Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
323153437
label
Greece 7/19/91 [OA 8325] [3]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
323153437
contentType
document
title
Greece 7/19/91 [OA 8325] [3]
citationUrl
identifierLocal
13764-003
collections
Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Backup Chronological Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
323153437
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
8f8072ee8720332f
ocrText
Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Backup Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13764
Folder ID Number:
13764-003
Folder Title:
Greece 7/19/91 [OA 8325][3]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
26
21
5
3
VISIT TO THE U.S. -GREEK BASE AT
SOUDA BAY
You will visit Souda Bay, one of our two military bases in
Greece, with Prime Minister Mitsotakis, to symbolize our
commitment to a strong U.S. -Greek security relationship.
Souda Bay played an important facilitating role in Operation
Desert Storm and Provide Comfort by hosting aircraft and
supporting maritime surveillance operations. Souda Bay was
also a coveted liberty port for American crews on their way
to or from the Gulf.
You will be visiting a Greek and a U.S. Sixth Fleet ship --
docked side-by-side -- which participated in the war. The
Greek frigate, "Limnos, " was the first of two Greek frigates
to participate on a rotating basis in Desert Storm. They
were used for interdiction operations in the Red Sea. The
"Limnos" is Greece's most modern surface combattant and, as
such, the pride of the Greek Navy. It is the only Greek
naval vessel which has been successfully tested for
operation in a Chemical/Biological warfare environment. The
Gulf operation was its first outside the Mediterranean. By
all reports, operational cooperation between the "Limnos"
and elements of the U.S. Navy in the Red Sea has been
outstanding.
Souda Bay is one of the largest and safest harbors in the
Mediterranean. The facility is large enough to accommodate
almost the entire Sixth Fleet. Our facility, NAVSUPPACT, is
very small, wholly inside the perimeter of the Greek air
base.
Over the ages Souda Bay has been used by Minoans, Greeks,
Romans, Saracens, Venetians, Turks, and pirates.
WREATH LAYING AT TOMB OF ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS
You have agreed to lay a wreath at the tomb of Eleftherios
Venizelos (1864-1936) who was Greece's greatest modern
leader. This event is important to Mitsotakis who was
Venizelos' nephew. It will also promote one of the dominant
themes of your trip -- Greek-Turkish rapprochement.
Venizelos and Ataturk (at whose tomb you will lay a wreath
in Ankara) worked together to forge good Greek-Turkish
relations after the First World War.
Venizelos was Greek Prime Minister off and on between 1910
and 1932. He stood for stability, national unity, and
democracy in the midst of Greece's often rocky political
history. Venizelos' mass popular appeal reached across
political and class lines, and he was even well respected in
Turkey.
Venizelos was a visionary. His chief legacy was the
transformation of Greece into a modern state and, as such,
he earned the title "apostle of Greek political modernism."
His first name, Eleftherios, by coincidence means
"liberator." As Prime Minister he brought Greek legislative
and administrative processes into line with Western
democratic standards, promoted economic reforms and foreign
investment, and introduced social reforms.
Rapprochement with Turkey was a key accomplishment of his
political career. Greece and Turkey signed a friendship
treaty in 1930 which ushered in an era of warm bilateral
ties which lasted until the 1950s. Venizelos accomplished
this through his work with Ataturk and his personal
friendship with Ataturk's Prime Minister and successor Ismet
Inonu. In Turkey, you will be meeting with Inonu's son,
Erdal Inonu, an important Turkish opposition leader.
Venizelos was a staunch democrat. He worked closely with
Britain and France before and after the First World War.
Greece reaped massive territorial rewards, doubling its
size, as a result of its alliances with the West in World
War I and his decision to fight in the two Balkan wars
(1912-1913)
Venizelos' political career ended in 1933 when he retired
and returned to his birthplace on Crete. He was sentenced
to death in 1935 following a rightist military coup.
Venizelos died the following year while in exile in Paris
and was returned to Crete for burial.
Presidential Preadvance
to
London, Athens, and Ankara
OF
THE OF SEAL STATES THE UNITED
Morton I. Abramowitz
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey
Morton I. Abramowitz was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey on June 29, 1989.
Mr. Abramowitz began his Foreign Service career in 1960 as a consular/economic
officer in Taipei. Following service in various posts in the Far East, he returned to the
Department to serve as a staff member of the Inter-Departmental Group, dealing with such
issues as policy on Korea. As Special Assistant to Under Secretary Elliot Richardson, Mr.
Abramowitz dealt with a wide range of issues, including initial steps to ease economic
restrictions on trade with the People's Republic of China. In 1971 and 1972, he served in
the Office of East Asia and Pacific Affairs in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. From
1972 to 1978, he served in the Department of Defense, dealing with such issues in East Asia
as regional base arrangements, U.S. troop levels, and defense relations with the Republic of
Korea.
In 1978, Mr. Abramowitz was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Thailand. From
1983 to 1984, he was U.S. Ambassador to the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction Talks
in Vienna, Austria. In February 1985, he returned to INR, where he served as Director. In
1986, the President nominated him as Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research.
Mr. Abramowitz has been awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Public
Service Award, the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Service Award, the Joseph C.
Wilson Award for Distinction in International Affairs in 1980 from the University of Roch-
ester, the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Service in 1981 and 1988, and the
National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.
In 1989, Mr. Abramowitz was granted the personal rank of Career Ambassador, the
Department's highest rank, in recognition of especially distinguished service over a sus-
tained period, joining only ten other diplomats who have attained this high honor.
Throughout his career, Mr. Abramowitz has been recognized for his scholarship.
His principal publications are: Remaking China Policy, Aspects of Taiwan's Economic Growth,
and Moving the Glacier: The Two Koreas and the Powers.
Mr. Abramowitz was born January 20, 1933 in Lakewood, New Jersey. He received
his BA degree from Stanford University in 1953 and his MA from Harvard University in
1955.
Turgut OZAL
TURKEY
(Phonetic: uhZAHL)
President (since November 1989)
Addressed as: Mr. President
Turgut Ozal served as Prime Minister from
1983 until he was elected to his current post. He
had also been chairman of the ruling Motherland
Party since 1983. As Prime Minister, Ozal traveled
extensively, including trips to the United States,
the United Kingdom, Syria, India, the Soviet
Union, and several Asian countries. He was Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of State under the
military government from 1980 until 1982.
Ozal was born on 13 October 1927. He has a
degree in electrical engineering from Istanbul
©
Technical University and has studied power projects in the United States. Early in his career
he served for several years as director general in charge of electrification projects in the
Public Works Ministry. From 1971 until 1974 Ozal worked at the World Bank in
Washington. During 1979-80 he was principal economic adviser to Prime Minister
Suleyman Demirel, as well as head of the State Planning Organization.
Ozal speaks English and French. In February 1987 he underwent coronary bypass
surgery in Texas. He and his wife, Semra, have three children. One of his brothers, Yusuf,
once worked with the International Finance Corporation in Washington and was a Minister
of State from December 1987 until March 1989. Ozal's son Ahmet, formerly with the
World Bank, now works for American Express in Turkey.
29 October 1990
Yildirim AKBULUT
TURKEY
(Phonetic: ACKbooloot)
Prime Minister (since 15 November 1989)
Addressed as: Mr. Prime Minister
A member of the ruling Motherland Party
(ANAP), Yildirim Akbulut had been Speaker of
the Grand National Assembly (parliament) from
1987 until being named to his current post.
Akbulut was Minister of Interior during 1984-87;
in that position he was responsible for Ankara's
counterinsurgency efforts against Kurdish rebels.
Akbulut was born in 1935 in Erzincan, in the
eastern Anatolia region. He holds a law degree
from the University of Istanbul and had a private
©
law practice before 1983, when he was elected to
parliament; he served as deputy speaker from 1983 to 1984. Married, he has three children.
19 June 1990
Ahmet Kurtcebe ALPTEMOCIN
TURKEY
(Phonetic: AHLPtimohchin)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
(since October 1990)
Addressed as: Mr. Minister
While serving as Minister of Finance and
Customs (1984-89), Ahmet Alptemocin met with
US officials in October 1987 and February 1988
and made several trips to Moscow to negotiate
trade agreements. Alptemocin's political career
began in 1983 when he was elected to parliament as
a Motherland Party deputy from Bursa. That same
year, he became a state minister responsible
primarily for the paper, steel, and iron industries.
