Workshop: Using Historical References part 2
Notes: I did read that they danced to the Twist at the Kennedy White House, and it created quite a stir in those more innocent days!
It’s true! Jackie Kennedy doing the Twist in the White House caused all sorts of commentary! Ah, such innocent days! ;)
Chapter Two
The Silver Age
New Year’s Eve, 1962
Earth-One
The chandeliers sparkled in the East Room as the bejeweled and tuxedoed crowd partied at the White House. The Marine Band played, and there would be Hollywood entertainment later in the evening. The President and First Lady greeted their guests in the receiving line, a glittering couple to whom people were drawn, power and glamour radiating out from them both.
The Kennedys were a glamour couple, even without the tremendous cachet of being President and First Lady. Their parties and banquets were not just obligatory state or traditional functions, but often cultural affairs that appealed to not just politicians but intellectuals and glitterati.
Suddenly the crowd stirred, and two figures flew into the room. Cheers and applause sprang up as Superman and Supergirl alighted and were immediately urged to the front of the line.
“A pleasure to see you,” JFK greeted them, warmly shaking hands. His wife Jackie gave Supergirl a quick hug, the younger woman beaming.
“Well, it only seemed appropriate to close out the old year with a swing by such distinguished company,” Superman said cheerfully.
I inserted some DCU history to begin. Kara Zor-El came to Earth in the ‘real-time’ of 1959, and trained under her older cousin Kal for three years. By 1962, she was “officially” presented to the world as Supergirl, so having her show up with Superman at the White House in December of that year fit.
“Oh, brother? Isn’t that laying it on a bit thick?”
From a corner by a large potted palm, Bruce Wayne looked down at his young ward, squeezing his shoulder. “Well, Dick, I think Jack Kennedy knows a politically-savvy equal when he sees one. See that twinkle in his eye? He’s nothing if not aware.” Bruce’s amusement was mirrored by Dick, who grinned up at him.
Creating the atmosphere of 1962 required me to comment often, through dialogue or thoughts, on the Kennedys. They were a major reason for the optimistic, youthful, exciting sense of the times. Of course we look back now and know that he was a serial philanderer and their marriage was shaky at best, but unless you’re doing a time-travel fic with someone from our present going back to the past, you have to write the characters as they see things in 1962. And even if Bruce was aware of JFK’s extramarital affairs, he wasn’t likely to say so at a White House New Year’s Eve ball.
Bruce watched his old friend and Supergirl as they graciously posed for photographs with the First Couple, spent fifteen minutes talking to the Kennedys and other guests, then bid the crowd goodbye as they flew out a hastily-opened window into the clear winter’s night.
“They make grand entrances and exits, don’t they?”
Bruce turned with a smile as he greeted Wonder Woman on the arm of her lover, Major Steve Trevor. They were as well-matched a couple as the Kennedys: she stunning in a white strapless satin gown shot through with silver threads in swirling patterns, her Amazon bracelets concealed under formal elbow-length white gloves while diamonds sparkled at her throat and in the tiara perched atop her fashionably-coiffed dark hair; he in his Air Force dress uniform, buttons gleaming and blond hair a bit rakish.
Of course if I included Diana in this fic, I had to include Steve Trevor. This is the pre-Modern Era Steve, a young, very handsome Air Force pilot who would match well with the Amazon Princess at an affair like this one. Steve’s inclusion helps evoke the Silver Age era.
“Hello, Princess. You look stunning as usual.”
Diana’s smile was warm as she embraced Bruce and Dick, Steve shaking hands with them.
“You both look handsome in your tuxes.” She and Bruce exchanged amused looks at Dick’s blush.
“Princess!”
Diana was drawn away by the French ambassador. As Ambassador from Paradise Island, she carried diplomatic credentials in addition to her superhero status. Dick went in search of buffet food and Bruce snagged two champagne glasses from a white-gloved waiter, offering one to Steve.
“Nice little bash,” Steve said as he sampled the champagne.
“Just a little something Jackie threw together.”
Steve grinned. Being Wonder Woman’s paramour allowed him to often mingle with the rich and famous, and a name drop like that amused rather than irritated him.
“Well, she does a fine job.”
“She does.” As a major contributor to the Kennedy campaign in 1960, Bruce was often invited to special White House events. He was also called in as a consultant on business matters, and enjoyed time spent with the young President. The man knew how to inspire people. “Alfred would approve of her historic redecoration here.”
Through character dialogue here, I’ve established that Bruce has ties with the Kennedys, a likely scenario given his wealth (campaign contributor) and the likelihood that he and JFK ran in the same circles: Eastern upper class, Harvard graduates, and for the purposes of this story, Democratic Party ties. Even though Bruce is Old Money and JFK’s family is New Money, the power of the Presidency is an attractive lure even for Old Money. Besides, idealism was a big factor in the JFK Administration attracting young, intelligent people from all walks of life.
