staked on Middle East democracy and a Palestinian peace plan, President Bush has once again managed to sow bloodshed and extremism instead. With confidential documents and accounts from government insiders, David Rose exposes the White House’s covert plan for a coup against the elected Hamas government, which backfired disastrously, leaving Gaza—and more guns—in the hands of Israel’s bitterest enemies,

BOND AMBITION | 198

Michael Roberts and A. A. Gill spotlight Russian seductress Olga Kurylenko, the latest notch on James Bond’s belt, in this fall’s Quantum of Solace.

A CLAIM TO CAMELOT | 200

V.F. editor David Friend, who broke the “Deep Throat” story, has seen his share of crooks and crazies offering scoops. But Jack Worthington, a Texas-born financier who believed he was President Kennedy’s illegitimate son, appeared to be legit. A cautionary tale, spanning two continents and involving spooky convergences, no/r-like plot twists, a J.F.K. hair sample, and Sharon Bush. Photograph by Harry Benson.

THE REBEL ANGELS | 204

Bursting onto the charts in the early 70s, Carole King,

Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon were the smart, searching, sexy voices of a new generation. In an excerpt from her forthcoming triple biography, Sheila Weller zeroes in on the relationships—with the likes of Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Mick Jagger, and (of course) Warren Beatty—that helped inspire their hits.

THE 2007 WINDFALL REPORT: AMERICA’S 50 RICHEST PAYDAYS | 216

With a list of top bonanzas for 2007—Larry Ellison’s Oracle-stock sale, Stephen Schwarzman’s take from the Blackstone I.P.O., and Roxanne Quimby’s handover of Burt’s Bees to Clorox, among them—Peter Newcomb identifies who’s got a whole lot more to spend this year.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42

CALVIN TO THE CORE | 218

For decades, Calvin Klein’s life and designs were inseparable, from his Studio 54-era fashion coronation until the day he sold his company, in 2003, and found himself staring into the void. As Klein talks about that tough transition with Ingrid Sischy, Bruce Weber photographs the style icon’s seductive new self.

FANFAIR

30 DAYS IN THE LIFE OF THE CULTURE | 107

Rose’s turn: David Kaufman spotlights Patti LuPone and Broadway’s Gypsy revival | 107

The Cultural Divide | 108

A. M. Homes profiles artist Alex Beard; Cullen Murphy on Lewis Lapham’s latest literary foray | 110

My Stuff: Lulu de Kwiatkowski; Jonathan Kelly gets tied up with Alexander Olch | 112

Entertaining is fun, again | 116

The old-school rules of attraction | 118

Hot Type | 120

Graham Fuller reviews The Life Before Her Eyes; Night-Table Reading; H. Scott Jolley goes gaga for Good Girl Art | 122

Olivia Strand’s holistic prescription; Hot Looks; Chloe’s fragrant evolution; Thierry Mugler gets made up | 124

COLUMNS

THE BEST OF ENEMIES | 130

The phlegmatic, reclusive John Malone and the charismatic, flamboyant Barry Diller have faced off in a Delaware courtroom for control of Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp. Given the tycoons’ history, Michael Wolff writes, it was bound to be one helluva fight. Illustrations by John Corbitt.

BEIJING’S OLYMPIC MAKEOVER | 136

Beijing’s Olympic preparations have their comic moments, such as watching the normally chaotic city practice queuing on the 11th of each month. But despite the spectacular new buildings and the behavior modification, William Langewiesche argues, China’s bid for superpower respect is ultimately doomed.

HALL OF FAME | 144

Holly Brubach nominates Gina Gibney Dance for the company’s blend of art and action in helping victims of domestic violence. Portrait by Mary Ellen Mark.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 66

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 56

THE $3 TRILLION WAR 147

As the U.S. prepared to invade Iraq, the White House estimated the cost at $50 to $60 billion. In an excerpt from their new book, Joseph E. Stiglitz and Linda J. Bilmes place the true price tag in the trillions. Illustration by Edward Sorel.

GOOD EVENING, VIETNAM! | 154

An aging, divorced ex-restaurateur trapped in the S0H0St. Barth’s-Hamptons grind, Brian McNally moves to Saigon, where the girls are kind, the clip joints plentiful, and the field trips hair-raising. Photographs by John Stanmeyer.

KRASINSKI’S COFFEE BREAK | 160

John Huba and Julian Sancton spotlight The Office’s John Krasinski, who has teamed up with George Clooney in the 20s gridiron romp Leatherheads.

SKETCHBOOK | 162

James Bennett illustrates the challenge facing the early paparazzi, who lacked telephoto lenses—or even cameras.

ROBERT FRANK’S UNSENTIMENTAL JOURNEY | 164

The Americans, Robert Frank’s 1958 book, changed how a nation saw itself—and how photographers saw the world. A half-century later, Charlie LeDuff follows the master to China for a historic show. Photograph by Edward Keating.

VANITIES

SUMMER TIME | 179

Bruce McCall’s endnotes to Daffy Duck’s biography | 180

Howard Schatz captures Chloe Sevigny in character | 180

Rudy Giuliani explains himself to Craig Brown | 181

That Was Then and This Is Now I 181

ET CETERA

EDITOR’S LETTER | 82

CONTRIBUTORS | 85

LETTERS Keeping Up with the Indiana Joneses | 100

FAIRGROUND Art Fair | 127

CREDITS | 252

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE Julie Andrews | 254

TO FIND CONDE NAST MAGAZINES ONLINE. VISIT www.condenet.com; TO FIND VANITY FAIR. vrsiTwww.vanityfair.com.