©
Alptemocin was born in 1941. He received a
degree in mechanical engineering from the Middle East Technical University 111 Ankara in
1962. After a stint in the public sector, he worked in private industry, eventually becoming
director general of a textiles firm. Alptemocin speaks English, German, and Italian.
Married, he has a child.
7 No. ember 1990
Michael G. Sotirhos
U.S. Ambassador to Greece
Michael G. Sotirhos has served as U.S. Ambassador to Greece since 1989.
Prior to this appointment, he was Ambassador to Kingston, Jamaica, from 1985 to
1989. He was a member of the National Advisory Council of the Small Business Admini-
stration in 1976. He served on the New York State Commission on Architecture in 1974.
From 1973 to 1975, he served on the National Voluntary Service Advisory Council.
Mr. Sotirhos was Vice President, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the prede-
cessor to the current Ariston Group, Inc., of New York, an organization that he and others
founded upon his graduation from college. He resigned as Chairman of the Board in
September 1985 to become U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica.
Mr. Sotirhos has served as President of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Chairman
of the National Republican Heritage Groups Council, Chairman of the Ethnic Voters for
Reagan/Bush '84, and was a member of the Republican National Committee.
He received his B.B.A. degree in Business Administration from Bernard M. Bàruch
School of Business and Civic Administration.
Constantine MITSOTAKIS
GREECE
(Phonetic: meetsoTAHkees)
Prime Minister (since April 1990)
Addressed as: Mr. Prime Minister
Leader of the conservative New Democracy
(ND) party and longtime aspirant to the
prime-ministership, Constantine Mitsotakis leads a
government that has a two-seat parliamentary
margin. He is an experienced legislator and has
held a variety of Cabinet-level portfolios, including
Finance (1963-64) and Foreign Affairs (1980-81).
Mitsotakis was born on 18 October 1918 on
the island of Crete. He holds degrees in law and
political science from the University of Athens.
During World War II he was active in the Cretan
©
resistance and was twice jailed briefly by the Nazis, narrowly escaping execution. He has
been a member of parliament since the mid-1940s. When the military took over the
government in 1967, Mitsotakis and his family went into exile in Paris. He returned to
Greece in the early 1970s and founded the moderate and short-lived New Liberal Party in
1977. He joined ND shortly thereafter.
Mitsotakis has visited the United States several times, most recently in June 1990. He
speaks fluent French and German; he understands and speaks English but often prefers to
use an interpreter. He and his wife, Marika, have three daughters and a son. Their eldest
daughter, Dora Bakoyiannis, serves as Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister.
7 January 1991
Antonios SAMARAS
GREECE
(Phonetic: sahmahRAHS)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
(since April 1990)
Addressed as: Mr. Minister
A member of the conservative New
Democracy Party (ND), Antonios Samaras was
Minister of Finance in the ND-Communist
coalition that ruled during July-October 1989 and
Minister of Foreign Affairs in the all-party
government during November 1989 - February
1990.
Samaras was born on 23 May 1951. He
earned a degree in economics from Amherst and
08
received an M.B.A. degree from Harvard in 1976.
©
The following year he was elected to Parliament; he later served on the parliamentary
committee that prepared for Greece's entry into the EC.
Samaras speaks English, French, and Italian. He enjoys playing tennis. He married the
former Georgia Kriticou in May 1990.
20 June 1990
ATHENS
ARRIVAL CEREMONY
at Athinai Airport, Athens, Greece
STATE DINNER
at the Presidential Palace, the "Megaro Proedriou"
the Presidential Palace used to be the Royal Palace.
Very taboo to mention this. I asked for historical
information on the Palace, and everyone was extremely
reluctant, saying there was nothing they could think of
that would be appropriate for the President to mention
President Karamanlis and POTUS will be seated in front
of a tapestry. Everyone claimed ignorance as to what the
tapestry portrayed -- probably something royal?
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BREAKFAST
will most likely take place at the Hilton. Very similar
to the Chamber of Commerce breakfasts we did in South
America.
PRESS AVAILABILITY FOLLOWING MEETING AT PM'S RESIDENCE
WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
(TENTATIVE)
whether or not this takes place depends very much on what
security arrangements can be worked out
Tomb is guarded by the Greek guards known as "evzones." "
They do a very elaborate changing of the guard ceremony
every hour
the names of famous battles are written in different
places all over the memorial
Dimitri Alexandrakis from the President's Office, or the
Embassy contacts (see bottom) can probably get
information on the Tomb
ADDRESS TO GREEK PARLIAMENT
called the Vouli, which comes from the Greek verb "to
decide"
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is right in front of the
Parliament building
the Chamber is non-descript. Nothing of interest to
point out.
when POTUS walks into the Chamber, he will shake hands
with Prime Minister Mitsotakis and the opposition leaders
before mounting the podium.
No Teleprompter! The way the podium is shaped, there's
no way to set up the prompter.
EMBASSY GREETING
at Ambassador's Residence
basic Embassy Greeting
RECIPROCAL COCKTAIL RECEPTION AT AMERICAN AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
instead of having a reciprocal dinner, we're giving this
cocktail reception instead. POTUS will make brief
remarks.
TOUR OF THE ACROPOLIS
with President Karamanlis. No remarks.
CRETE
ADDRESS TO GREEK AND AMERICAN SHIPS AT SOUDA BAY NAVAL BASE
the plan is to anchor one Greek and one American ship at
the dock -- both of which would have participated in
Operation Desert Storm -- and rig some sort of sound
system so POTUS can speak to both ships at once
no word yet on which ships they' 11 be
good historical information on the base in packet from
Souda Bay
GOOD CONTACTS:
U.S. Embassy:
91 Vasilissis Sophias Blvd.
101060 Athens
011-30-1-721-2951 or 721-8401
Brady Kiesling
John Klekas, Political Section, x390, (h) 671-
6344
Dimitri Alexandrakis, Diplomatic Cabinet of the President (of
Greece), 724-4834
Leuer AUTENS
"LA PASIONARIA" OF THE ACROPOLIS
Why did Melina Mercouri, the
impassioned movie-star Cabinet minister,
so dramatically lose her last bid for office?
BY MAUREEN ORTH
n the Richter scale of high
divadom, this is a major
quake. Melina Mercouri's
whole body is racked with sobs. "My
life is sheeet!" she shrieks in Hellenic
English. "I don't want to fight anymore.
I just want to be alone!" For a nanosec-
ond she seems to forget that her devoted
husband, film director Jules Dassin, is
sitting next to her. "I just want to be
alone with my hus-
band!" she wails
without missing a
beat.
"Oh sure, laughs
Dassin. "Wouldn't
that be something?"
It is the morning
after. Late the night
before, Melina Mer-
couri, the most pow-
Mercouri campaigning for mayor of Athens.
erful woman in Greece.
Left: in the sixties, with her husband, director
formerly both a major
Jules Dassin, and Peter Ustinov, who starred
motion-picture star
with her in Dassin's Topkapi.
and the country's flam-
boyant minister of cul-
ture, lost her bid to become mayor of
across a table and buries her face in her
with morosely quiet PASOK officials,
Athens. Her defeat is humiliating. Her
arms. "Today I think my life has been
their faces buried in newspapers. In
fellow Athenians have rejected her, re-
mostly nightmares." Her smoky voice
early September the polls said Mer-
jected her attempt to follow in the foot-
is hoarse and cracked. "I am so
couri was the most popular politician in
steps of her famous grandfather, who
ashamed."