I’ve also given the reader some information on Jackie Kennedy’s major redecoration project through casual dialogue. She hunted up authentic historical pieces and decorated each room in the style of past eras, and even gave a televised tour of the White House in 1962 that was a smash in terms of ratings and buzz.
“Ah, your butler.”
“Yes.” Diana must have mentioned Alfred.
Steve watched Diana as she charmed the French Ambassador, speaking his language as Jackie Kennedy had done with General DeGaulle in a state visit to Paris in 1961.
A quick little narrative fact thrown in about the state visit which prompted JFK to say that he was “the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris.”
Bruce admired the fresh-faced beauty of Supergirl, who was utterly charming in her costume that reminded him of a figure skater, yet women like Diana and Jackie were at the height of womanly sophistication. Little wonder that Steve was enchanted.
“Hi, Major Trevor!”
“Hi, Dick. Hey, the food looks pretty good.”
“Yeah, you and Wonder Woman should check it out.”
As Dick and Steve talked, Bruce reflected on his opinion of the young Major. He and Dick had worked with him as Batman and Robin on occasion. Steve didn’t know their true identities, though Bruce suspected he knew that the Princess Diana was his military assistant Diana Prince. At any rate, Steve was intelligent and courageous, brash and a little too willing to put himself in harm’s way, but Bruce chalked that up to the male impulse to protect the woman he loved, Amazon or not.
Bruce sipped at his champagne. Of course Diana could take care of herself, but Steve had saved her more than once. Queen Hippolyta might not approve of him as a potential mate, but he had proven worthy on more than one occasion.
Since it’s New Year’s Eve, using the reflective technique works well here. Bruce is giving us more of the Silver Age character of Steve and the Queen’s disapproval at this point in time.
At first glance, Bruce had wondered why a man would be attracted to a lover stronger than he was, then had ruefully admitted, how could he talk?
Diana’s voice broke into his reverie as she replied to something that Steve had just said. “Thank you, darling, and may I say that all three of you gentlemen are charming companions tonight?” Dick beamed at his inclusion.
“I agree, Princess.”
Bruce immediately looked up at the owner of the new voice. His eyes sparkled as he saw Clark standing in front of him, looking magnificent in his formalwear. Kansas country boy or not, he was a delicious sight.
Linda was by his side, her brunette wig attractively styled and her pale green gown an excellent choice. She wore a simple necklace of a pearl attached to a silver chain.
“So, working on New Year’s Eve, Clark?” Bruce asked.
“The society columnist was sick, so Perry sent me, and I invited Linda along.”
Time to introduce Silver Age Linda Lee!
There was comfortable chitchat, then the group gradually broke up into smaller circles. Dick and Linda conversed happily, both glad for someone close to their own age, and Diana was dragooned again by another diplomat.
Steve said, “I think everyone’s a little giddy tonight, considering the fact that the world almost blew up a few months ago.”
“I’d agree with that.” Clark adjusted his cufflink. “Certainly, some tense moments during the Cuban Missile Crisis.”
Steve nodded. “I can tell you, it was pretty dicey flying those recon missions over Cuba. I didn’t mind when Superman took over those duties.”
“Ah, yes, he’s handy to have around.” Clark pushed his glasses up his nose.
“Well, we can say we live in exciting times.” Steve finished his champagne.
Clark and Bruce exchanged smiles.
I figured that a major event such as the Cuban Missile Crisis would be discussed at some point in the evening. It was still fairly fresh in everyone’s minds as it had taken place in October. Recon missions had to be flown over Cuba and so it would be logical to place Steve in this duty.
“Here, let me get you a refill, Steve, And a fresh one for you, Clark.”
Bruce’s fingers brushed Clark’s hand as he signaled a waiter. The tingle skittered up his arm.
“Clark! One of my favorite journalists.”
The three men turned and greeted the President, who warmly shook Clark’s hand. A former reporter himself, he enjoyed a good rapport with newsmen.
Once again a fact about JFK can be inserted here by linking his journalistic past with his present good rapport with newsmen like Clark.
“It’s a pleasure to be here, Mr. President.”
“Having a good time, Bruce?” JFK clapped the millionaire on the arm.
Bruce carefully refrained from calling him ‘Jack’. It wouldn’t be proper protocol at the moment.
Another indication that Bruce and Jack Kennedy are on a first-name basis.
“Always glad to ring in the New Year in style, Mr. President.”
“Major Trevor, I’m glad you could escort the Princess here tonight.”
“So am I, Mr. President.”
The men grinned, then JFK asked, “How’s your cousin doing? Is he still planning on joining the Peace Corps?”
“Yes, sir. He’s quite excited.”
