GEORGE PLIMPTON

George Plimpton, who died September 25, wore lightly his New York upper-class WASP heritage, but it was the real thing. Scorning entitlements of birth, he followed the young writers' trail to Paris in the 1950s and co-founded The Paris Review. Thanks to Plimpton's dedication and perseverance, it survived and continues to set the gold standard for literary magazines. Meanwhile, Plimpton was becoming a celebrity by acting out sports fantasies and writing up his experiences in bestselling books. He played quarterback for the Detroit Lions (Paper Lion), joined the PGA circuit (The Bogey Man). Though basically nonpolitical, he was a friend of The Nation, volunteering to emcee fundraising events. During the Reagan Administration Victor Navasky proposed an article for Plimpton--call it "Paper Attorney General." The idea was, he would use his history as a participatory journalist to wangle a chance to replace Ed Meese for a day. Once in the suite of power, he would issue a proclamation repealing the long list of reactionary policies the Meese Justice Department had imposed. It would have been a great stunt, but the department never got around to giving our friend the green light. Too bad--and sadder still that our friend George is no longer with us.

ARTHUR KINOY

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