Greece-six weeks later she has man-
had been mayor for thirty years. Not
aged only 46 percent of the local vote.
only the Athenians, the very gods of
M
ercouri, now seventy-one (more or
Worse. all of Athens is whispering that
politics have betrayed her.
less), is used to getting her way. No
she conducted a frivolous campaign, full
Mercouri looks haggard but mildly
one close to her, including her hus-
of platitudes instead of programs. A
glamorous in her long turquoise silk
band, thought it was a remotely good
few days before the election, her color-
dressing gown embroidered with pink
idea to run for mayor, but since she was
ful opponent, Antonis Tritsis, a former
beads and her gold lamé slippers that
practically the only remaining scandal-
socialist Cabinet minister who broke
match her honey-colored hair. She also
free figure of note in the Panhellenic So-
with the left, had complained that all
looks fierce, and reinforces this effect by
cialist Movement (PASOK)-the party
Melina Mercouri would take a stand on
crushing a pack of unfiltered Greek ciga-
she helped found in the mid-seventies,
was her love for the city. "She talks
rettes in her palm while glaring at her
when the dictatorial Colonels were over-
about these these feelings. About
companions: her husband, her brother,
thrown-she accepted the baton, assum-
love
It's like running against a
Spiro, who functioned as her campaign
ing there was no way she could possibly
U.F.O."
manager, and her close friend actress
drop it. Now the anterooms of Mer-
According to Spiro, however, this
Despo Diamantidou. This American re-
couri's four-story house in Athens's Ko-
was deliberate. "Her campaign is based
PHOTOGRAPH, TOP BY DIMIS ARGYROPOULOS
porter is especially unwelcome.
lonaki section, the same posh neigh-
on emotion because Athens has so many
La Mercurial throws her glasses
borhood where she grew up, are filled
problems that you can't do anything un-
62
VANITY FAIR/FEBRUARY 1991
LEUCI II AUICIIS
less you make people feel a part of the
for their black cloud-air so unhealthy it
emment from PASOK and the left. but not
solution. It's not a matter of doing this
is hard to breathe without choking.
by much of a margin (a single seat).
or that. but saying, Come on. let's do it
In the last fifty years. Athens has sur-
considering that PASOK's leader. former
together." And, more practically. since
vived a World War. undeclared civil
prime minister Andreas Papandreou.
the conservative central government
war. wave upon wave of villagers who
along with many of his colleagues. had
controls the municipal budget, promises
been involved in a
might be hard to keep for a vociferous
bribery scandal.
member of the party out of power. Plus,
It probably didn't occur to
Papandreou had
as Mercouri's French political consultant
also divorced his
pointed out on election night, ''she's an
Mercouri that glamour, bravado, and
longtime American
actress, not a political girl.' Outside her
wife to marry his
campaign headquarters in Athens, a
bravery might not be enough
mistress (a flight at-
huge grid of sixteen TV screens mount-
tendant nearly half
ed above the sidewalk had featured
in end-of-the-millennium Athens.
his age). had suf-
scenes from her signature film, Never on
fered a heart attack.
Sunday, as well as clips of Mercouri's
allegedly consulted
meetings with world leaders and ex-
an astrologer daily.
cerpts from a 60 Minutes interview.
want to be urbanites, and the return of
and left the country in economic chaos.
The message was that Melina Mercouri
thousands of expatriate Greeks who
However, since the new government's
is a great star and patriot, able to at-
came rushing home when politics al-
harsh austerity measures shocked a pop-
tract international attention for Greece
lowed it-swelling the population of the
ulace used to being under socialist pro-
-which needs all the help it can get
city and its environs to three million. or
tection, most of Athens went on strike
these days because of its high inflation
one-third of the entire country. The re-
only a few weeks before the mayoral
rate and huge foreign debt. The images
sult is that some Athens neighborhoods
election. Many viewed the mayor's race
were a reminder that the mayor can ask
are more densely populated than Singa-
as a referendum on the national govern-
the European Community for fund-
pore. There are virtually no sidewalks in
ment. "We are really running two elec-
ing for specific projects and can also
many places, let alone shrubbery, and
tions here," noted Tritsis. who was
go abroad for loans. Mercouri's abil-
traffic is in a permanent snarl. particu-
campaigning against Mercouri on the
ity on the foreign front has always
larly in the center of the city, where the
New Democracy ticket. "One is nation-
been one of her most potent political
government bureaus are concentrated.
al, the other is local."
assets.
Yet for all the horrors that plague Ath-
It was a bold stroke for PASOK-if not
"I want to make Athens again a city
ens. it is still one of the more humane
a desperate one-to offer the popular
that has glamour, pride, and a con-
cities in the Western world. There are no
Melina for mayor. In response. and to
science, to do whatever I can for this
homeless wandering the streets. Build-
distance themselves from defeat if she
city that I loved as a child," she said.
ings are rarely higher than several sto-
was elected, the conservative New De-
But it probably didn't occur to Mercouri
ries. Neighborhoods are vibrant and
mocracy party had backed Tritsis, a
as she repeatedly thrust her arms in the
alive-the Greek family is still largely
mustachioed former minister of educa-
air and gave the V sign with both hands
intact. and the police walk around with
tion and the environment in the leftist
or stared transfixed at her image up on
unloaded guns. The city is so safe that a
government who had fallen out with the
the grid of TV screens that glamour.
woman can wander alone at night and
socialists two years ago and lost his Cab-
bravado, and bravery might not be
never have to be afraid. Compared with.
inet seat. To many conservatives. he is
enough anymore in a city fraught with
say. the citizens of New York. Los An-
still suspiciously liberal. however, and
more than its share of end-of-the-mil-
geles, or even Milan. Athenians don't
not a team player. In some circles. Tri-
lennium problems.
have that much to complain about-but
tsis, fifty-three, a former decathlon
they do anyway, constantly, among
champion and city planner with an
prominent architect has described
themselves and in the city's seventeen
American Ph.D.. is considered a gadfly
A
modern-day Athens as "a visual
contentious daily newspapers. "We like
and an eccentric. But he proved to be an
wound." Although the boundaries of
complaining.` says Fotini Papathanou,
energetic campaigner who thrilled audi-
the old city, and the parameters of the
a political scientist. "People have very
ences with rhetorical flourishes and myr-
mayor's power, are still drawn as they
strong negative feelings about Athens,
iad schemes to fix Athens.
were in her grandfather's day, much of
but everybody keeps on coming here-
"I will break the asphalt." he prom-
the far more charming city Mercouri
it's a love-hate relationship." When I
ised, explaining that he would create a
grew up in is gone-sacrificed to greed
asked the outgoing mayor. Nikolas Ya-
new archaeological park around the
and the need for space. Worse, pollution
trakos, how many murders had been
Acropolis by eliminating the roadway
is eating away at the city's largest dollar,
committed in Athens in the last year, he
which currently carries tourists up to the
yen, and mark draw: its incomparable
said, "You mean apart from traffic fa-
decaying wonder of the world. So then
repository of classical architecture,
talities? I guess about three or four."
how would the tourists get to the Acrop-
which has withered away more in the
Yatrakos, a member of the ruling con-
olis? "On their knees!"
last twenty-five years than in all the time
servative party, New Democracy, had
Melina wanted to break the asphalt
since its creation in 500 B.C. Until re-
not been permitted to run against Mer-
too-somewhere in her campaign litera-
cently so little has been done to control
couri. "I'm not a movie star," the rather
ture she said so. But the idea of her vig-
pollution that for many days of the year
lackluster economist explained.
orously attacking the city's problems
Athenians are virtually held hostage to
Last April the New Democracy party
and protecting its precious heritage
the dread nephos-the Athenians' word
had gained control of the national gov-
didn't come across on TV, where much
64
VANITY FAIR/FEBRUARY 1991
Leuer AWENS
of the election was decided. She looked
Michael Cacoyannis on a budget of
he was adapting from a story by Nikos
frail and off her game. Privately, she
about $30,000. burst into view at the
Kazantzakis-and Mercouri knocked
was like a raging faucet. "You never
1955 Cannes Film Festival and astound-
him dead. Dassin remembers that when
know which one you're going to get
ed its audiences. Mercouri was in turn
he met Melina she was "more or less the
when you go over there," said Despo
alluring, selfish, warm, self-centered,
same wild creature I saw up on the
Diamantidou, "hot or cold.' Her
screen. At the
friends, already concerned about her
She was "more or less the same
time, he was mar-
health, despaired. She was simply not
ried with three chil-
the old Melina. But, looking wild-eyed
wild creature I saw up
dren and not plan-
and fearful at times, she stubbornly
ning a divorce.
plowed on. "She feels disarmed of her
on the screen," remembers her
Dassin's wife de-
charm-the main weapon she's had in
cided to stay at
life is gone," said a woman who has
husband, Jules Dassin.