JFK brushed his light-brown hair off his forehead. His frequently-unruly hair was a cartoonist’s dream. “We need young men like him willing to selflessly give of themselves. It’s good that the best of America will be represented in other countries, helping people who are in need.”
Bruce was impressed by the charm the man exuded. A consummate politician, he gave people the impression that they were the only one in the room when he focused on them.
Insert mention of the Peace Corps and the famous Kennedy charm.
“I’ve read of your exploits, Major, in addition to your service during the Cuban Crisis. I’d like to discuss some work I’d like you to undertake for me. Bob McNamara will speak to your C.O. and I’ll ask Dave Powers to put you on the agenda. Come see me at 10:00 on January 2nd.”
Interest and pride sparked in Steve’s eyes. “I’ll be here, Mr. President. Thank you.”
JFK smiled and clapped his hand on Steve’s shoulder.
Loaded with this one! Could possibly be a foreshadowing for Vietnam, as ‘advisors’ were being sent there during this time. Details: I dropped in the names of Bob McNamara, Secretary of Defense, and Dave Powers, JFK’s appointments secretary.
“Mr. President, you must release the Major to me now.”
JFK smiled at Diana, who had rejoined the group. “Your wish is my command, Princess.”
Diana smiled back at the gracious sally. She enjoyed charming, good-looking men and was fortunate to be frequently surrounded by them here in Man’s World.
Linda and Dick joined the group and JFK talked with the duo, always enjoying the company of young people. Then he spoke to the adults, “I hope you enjoy the entertainment. Eartha Kitt is our featured performer.”
“A beautiful singing voice,” Bruce commented, now eager for the show to start.
Ha! Okay, Eartha is in here for several reasons: her connection to the Batman TV show (Catwoman), her actual RL fame as a singer, and an in-joke on the order of her appearance later on in the late ‘60s at the White House during which she criticized the war and got into big trouble for it. Sort of like the Dixie Chicks flap a few years ago.
As the President began to move away, he turned back and said to Bruce, “Oh, Ollie Queen’s around here somewhere.”
“That freeloader?” Bruce sniffed.
JFK laughed. “Happy New Year, my friends.”
They chorused their own well wishes, and Diana and Linda moved off a few feet and talked intensely.
“Watch out when the womenfolk put their heads together, men,” Bruce drawled.
“Good thing Lois isn’t here tonight,” Clark said.
“Where is she?”
“Chasing a story.”
Bruce raised his glass. “What she does best.” Better than have her chasing you.
The entertainment started, the lights dimming to near-darkness. Eartha Kitt appeared in a spotlight, garbed in a slinky dark-blue gown and moving with cat-like grace as she sang a moving ballad. A sapphire set in a gold choker sparkled at her throat.
Bruce slipped his hand into Clark’s. Unless someone had cat vision to see in the dark, they were safe. He could feel Clark’s smile in the dark.
Torch songs followed the ballad, then some smoky R&B until the lights came up. Bruce and Clark reluctantly pulled their hands away.
“Time to rock in the New year, ladies and gents! Let’s start with Chubby’s Twist!”
Hey, not sure if it was New Year’s Eve, but the Twist was danced in the Kennedy White House as mentioned in the Notes.
The younger partygoers immediately hit the dance floor. Dick and Linda paired off, and Diana asked Steve with a twinkle, “Ready to trip the light fantastic?”
He laughed. “Why not?”
Clark said, “Bruce, I…”
He was whisked away by a female reporter he knew, tossing Bruce a rueful grin, but he got into the spirit of the dance.
“Let’s twist like we did last summer…”
Clark wasn’t as graceful in his gyrations as, say, Dick, but few were. The reporter moved with enthusiasm and an acute awareness of his body.
Bruce shared that acute awareness, just not thinking in terms of the Twist.
Though I suppose if I could get him to kneel above me and start ‘dancing’…
His groin itched. Pity they couldn’t sneak up to the Lincoln Bedroom. He smirked.
For a fleeting moment, anger and depression swept over him. He and Clark should be able to openly hold hands or dance if they wanted!
Ah, the ol’ sociopolitical attitudes! Here we are seeing the times through Bruce’s eyes, not our own. The atmosphere for gays is extremely oppressed. It’s 7 years before the Stonewall Riots, and the few gay and lesbian organizations begun in the 1950s, the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis, can’t even send their materials through the mail and had to conduct meetings with closed blinds, for cryin’ out loud!
This is something a writer of historical fiction has to be careful about. It’s tempting to give characters, especially the sympathetic ones, progressive attitudes about gender, race, and gays. Yet unless this is a time traveler from our present, you have to remember that people are usually products of their times. This doesn’t mean that quite a few characters can’t be progressive. You can have a man in the 1870s support women’s suffrage, for instance, and that is a very progressive attitude for his time, but even a ‘good’ man is likely to oppose it. So if I had chosen to have characters comment on gays, it might be very different from what they would say today.
