“Re: the Landmark opening, I have told you repeatedly that I dont want the Landmark to open until after the International.
“Bob, I say this only in the interest of harmony.
“If I were indifferent to your barbs and inferences, it would be no problem,” he concluded, “but I am not indifferent, and some of your implications get under my skin and my blood pressure goes higher than [the] Landmark Tower, which is not good.”
Hughes had called Maheu’s bluff and raised him the limit. Suddenly, it was not merely Maheu’s public image, but his five-hundred-thousand-dollar-a-year job that was at stake. He quickly backed off, left the opening date open, and gently urged his boss toward the next order of business: the guest list.
Planning for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party now proceeded in its own lunatic fashion. Hughes threw himself into the debate over who would attend with a frenzied delight born of the knowledge that at last he had found a device that could forever delay the opening. Obviously there could be no party if there were no guests.
Maheu tried to impress upon Hughes the urgency of assembling a guest list by raising the specter of Kerkorian.
“I just received an exquisite invitation for the opening of the International,” he wrote. “While we are talking, he is moving. Howard, I really believe that any further delay on the list of potential invitees for the Landmark will place us in an embarassing position.”
It made no impact. Hughes refused even to consider the list Maheu had painstakingly compiled until a week before the still tentative date of the opening, and then rejected the entire list out-of-hand. He presented this rejection as an act of pure reason, suggesting that Maheu simply prepare a new list according to certain scientific specifications.
“I understand your anxiety to get started on the list of invites,” the billionaire wrote Maheu solicitously.
“However, the only lasting damage will come from failure to invite certain important people while inviting others, about whom said important people will no doubt learn.
“Now, Bob, I simply dont have the man-hours, and you dont want to wait for me to go thru this list name by name,” he continued, maintaining his pose of sweet reasonableness and complete cooperation as he cast aside all of Maheu’s invitations.
“You will just have to appoint somebody to make a new list using this concept:
“Categorize the people you want, and where you invite one such person, invite likewise the others in the same category who have equal merit, who are equal friends, etc., unless they have done something to be disqualified, or unless they should be disqualified because of simple lack of stature, or disloyalty, or such-like.
“For example, if you intend to invite actors and actresses, as you evidently do, I think somebody should go thru the Central Casting Directory, or the Academy lists and pick out all the actors or actresses above a certain level of importance, unless they are ruled out for some reason such as I have suggested above.
“I only ask that it be based upon some consistency,” Hughes insisted, as he continued to unfold his mad scheme.
“For example, in view of some of the people included, such as the head of Reynolds Electric, I certainly think you should include all the very top people at Lockheed, and this may make it necessary to include the heads of other aircraft companies, and this immediately brings up the question of the heads of the airlines whom I know well.”
The inclusion of one local businessman suddenly seemed to require invitations to all the executives in two entire industries and also raised the thorny issue of what to do about Hughes’s old friends. Earlier he had decided to bring in the entire old gang for the big bash. Now he was having second thoughts.
“This is one most important question, Bob. If you ask too many people who are good friends of mine, then you must consider how many of these may be disappointed if I do not see them. Also, you must consider how many others may unavoidably be forgotten and who will be deeply hurt for this reason.
“When you boil it down, Bob, I think, for a number of reasons, it would be a mistake to invite anybody just because he is a friend of mine,” he concluded, relieved to have headed off the clamoring hordes he pictured pounding at his door.
“I think you should divide the list into categories,” he reiterated, “and try to be consistant in inviting all people in each category who are equally qualified.”
What could be more reasonable? Maheu, however, recoiled from the task. Afraid to challenge the theoretical construct Hughes had so passionately presented, he was also wary of trying to apply it to the billionaire’s satisfaction. He suggested that Hughes himself compose the new guest list.
“Bob, I do not have the facilities to compile a list,” the master host replied. “You will have to make the list.”
Clearly that was Maheu’s job. Hughes’s job was to approve it, a task he attacked with relish as soon as the new completely categorized and carefully calibrated list arrived at the penthouse.
“I am starting on the businessmen,” reported Hughes, plunging right in. “I dont expect it to take long.
“Your first name is an automobile dealer,” he noted. And got stuck right there. At the first name.
“I know there are a number of prominent car dealers in this area,” he mused. “I recognize that, if you attempt to include all the businessmen in the area, it would be a completely impractical number of people. I only want to know what ground rules and formula was used in selecting these names.
“In other words, if some auto dealer should complain that he was not invited, I would like to know what satisfactory explanation could be given.
“I am not suggesting that it is likely Fletcher Jones or Pete Finley, etc., are likely to give anybody an opportunity to explain,” continued Hughes, conjuring up the image of sullen car salesmen to impress upon Maheu the need for rigorous analysis of the invitations. “I am just thinking that, in the event you should hear a rumor that one of these dealers is unhappy, then it would be helpful for you and for me to feel that there was a sound valid reason for such dealer not being included, based upon the list being prepared in compliance with some clearly understood formula or set of ground rules which you and I fully approve.
“So, Bob, if you will just explain the basis of the establishment of this list, I will give you immediate action in clearing it.”
Obviously there was no point in reviewing the rest of the businessmen until the question of the auto dealers was resolved, and that would require a great deal more information. Awaiting Maheu’s annotations, Hughes moved on to the next category. Actors and actresses. Again, there were problems.
“I am well aware of the time element on the invitations and do not need to be reminded,” Hughes began impatiently, annoyed by Maheu’s hurried approach to this complex undertaking.
“Bob, re your list, you have really left out a lot of people who will be awfully offended—for example, you have included Rita Hayworth, Sidney Poitier and Connie Stevens, but omitted Darryl Zanuck and the heads of all the major studios, plus many other important stars. Susan Hayward for example. Dont you remember my comments on this?”
Clearly Maheu had failed to consult either the Central Casting directory or the Academy rolls, had made no real effort to include all equally qualified candidates. And what was Connie Stevens doing on this list, anyway? Hughes decided to check that out personally, secretly contacting his Hollywood lawyer Greg Bautzer for solid intelligence.
Meanwhile, he plowed in to the next batch of invitations. Once more, there were unanswered questions.
“Re the list of invitees from the news media,” he inquired, “do you think the list should be slightly expanded?