home while he shot
known her for years. "The glorious Me-
the Kazantzakis
lina is like a frigate in full sail. With this
film in Greece-a
campaign she is demystify-
big break for Me-
ing herself."
lina, who was not
But, ah, what a myth.
shy about her feelings for him. "A man
could not escape when she wanted
him," says Deni Vachliotou, an old
'E
ither you eat men or be
eaten by them-make
friend who did the costumes for Never
your choice," Melina
on Sunday. "She had such success with
Mercouri's beautiful mother
men. She provoked them to the point
taught her, and indeed it has
they went after her." And from that
been she who has seduced
moment on, Melina Mercouri and Jules
and devoured for the better
Dassin-whom many characterize as
part of her life, most visibly
"a saint"-have had an extremely
at first as the happy hooker in
close personal and professional col-
Never on Sunday (1960), and
laboration. "Thirty-two years I am
then as the passionate soul of
with Julie, and he has never lied to me
the opposition starting in the
or told me anything that is second-
late sixties, when the repres-
rate," Mercouri says. And, of course,
sive Colonels ruled Greece,
it was Dassin who made her a star.
and finally as the charismatic
Never on Sunday, written and di-
minister of culture in the gov-
rected by Dassin, began life as The Hap-
emment of Andreas Papandreou.
Never on Sunday
and charming, and when
py Whore and has probably done more
the socialist prime minister who re-
was launched at
she sang she smoldered.
for tourism in Greece than anything
placed the fascistic Colonels. Mer-
an unforgettable
Filmed in gritty black-and-
since the building of the Parthenon. It
couri became the symbol of Greek
party during the
white, it is the story (writ-
had sun, it had the sea, it had Melina. In
national identity. "I know just
1960 Cannes
ten especially for her) of a
1960, at a moment when U.S. audiences
enough English to wince along
Film Festival.
singer in a bouzouki café
could choose between Sandra Dee, Eliz-
with you when I mispronounce,"
who refuses to marry, for
abeth Taylor, Annette Funicello, and
she said during a lecture in London.
fear she will lose her freedom. In the
Marilyn Monroe, Melina Mercouri hit
"Permit me then to launch our theme
end she must die for having loved too
the screen as incredibly sexy, forthright,
with a few Greek words: Music. Dra-
many men (even though one at a time)
unneurotic, and uncontrived-able to
ma, Tragedy Comedy. Theater, Cho-
and for leaving an archetypal Greek
devour ouzo, men, city corruption, and
reography. Philosophy, History, De-
male, a soccer star. at the altar. "To see
American imperialism in equal mea-
mocracy All Greek words
Me-
this macho Greek man led by this wom-
sure," Peter Aspden notes. Dassin cre-
lina is an exhibitionist of the mind,"
an-it had an incredibly powerful ef-
ated a character of sunny, unbridled
says her brother.
fect," says Aspden. Especially in
optimism who even makes up happy
Her magic on the screen, however,
Greece. Yet Stella is Melina Mercouri's
endings to the Greek tragedies-a trait
was anything but cerebral. "She has a
only film in Greek, and she had to wait
inspired by Melina's mother. **It
very aggressive sexuality, which is rare
until she was an established stage actress
came from our differing interpretations
in a female film star," says Peter Asp-
and in her thirties to make it. "She had
of the Bible," says Dassin, who is Jew-
den, a British journalist who has written
been ignored by filmmakers until then,"
ish. "Melina's mother did not believe
about Mercouri in a forthcoming book
says Cacoyannis. "because they thought
Christ was crucified, he didn't die on the
on what makes certain actors explode
her mouth was too big."
cross, and he wasn't a Jew."
into mega-stardom. "It's almost mascu-
Mercouri's captivating performance
line. She's always been rather emanci-
ules Dassin, a blacklisted American
was enhanced considerably by a bou-
pated-she knows what she wants and
director from the Bronx who had be-
zouki-music score and an Oscar-winning
she knows how to get it. The irony is
gun working successfully in France,
title song. Inside the industry. it didn't
that all this emerged on the screen in the
saw Melina for the first time at Cannes
hurt either that the film was launched
fifties and in Greece."
in Stella. He was looking for a Greek
with an unforgettable party on the
Stella, her first movie, directed by
actress to play a secondary role in a film
French Riviera complete with imported
66
VANITY FAIR/FEBRUARY 1991
Letter from Athens
bouzouki players, hundreds of European
for Christmas, she looked in the mirror
and Melina taught me I could realize
jet-setters linking arms and dancing
and conjured her first crocodile tears.
them. I was lucky. Melina says. ''I
Greek folk dances, and the traditional
one at a time. Childhood playmates re-
had great freedom in those years-it was
breaking of several hundred pounds of
call that she could often outdo the boys
very. very exciting."
crockery. "I knew we had a hit," says
in sports and climbing trees, that she
The bliss was interrupted by World
Alain Bernheim, Dassin's agent at the
War II. Greece was
time, "when the Begum Aga Khan start-
invaded by Germa-
ed smashing glasses with her barefoot
"The glorious Melina is like a
ny, and the Greeks
sandals. Melina Mercouri walked off
were left to starve.
with the best-actress award at Cannes.
frigate in full sail. With
Today. Melina Mer-
an Academy Award nomination, and an
couri's contempo-
international reputation.
this campaign she is demystifying
raries speak of the
Even today most people think of Mer-
war and the decade
couri as the golden, happy-go-lucky
herself," said a friend.
of civil unrest that
creature who was so overpowering in
followed as if it
Never on Sunday. The movie is still so
were yesterday. "I
much her trademark that wherever in the
think our whole
world she appeared during her eight
was bright and quick-witted but wild and
generation was wounded by the war,"
years as minister of culture the band in-
undisciplined, often cutting school and
says Despo Diamantidou. Many joined
evitably struck up the tune. The opposi-
sneaking off to the movies. "She was a
the Resistance. Melina was more practi-
tion even used it against her in the
terrible child," says her brother, Spi-
cal. She took a quisling for a lover, a
campaign for mayor. Greeks traditional-
ro. "Her grandfather had a colossal
handsome black-marketeer who kept her
ly go to the polls on Sundays, so thou-
weakness for her. and because he was a
in furs and food and who later commit-
sands of leaflets were printed saying,
very grand person, nobody dared to ob-
ted suicide because. some say. Melina
"Melina-Never on Sunday. At a
ject to what Melina was doing. He
threw him over after the war. She claims
huge rally a few days before the vote.
spoiled her a lot."
now that she also gave a lot of money to
Mercouri, dressed in a white shirt with
She was ten when she decided she
the Resistance. Certainly the food she
the sleeves rolled up. white slacks, and
wanted to act. At fourteen. rarely at
got she shared with her friends-her
brand-new white U.S. Keds, threw red
school, she began a mad pursuit of a
generosity and her loyalty to her friends
and white carnations to the crowd from a
thirty-five-year-old matinee idol. Her
have never been in doubt. "During the
platform and intoned deeply, "Melina.
family was appropriately scandalized.
war I was able to eat because I went to
always on Sunday. The crowd roared.
but by this time Melina's elegant parents
Melina's house." says Diamantidou. In
had divorced-her father. a ladies' man
her autobiography. / Was Born Greek.
and a member of Parliament, had run off
Mercouri mentions that many of her first
A
S minister of culture during the eight-
ies, Mercouri oversaw everything
with an actress. They were undoubtedly
theater audiences "hated" her for her
from archaeological sites to soccer
relieved when she eloped at seventeen
ability to survive in style during that
stadiums. At important events in Europe
with a very rich Greek in his thirties who
time. Today she defends her behavior:
she hobnobbed with her best buddy, the
had to quickly divorce his Romanian
"I don't like to apologize for that-I
French minister of culture, Jack Lang,
dancer wife to marry Melina.
don't want to. If I see my life today, I
and she waged a noisy fight to have Brit-
"She got married so she could leave
would say I was a young girl who just
ain ship back the Elgin Marbles. which
her family's house and become an ac-
wanted to live and that's why war is a
had adorned the Parthenon before Lord
tress," says Despo Diamantidou. "In
terrible thing."
