Summary

Chapter 19 opens with a variety of stories detailing an incident at the White House. All of the versions describe Jackie Kennedy being touched (either accidently or purposefully) by Gore Vidal with Vidal getting kicked out of the White House by RFK and vowing revenge. At the time, Lee had called Truman afterwards to relay what happened and, of course, Truman told others. The reader learns that Truman and Vidal are literary rivals, and Truman telling the story of the White House dinner leads Vital to charge Truman with libel.

It is 1979, and Lee is going through her ex-husband Stas’ belongings. She calls her office and is told she has thirteen messages from Truman and one from Vidal’s lawyer. She reflects on Truman’s involvement in her life, saying that Truman had always believed in her. He helped her act and had...