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Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Bennett CerfBennett Cerf
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Session:         Page of 1029

deliberately got books out that would be suppressed in Boston. Then they immediately became best sellers. Maxwell Bodenheim wrote a book called Replenishing Jessica, which became a best seller overnight when Boston suppressed it.

But Sumner took this book to court and suddenly we found out that the judge who was going to try the case was the judge who had been laying for Liveright because of Haunch, Paunch and Jowl! Liveright got worried. Every once in a while the debonair Horace would get worried, and he was like a little boy then. We'd have to sit around and hold his hand. Other times he'd be absolutely defiant. It was just the mood he was in.

Well, somebody said, “If you don't want to take any chances with this fellow, there's a very smart young lawyer in town. You just hire this lawyer and he'll get you out of it.”

The reason I remember this is that the lawyer was Jimmy Walker, James J. Walker. Liveright sent for him, and that's the first time I laid eyes on Jimmy Walker.

Q:

What kind of person was he?

Cerf:

Oh, irresistible, a charm boy. He charmed everybody he came in contact with. Even when he was indicted, you know, people were heartbroken. He remains a hero to New Yorkers to this very day.

Q:

Even Liveright? Liveright was charmed?

Cerf:

Oh, you couldn't help but be charmed by Jimmy Walker.





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