Elgin finished removing them in 1812.
those days in haut bourgeois families,
Although Mercouri's theater debut in
When the roof fell in on Andreas Papan-
acting was not considered a proper occu-
1944 was inauspicious-one critic
dreou's government in 1989. Mercouri
pation.' Pan Characopos. Melina's first
wrote. "Too tall. too young. too blonde.
had to relinquish her office, which may
husband, was a Cambridge-educated
Too awkward. No talent. Why doesn't
have been inevitable, since for the last
Anglophile who doted on Melina. Ap-
Miss Mercouri stay home where she be-
two years she has battled a serious lung
parently never sexually compatible, they
longs?"`-she was determined to be a
disease that has noticeably drained her.
stayed married for a long time in a most
star. "She liked the applause. she liked
(It is currently in remission.) If there
unconventional style. Melina took lovers
to be worshiped." says Deni Vachli-
was ever a time to slow down. this was
with Pan's approval and brought them
otou. And she worked very hard. Even-
it. So friends were shocked last June
into the house. "We had a great rela-
tually. her stage career began to take off.
when she declared her intention to be-
tionship." she says. "He was not a typi-
first in the classical theater. then in mod-
come mayor, although they probably
cal Greek man-he was very eccen-
em pieces. And she set out to conquer
shouldn't have been. "I hate the word
tric." She spent the first years of her
Paris.
'retire.' Mercouri says. "I hate it.
marriage playing at being a rich bohemi-
Wearing a pink hat at lunch one day,
Center stage has always been her natural
an. studying acting, and presiding over a
Melina attracted the attention of French
milieu.
glorious salon.
playwright Marcel Achard, who imme-
As a toddler, Melina rode beside her
"Melina was full of charm and the joy
diately wrote a part for her in his new
grandfather-who was far more impor-
of life," says Deni Vachliotou. "All the
play. The rest of the cast snubbed her, of
tant than the mayor of Athens today-in
artists and all the politicians gathered in
course. as only the French can. But Co-
an open carriage waving to the faithful.
her house. We had wonderful conversa-
lette met her and wrote her a petit poem
At the age of five, knowing she would
tions and wonderful parties. We were
that ended. "Elle n'a qu'à lever ses yeux
not receive the phonograph she wanted
young and handsome; we had dreams
et l'Acropole est là." Tant pis for the
68
VANITY FAIR FEBRUARY 1991
Leuer IT'UII AUTCHS
cast. Unfortunately. those difficult
couldn't." Melina says. She began to
recalls that one night in Paris in 1963
French also gave her trouble with Stella.
make a speech every night after her per-
she and Melina went to see the last per-
Mercouri was the supposed favorite to
formance, telling the audience that the
formance of Edith Piaf, who died a few
win the best-actress prize at Cannes. but
happy-go-lucky musical they had just
days later. The legendary chanteuse
she and the jurors celebrated so hard one
seen did not accurately reflect the reality
could no longer stand alone, but was
night at a party given by the Soviet dele-
held up by two men
gation that they arrived in no state to
supporting her ban-
judge that evening's French entry. A lo-
Since she was practically the
daged arms and hands,
cal scandale ensued and no best-actress
and on her feet were
prize was given in Cannes in 1955.
only remaining scandal-free
old bedroom slippers.
She no longer had a
M
ercouri and Dassin set up house-
figure of note in the Panhellenic
voice. Nonetheless, the
keeping together in Paris. to be near
crowd went wild as she
his children. What was for her an
Socialist Movement, she
sang all her greatest
astoundingly quiet life was something
hits, especially "Non,
quite different for him. "Julie was a lit-
agreed to become a candidate.
Je Ne Regrette Rien."
tle Jewish boy from the Bronx." says
Melina was spell-
his ex-agent, Alain Bernheim. "Sudden-
bound. "This is how
ly he was turned into this jet-setty Pari-
I'm going to die,"
sian. Melina knew a lot of people-
in Greece at that time. The response of
Vachliotou remembers her declaring,
she'd been around Paris. And they were
the Colonels was swift. "Julie had gone
"standing, standing onstage."
surrounded by her faithful servants-
to the Middle East and I was sleeping in
they were like slaves who catered to
the same room with Melina," recalls
n 1974, when the Colonels were over-
their every whim. You could have din-
Despo Diamantidou. "In the middle of
thrown, Melina Mercouri returned to
ner at their apartment at any hour-two
the night an American reporter was on
Greece in delirious triumph. Her over-
A.M., they'd cook for them." Not sur-
the phone to tell Melina she had lost her
joyed countrymen hoisted her onto their
prisingly, Dassin catered to Melina's
Greek citizenship." Her response be-
shoulders straight from the airplane. "As
whims as well. Though he had many
came famous: "I was born a Greek, I
soon as she heard the news, she told me
chances after Never on Sunday to work
shall die a Greek. Colonel Pattakos was
she wanted to go back to Greece," says
on major movies with big-name stars,
born a Fascist. He will die a Fascist."
Dassin. "That meant I would have to
she would never allow it-unless she
By her own admission. "the hedonist
change my life. But I thought about it
could somehow star in them too. "He
became Joan of Arc." She also made the
overnight and I decided I would go."
made a choice and his choice was to be
cover of Life.
At home once again, she decided to
with Melina." says Bernheim. "If she
If anything, Melina's views in her
stay in politics- because they needed
was in the movie, she was happy and he
youth were rightist and royalist. She be-
women in Parliament in Greece." In
could be happy-if not, well, she was
gan to have a more heightened political
fact, when Mercouri got elected for the
bigger than life.` Bernheim, who re-
consciousness in her early theater days,
first time, in 1977, representing her old
mains friends with Dassin, gave up their
and under the tutelage of Dassin drifted
Never on Sunday stomping ground. Pi-
professional partnership when Dassin
steadily leftward. But even today Melina
raeus, there were no toilet facilities for
turned down a big directing job with
Mercouri is the quintessential cham-
women in the Greek Parliament and
Elizabeth Taylor. "I'll never forget his
pagne socialist. Her baths are drawn by
there were rules against women wearing
line: 'It's more important for me to be
servants. her clothes laid out. During the
pants. Her fights to bring the patriarchs of
with Melina than to make a movie'
mayor's race she voted in Armani. "But
Greece into the modern world got lots of
an attitude Dassin says he doesn't dis-
it was always in the back of her mind
headlines. For Jules Dassin, however. his
agree with today.
since she was a child that at some time
wife's ascending political star was some-
"I was very jealous when he worked
she would get into politics. says Deni
thing else-in his words, "a partnership
with others." says Melina. "It was very
Vachliotou. "She got it from her
dissolved." For a few years, until he be-
bad for his career, very bad. It's the only
grandfather." When the moment pre-
gan directing plays in Greece. he was
remorse I have in my life, that I didn't
sented itself, she was outspoken and
stranded professionally.
let him have his career. And that I
brave.
Mercouri became minister of culture
brought him here."
For seven years Mercouri raged
in 1981 and seized on the return of the
Although Dassin and Mercouri made
against the Colonels in country after
Elgin Marbles as her pet cause. No mat-
nine films together, with the exception
country, rally after rally. Jean-Paul Sar-
ter that just before her first press confer-
of the hit caper Topkapi in 1964, nothing
tre and Simone de Beauvoir, Yves Mon-
ence in the British Museum she report-
came close to the success of Never on
tand and Simone Signoret-the crème
edly shed tears in front of the wrong
Sunday. Nor was her luck any better
de la crème gauche were her allies in the
sculpture, not the Parthenon marbles at
with directors ranging from Joseph Lo-
Resistance. In the process the temptress
all. Never mind, because she was out to
sey to Norman Jewison. Melina. in fact,
became a feminist. "I became great
raise the world's and Hellenic con-
was reprising her role from Never on
friends with women," she says. "I had
sciousness about preserving the Greeks
Sunday on the Broadway stage in 1967
great conversations with them-they
heritage. She abolished museum fees
when she received the shocking news
helped me a lot. I believe that the wom-
all Greeks and announced that a
one night that the Greek government had
an is a great fighter to the end." which
Acropolis Museum would be buil:
fallen to the Colonels.