He sighed. Why dream the impossible? Open homosexuality was about as likely as a Negro becoming head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Berlin Wall coming down. Sure, either one could happen, but probably not in his lifetime.
Foreshadowing: of course we know that an African-American became head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Colin Powell) and the Berlin Wall came down (1989), but in 1962, neither seemed likely to happen for a very long time, if at all. Blacks were still struggling for any semblance of equal rights, and the Berlin Wall had just gone up the year before in August of 1961 and looked pretty sturdy physically and psychologically.
Use of ‘Negro’ is here because that was the accepted term in 1962.
He shook off the mood. He had Clark and he should just thank his lucky stars for that.
“Hey, Bruce!”
“Hi, Ollie.”
Oliver Queen was dressed as sharply as Bruce, his eyes scanning the dance floor. “Did you bring a date?”
No, I met him here. “No, I thought Dick might like a night at the White House.”
“Me, too. I figure Roy would appreciate the chance to come.”
The men moved to the buffet table. Bruce’s mouth salivated at the salmon.
“I figure I can scare up a date next year,” Ollie said as he chose roast beef at the carving station.
“So you plan to be invited in ’63, huh?”
“Sure.” Ollie’s teeth gleamed. “I’m still a registered Democrat with business ties, just what our Prez needs.” He chose braised baby red potatoes next for his plate. “I’m diversifying. Queen Industries is getting into the oil game, my friend.”
Bruce watched as Clark and Diana danced the next dance. “You sure you want to get involved with oil interests?”
“I’ve got a good in through our Veep Lyndon who knows all the Texas oil guys.” Ollie sampled the roast beef. “Look, Bruce, I don’t think Republicans should have complete control of the country’s resources. The freakin’ John Birch Society has its biggest chapter in Dallas, for cryin’ out loud!”
This dialogue tells the reader about the right-wing atmosphere in Dallas at the time. The John Birch Society was (and is) an ultra-right-wing organization.
When Adlai Stevenson, our Ambassador to the U.N., went to Dallas to give a speech, he was attacked by right-wing demonstrators, and on the morning of November 22, 1963, the Dallas Morning News published an ad that depicted JFK as a felon, with the traditional face-forward and profile of someone getting booked for a crime and the words ‘Wanted for Treason’.
“Well, Ollie,” Bruce said as he enjoyed the salmon while noting Clark dancing with Linda now, “I like the sound of another party here next New Year’s Eve. The campaign will be heating up for ’64 by then.”
“You bet.” Ollie ate a potato. “Plenty of more functions to be invited to as the campaign heats up. But it’ll be pretty cool to kick off ’64 here at this time next year.” He saw a business acquaintance and winked as he walked away from Bruce. “See you in Hyannisport.”
As in the first chapter, the foreshadowing here is about next year. By New Year’s Eve 1963, JFK would already be dead for over a month.
Bruce grinned. Ollie always liked to work the angles whether as a liberal-leaning businessman with ties to the New Frontier or as Green Arrow.
Midnight was close. The music stopped and Eartha cried, “Put on those party hats and get out those noisemakers!”
Everyone’s attention was riveted on the stage at the far end of the East Room. With the stealth of the Bat, Bruce reached Clark’s side just as the countdown began.
“10…9…8…”
Clark was talking to Diana, who turned as Steve touched her arm.
“Steve?”
“Kissin’ time, Angel!”
“7…6…5…”
Bruce grabbed Clark while Diana laughed and hugged her boyfriend.
“4…3…2…”
Behind the potted palm, Bruce pressed his lips to Clark’s…
“…1!”
“Happy New Year!”
“Mmph, Bruce, what if someone sees us?” Clark broke them apart.
Bruce’s eyes sparkled. “Everyone’s either watching Jack and Jackie or busy kissing someone. And we have plenty of people to run interference for us.”
Clark’s hands gripped Bruce’s broad shoulders, his face slightly flushed, his hair just beginning its Superman curl. Bruce brushed it back. The man only had glasses for a disguise, so the hair couldn’t show that distinctive Super-style as Clark Kent.
“Let’s just go with it, Clark. There’s so much to look forward to! The New Frontier can be pretty exciting.”
Clark laughed. “Where’s my Bruce? What’s with all this optimism? That’s supposed to be my gig!”
Bruce grinned. “I guess a New Year brings it out in me, and all this inspiration coming out of this house has gotten to me.” It was still early in the new decade and maybe, just maybe, all things were possible after all.
It’s hard for anyone who didn’t live through those days to understand how there was an actual feeling of optimism and excitement, a spirit of “We can get this done!” Pretty heady times.
“Well, I have no objections to this outlook.” Clark hugged his friend and partner. “Happy 1963, Bruce!”
“Happy 1963, Clark!”
On to the next chapter!