is obviously the way that Melina Mer-
house the treasures when they
"I had a choice to shut up. but I
couri looks at herself. Deni Vachliotou
turned. (Finally, in November
70
$100 million plan for the building was
G
reeks are notoriously hard on one an-
would have in Greece." says Gage. As
Unveiled. but so far only $1.8 million
other and so highly politicized that it is
a result the film was shot in Spain.
has been raised to build it. "I am sure it
almost impossible to get an objective
"Listen. we were not responsible for
will be easy to find money." Mercouri
assessment of the weather let alone of
Eleni. They asked and we gave the per-
insists.) But some complain that muse-
anyone as controversial as Melina Mercouri
mission-Mr. Gage can say nothing!"
ums are often dirty and that even at the
Melina Mercouri re-
Acropolis. with its extremely serious
sponds defiantly. "I be-
problems of disintegration due to pollu-
"This is how I'm going to die,"
lieve I was an excellent
tion, much more could have been done.
bureaucrat. I did good
One woman involved in its restoration
a friend remembers her
work on many things-I
reports that moneys the European Com-
had no money, but the
munity offered for projects at the Acrop-
saying during Edith Piaf's last
ministry was well organ-
olis went unspent because Mercouri's
ized and we had excellent
ministry was never organized enough to
performance, in the sixties,
relations abroad." And
institute the programs. "She was not
what about the charges of
really worse than usual, perhaps." the
"standing, standing onstage."
anti-Americanism? "Ri-
woman said, "but people expected more
diculous. I visited Ameri-
from Melina. She made promises she
ca a thousand times." Her
couldn't deliver." Another archaeolo-
position is that things fell
gist. an American, was shocked that af-
and her tenure at the Ministry of Culture.
apart after she left. "Now, now it's the
ter she personally appealed to Mercouri
The charitable view is of good intentions
shits," she thunders. "Now there is noth-
to preserve "an important historical
gone awry. and even the political opposi-
ing going on. You will see-now the
site an office building was erected
tion gives her high marks for her efforts to
Ministry of Culture will not even exist!"
over it instead."
promote the glories of Greece outside the
Mercouri herself would rather empha-
country. But she has serious critics.
size other things, like the many exhibi-
*Because of her worldwide fame she
T
his last year has been a tough one for
Melina Mercouri. She lost the elec-
tions of Greek art her brother organized
had a chance that nobody before or after
tion, Greece lost the campaign she
for international consumption. and her
her will ever have and she blew it, says
spearheaded to bring the 1996 Olympics
success in getting the European Commu-
Greek-American TV-and-film producer
to Athens, Jules Dassin was hospital-
nity to go along with her plan to have
Renee Pappas. who is married to a
ized. She refuses to stop smoking, and
Athens made "the Cultural Capital of Eu-
Greek actor and ran a talent agency in
her own health is fragile. All her ex-
rope" in 1985. As a result. some of the
Athens while Melina was minister. "If
traordinary life, say her closest friends,
world's best performing companies
you wanted to go to Greece to make a
Melina Mercouri has lived in a state of
came, and continue to come, to Athens.
film. you'd have to rely on luck. There
anxiety-never celebrating her happiest
In true socialist style. Mercouri created
was no office to scout locations, no of-
times, but constantly worrying that such
myriad new little theaters for the prov-
fice to get actors. There are dozens of
moments will not come again. "She
inces (while many of the more elite tradi-
English-speaking actors in Greece and
doesn't enjoy such things. It's a meta-
tional theater companies languished or
nobody knows about them." Pappas ar-
physical problem," says Deni Vachlio-
declined). When the classics were per-
ranged for a possible "Greek Film
tou. who remembers Mercouri running
formed at the summer festivals. Melina
Week" at the Museum of Modern Art in
down the steps of the palazzo in Cannes
Mercouri was always there to lend sup-
New York but needed prints of twenty
like Cinderella moments after the smash
port. taking her seat amid the crowd's
Greek films. At a meeting. Mercouri as-
opening of Never on Sunday. sobbing
applause. Young, untried filmmakers were
sured her she would have them. "It's
that the triumph would not last. "For the
given the chance to make feature-length
eight years later and I'm still waiting for
first time in my life I was an optimist for
movies on government subsidies. The
those twenty prints." she says.
this election and you see what hap-
fact that Greek audiences stayed away in
"The ministry was chaos whenever
pened." Mercouri said. "It's the only
droves from these works did not disturb
you walked into her office," says for-
time I thought I would win."
Melina. "I believe we have made three or
mer New York Timesman Nicholas
She sank into gloom and despair for
four directors." she says. "They were
Gage. "There were always twenty peo-
weeks afterward. Then suddenly the
psychological films only for the directors,
ple in there: she'd be on the phone trying
black cloud. her own personal nephos,
but it doesn't matter-young cinema is
to talk. there would be groups muttering
lifted. "She might run for president." a
good." In contrast. Erikos Andreou, who
in various corners of the room-it was
friend predicts. At any rate, Melina
now runs the Greek Film Center. talks
just havoc." Gage has a bone to pick
Mercouri seemed to turn into that frigate
about "trying to win back the Greek pub-
with Mercouri because the movie ver-
in full sail again. Certainly there was no
lic by steering closer to the center." and
sion of Eleni. his book about his moth-
time anymore to hash over old history.
encouraging foreign film production in
er's murder in Greece at the hands of
She is still a member of the Greek Par-
Greece. particularly by U.S. companies,
Communists right after W.W. II. was not
liament. and the leader of the opposition
which were never made to feel welcome
shot there. The harsh portrait of the Com-
in the Athens city council. "You see. I
during the years the openly anti-American
munists drawn in the story did not sit well
am very. very busy," she said to me on
Papandreou government was in power.
with the Papandreou government, al-
the phone after I had returned to the
(Mercouri's Film Center director once
though the Ministry of Culture did O.K.
U.S. "I am having a big meeting here-
told a Hollywood Reporter writer that he
the project. But "we didn't get the kind of
many people are coming to my house to
was more interested in the North Korean
encouragement that made it possible to
talk about what is the word? That
than the U.S. market.)
leave behind the $8 to $10 million we
dark air. Pollution!"
72
VANITY FAIR/FEBRUARY 1991
!
GREECE
28 seats and could form a government with
Caught in the Labyrinth
either PASOK, which holds 125 seats, or
New Democracy. Communist Party lead-
er Harilaos Florakis also demands cathar-
Papandreou, ailing and under attack, is not yet out for the count
sis but so far has refused to consider enter-
ing a coalition under either Papandreou or
R
easonable people expected that
Mitsotakis.
Prime Minister Andreas Papan-
Before he fell ill, Papandreou, 70,
dreou would suffer heavier losses. He had
hoped to talk the Alliance of the Left into
campaigned for the June 18 parliamenta-
joining PASOK in "a coalition of the pro-
ry elections amid a series of scandals link-
gressive forces." He dismissed the finan-
ing some members of his government to
cial scandals, claiming they are simply
huge embezzlement, fraud, payoffs and il-
plots instigated against him by "foreign
legal arms deals. On top of that, there was
and domestic forces." But last week an-
his public romance with Dimitra Liani, a
other scandal was revealed as U.S. au-
former airline flight attendant half his
thorities arrested 14 employees of the Na-
age. But Papandreou's Panhellenic So-
tional Mortgage Bank of Greece on
cialist Movement (PASOK) slid only far
charges of illegally transferring about
enough to lose its majority. And since no
$700 million to the bank's central office in
other party won more than half the seats,
Athens, apparently to avoid paying taxes.
Papandreou, who was hospitalized in seri-
While the political parties continue to
ous condition last week with lung, heart
look for a possible deal. the business of
and kidney complications, is staying on as
Greece has come to a halt. Since there is
caretaker Prime Minister while the strug-
no elected head of government, President
gle continues to form a government.
The Prime Minister enters the hospital
Christos Sartzetakis will represent Greece
The major beneficiary in the
at this week's European summit
balloting was Constantine Mit-
DIMIS
in Madrid. Negotiations with
sotakis' conservative New De-
the U.S. for a new agreement on
mocracy Party, which won 145
American military bases in
seats, just six short of control in
Greece must await a function-
the 300-seat Parliament. The
ing government. A long-over-
New Democrats campaigned on
due austerity program is also on
the promise of "catharsis,"
hold. "The country is running
which included investigating
itself now," said Parliament
and prosecuting political big-
member George Voulgarakis.
wigs implicated in several cases
The Alliance has proposed
of alleged fraud that involved
a short-term "ecumenical gov-
millions of dollars, including the
ernment" made up of public fig-
embezzlement of more than
ures who are acceptable to all
$210 million from the Bank of
sides. Such a transition team
Crete by its former owner
would be assigned to set the
George Koskotas.
cleanup in motion and then
For the first time, the Com-
take the country into new elec-
munists in Greece hold the bal-
tions. As Papandreou's health
ance of parliamentary power.
deteriorated last week. many in
The Alliance of the Left, which
Athens believed it might be the
the Communists dominate, won
New Democracy's Mitsotakis confers with Communist leader Florakis
one way out of the labyrinth.
THE COMMUNITY
Waffen-SS. won 7% of the vote by capital-
chamber, ensuring that their issues will be
izing on fears of competition from foreign
New Times
high on the European Community's agen-
workers.
da. West Germany's well-established
Elections for the Strasbourg-based as-
Green contingent will be joined by delega-
Thatcher down, Greens up
sembly, once consigned to the status of a
tions from other E.C. countries, including
European debating society, are fast be-
France and Italy. In Britain the Greens
A
Ithough elections for the European
coming a bellwether for European poli-
captured an impressive 15% of the vote
Parliament may still be more symbol-
tics. Thatcher aides sought to downplay
but no seats because Britain does not have
ic than substantive, the balloting shattered
the Tory defeat by arguing that the culprit
a proportional-representation system.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatch-
was domestic discontent with Britain's
As E.C. leaders hold their first post-
er's image of invincibility last week. Her
15% interest rates and 8.3% inflation.
election summit in Madrid this week, the
Conservative Party suffered its first nation-
Even critics within her own party scoffed.
big question is whether Thatcher's weak-
al defeat in nearly 15 years, capturing only
blaming her Britain-first. anti-European
ened position will cause her to be more
34.7% of the vote and losing 13 of its 45 Eu-
rhetoric at a time when Europe is moving
conciliatory on two key proposals: a social
ropean Parliament seats. By contrast, the
toward economic integration in 1992.
charter intended to safeguard workers'
left-leaning Labor Party totted up 40.2%,
Said a Tory backbencher: "She got it dras-
rights and, more important, the eventual
stirring dreams among Laborites of ousting
tically wrong."
establishment of a single currency man-
Thatcher from power at home.
Across Western Europe. the biggest
aged by a European central bank. Em-
In West Germany, Chancellor Hel-
gains were won by Green parties, which
boldened by the erosion of Thatcher's po-
mut Kohl's Christian Democrats received
nearly doubled their representation, to 39
litical strength, her fellow summiteers
a blow as the new right-wing Republican
delegates. The environmentalists thus
may decide to press on toward European
Party, led by a former sergeant in Hitler's
hold the balance of power in the 518-seat
unity, whatever her objections.
TIME, JULY 3, 1989
29
World
SCANDALS
The Looting of Greece
For the first time, a fallen tycoon tells how he embezzled millions
BY ROBERT AJEMIAN
reeks were exhilarated in 198
when Andreas Papandreou ano
his Socialist Party swept to pow
er. Their enthusiasm has long
since turned to bitterness and disbelief a:
the worst financial and political scanda
in four decades engulfs Greece. The press
the Bank of Greece, a magistrate and Par
liament are delving into charges of cor
ruption. seeking to uncover how more
than $210 million disappeared from the
Bank of Crete. Charges of embezziement
kickbacks and bribery, of banknote:
stuffed into briefcases, have been leveled
against high officials.
The scandal has scorched the Socialis
Party (PASOK). and public cynicism has
increasingly focused on the party's leader
Papandreou himself. The Prime Minister
last September was already the target or
snickering and outrage as he conducted a
highly public extramarital liaison with
airline flight steward Dimitra Liani, 34
Now inside a Salem prison, Koskotas fears
that once extradited, he will disappear behind
bars-or be murdered and declared a suicide
KOSKOTAS TALE O
CORRUPTION.H ALLEGE
THE SCAM
1984
FALL 1985
Koskotas buys
PASOK leaders order
Bank of Crete
state-managed
corporations to depos
funds in the Bank of
Crete
SUMMER 1985
After winning re-
election, PASOK cuts
deal with Koskotas
By skimming interest
payments on the state
KT
funds, Koskotas start
building a huge pool 0
money for payoffs
32
TIME. MARCH 13, 1989
As the parliamentary investigations
traordinary, though difficult to veri-
dug through testimony, the question
fy. In six lengthy prison interviews
loomed: Was the Prime Minister
with TIME, the banker describes a
aware of the crime all along?
Socialist government riddled by ex-
Papandreou has not testified be-
tortion and criminality. Koskotas
fore investigators, though he vehe-
charges that millions of dollars miss-
mently denies any involvement in
ing from his bank were actually pay-
what he calls a "conspiracy aiming to
offs that went directly to the head of
hurt Greece." But investigators have
the government, Andreas Papan-
yet to hear from the central figure in
dreou, and PASOK officials. The
the case, George Koskotas, 34, a one-
Prime Minister, says the banker,
time New York house painter who
personally authorized the plan to
vaulted to power as the multimillion-
loot the Bank of Crete. Koskotas de-
aire owner of the Bank of Crete. Now
scribes as well his own illegal com-
jailed in Massachusetts on a variety
plicity in the huge swindle, one that
of charges leveled just before he fled
involves enormous sums hard to ac-
Greece last November, Koskotas is
count for adequately.
facing extradition to answer accusa-
The plot was an audacious one.
tions of looting his own bank.
To create the pool of crooked mon-
Amid more than a dozen law-
ey, PASOK leaders had for three
suits, much has come out about the
years ordered state-managed corpo-
vast scandal, but most Greeks be-
rations such as the Post Office, the
lieve there is far more to be re-
Organization of Urban Transporta-
vealed-by one man in particular.
tion and the State Pharmaceutical
Given his central role in the affair,
Co. to transfer large bank deposits-
Koskotas' version of the dirty deal-
the country's money, in effect-out
ings could prove to be an imperfect
Papandreou: increasingly the focus of public cynicism
of the big national banks into the
account. Apparently nothing will be
Did he authorize the looting of the Bank of Crete?
Bank of Crete. then the smallest pri-
resolved until the public has weighed
vate bank in the country. There.
his tale. "At this point." says a frustrated
sorted freely with the country's ruling So-
Koskotas says, he arranged for the gov-
former PASOK member. "we are all waiting
cialist leaders. At 34, George Koskotas,
ernment deposits to draw an exceptional-
to hear what Koskotas has to say."
the Greek wunderkind. had achieved a
ly low rate of interest, only 2% or 3%.
dazzling reputation in his own land.
Bank savings accounts in Greece routine-
plump man with steady dark
Now inside a Salem. Mass., prison.
ly draw 15% interest. The excess interest
eyes and a soft voice, Koskotas
Koskotas has finally decided to talk. His
earned on the government deposits was
is no common embezzler. In ad-
chief motivation, he explains, is a fear
siphoned off and went straight to the poli-
dition to the Bank of Crete, he
that once extradited to Greece he will dis-
ticians. he says. In addition, protected
owned Grammi. a flourishing publishing
appear behind bars-or be murdered and
and encouraged by Papandreou. Kosko-
empire that operated five magazines,
declared a suicide and thus be unable to
tas secretly plowed Bank of Crete funds
three newspapers and a radio station. He
present his own version of what hap-
into his magazines and newspapers.
bankrolled big hotels. A year ago, he
pened. He figures his fate in Greece will
In the past year. says Koskotas. some
bought Greece's wildly popular soccer
be worse if Papandreou remains in power:
40 shipments of money, in blue briefcases
team. Olympiakos. He created one of the
so his motive for speaking may also be to
stuffed with 5.000-drachma notes, were
world's most advanced printing plants.
wound the government.
carted out of the Bank of Crete and taken
And until he fled Greece. Koskotas con-
The Koskotas accusations are ex-
first to his own residence. There the bank-
THE PAYOFF
THE SCANDAL
1986-87
OCTOBER 1987
LATE OCTOBER 1987
SEPTEMBER 1988
Koskotas begins making
Visiting Washington, Koskotas is
Threatening Koskotas with prison,
Papandreou's political power
illicit payments eventually
arrested on old charges of defrauding
Papandreou pressures him to make
slips amid heart surgery,
totaling more than $30
the U.S. Government but returns
regular payments directly to the Prime
revelations about his
million, to PASOK officials
to Greece
Minister; in the next year,
mistress and the
Koskotas hands over $20
emerging
million in about 40 blue
banking
briefcases
scandal
OCTOBER 1988
Papandreou is too weak to
THE INFLUENCE
stop an investigation into the
Bank of Crete that reveals
1986-88
After the weekly Evdomi
Papandreou presses
$210 million is missing
At Papandreou's urging, and using bank
publishes nude pictures
Koskotas to buy the
funds, Koskotas buys top Greek newspapers
of Papandreou's
popular Greek
Kathimerini, Vradyni; installs
mistress Dimitra
football team
editors favorable to
Liani, Koskotas
Olympiakos to
NOVEMBER 1988
Papandreou; and starts
buys it and
associate it with
Tipped by a friend in Greek
new paper 24 Hours to
shuts it
PASOK'S 1989
intelligence, Koskotas flees
kg 3WII
promote the
down
campaign
and is arrested by the FBI
Papandreou family
after landing near Boston
TIME. MARCH 13. 1989
33
World
er handed the money over to a Papan-
kotas later put up the money, and the first
But the Bank of Crete opened about 50
dreou confidant. Georgios Louvaris, who
issue of the paper, called 24 Hours, ap-
branches in four years, and licenses were
Koskotas says made the deliveries to the
peared in February 1988.
granted for an additional 20. Sure of his
Prime Minister. Pickups occurred weekly
political shield, Koskotas was unafraid to
and amounted over the year to more than
he Prime Minister always
violate banking laws and withdraw huge
3 billion drachmas ($20 million at today's
seemed to possess inside infor-
sums of cash at will. If Koskotas worried
rates). In addition, Koskotas claims he
mation. Papandreou, says the
aloud about audits. Papandreou was al-
personally carried a total of half a billion
banker, taps the home and busi-
ways reassuring. "So long as I am here."
drachmas ($3.3 million) to the home of a
ness telephones of such rivals as the head
Koskotas says Papandreou told him, "you
Deputy Prime Minister. Menios Koutso-
of the political opposition, New Democra-
never have to worry."
giorgas. At the Bank of Crete half a dozen
cy's Constantine Mitsotakis, and un-
Koskotas said little of his early years,
other PASOK leaders twice a month re-
friendly publishers. "I know all their
but he was a young man drawn to risk.
ceived briefcases filled with money total-
plans," he proudly told Koskotas.
Born in 1954 in Greece. he came to Amer-
ing 1.5 billion drachmas ($10 million).
Papandreou came to assume that
ica with his parents in 1970. "George was
There was little danger of interference.
Grammi's national magazines and news-
very ambitious," says his wife Kathy,
Fifty different national audits of the Bank
papers really served him. Certain Papan-
whom he married in 1973. "His mind was
of Crete that might have uncovered the
dreou favorites were hired as editors. Says
always working."
scheme were squelched over the years by
Koskotas: "All our editors were instructed
At New York University, that over-
PASOK officials, says Koskotas. twice by di-
never to criticize the Prime Minister per-
active mind seemed to be hunting for an-
rect calls from Papandreou.
gles. Koskotas ordered a
In the summer of 1988,
batch of N.Y.U. and Ford-
the government muscled
PONZIO FABIO
ham University stationery
through a special Secrecy
from a printer. He said he
Act that had the effect of
guaranteeing its overdrawn
CRETE
wanted to send reprimand-
ing letters to some student
banker financial confiden-
friends as a prank. The
tiality. Koskotas says he
OF
university believed he in-
was directed to pay an
BANK
tended to create fake tran-
additional $2 million to
scripts. He was arrested.
then Deputy Prime Minis-
fined $200 and asked to
ter Koutsogiorgas as a re-
leave school.
ward for managing the
Not satisfied with all
legislation.
Koutsogiorgas: Payoffs?
his claimed wealth, he con-
The dank atmosphere
tinued to indulge his com-
that nurtured this tangle of
pulsion for risk taking. and
alleged corruption began
it backfired badly. Kosko-
after the Socialists re-elec-
tas obtained fake Social Se-
tion in 1985. Papandreou
curity numbers for several
was eager to tighten his
of his painters who were il-
grip on the country. He
legal aliens-federal pros-
found a perfect match in
ecutors charge that he cre-
the ambitious young pub-
ated fictitious names-and
lisher and banker Kosko-
then used them in efforts to
tas. who saw in PASOK a
collect unemployment in-
means to build an empire.
surance claims and income
Now. sitting in the li-
Charges of embezzlement and kickbacks and
tax refunds. In 1979, be-
brary of the Salem prison.
Louvaris: Deliveryman?
banknotes stuffed into briefcases for officials
fore Koskotas was indicted
Koskotas recalled the be-
by the U.S. Attorney. he
ginnings of a relationship that led to his
sonally. not even a single cartoon." Papan-
returned to Greece with his wife and four
ruin. He wore a blue pullover sport shirt
dreou urged Koskotas to neutralize hostile
children. A year later. in 1980, the U.S.
and blue jeans. white leather sneakers on
newspapers by buying them up gradually.
formally charged him with stealing
his feet. Koskotas had squeezed his big
At their second meeting in early 1987. Pa-
$40,000. In the years that followed, Kos-
waist into a one-armed desk chair.
pandreou pressed Koskotas to buy Kathi-
kotas traveled back and forth numerous
In his lap he balanced a pile of tape
merini, the country's most respected paper;
times to America, always unaware he was
transcripts and letters he had carried out
he did. using Bank of Crete funds.
under indictment. he claims. Long after.
of Greece as evidence. From time to time
Another time Papandreou had an un-
the incident would rise up to haunt him.
he ran his finger across the pages of his
expected idea: Koskotas should purchase
Back in Greece, still only 25, he landed
old appointment book. picking out entries
the Olympiakos football team. Papan-
a job as an administrative officer at the
of meetings with the Prime Minister and
dreou. according to Koskotas. wanted the
Bank of Crete. Five years later. in late 1984
other key government officials.
banker to build up the team. so that just
when the Bank of Crete came up for pur-
He remembers the meetings with Pa-
before the 1989 election the government
chase at $9 million. Koskotas somehow
pandreou vividly, five times alone in the
would agree to build Olympiakos a new
produced a bankroll big enough to buy it.
Prime Minister's home at Kastri. once at
stadium. an announcement certain to be
He knew exactly where he wanted to go.
the home of a Papandreou intimate. Mi-
highly popular. Koskotas laid out 4 billion
The Socialists were immersed in an elec-
chalis Ziangas. At the first meeting in ear-
drachmas for the plan.
tion and Koskotas was determined to curry
ly 1986. Koskotas recalls. the Prime Min-
Koskotas' first ambition. he says. was
favor. Within a few months he hired as
ister had a proposal: Koskotas should
to enlarge the Bank of Crete. Private
bank general manager a PASOK veteran.
start a daily newspaper to provide positive
banks routinely had to wait at least a year
Panayotis Vakalis. whom he knew to be a
coverage of the Papandreou family. Kos-
for authorization to open a single branch.
longtime friend of Andreas Papandreou's.
34
TIME. MARCH 13, 1989
The connection eventually brought the
was keeping company with Dimitra Liani,
6:30 that evening; Koskotas fled. He
young banker and the Prime Minister to-
a buxom airline hostess half his age. The
slipped out of his printing plant unseen,
gether. The great swindle was under way.
weekly newspaper Evdomi, Papandreou
hidden in the back of one of his newspa-
For two years, says Koskotas, payoffs
complained, kept turning up nude photo-
per delivery trucks, to start a desperate
went to the party, none to Papandreou
graphs of Dimitra. Within a month Kos-
journey across three continents. Three
himself. Then a pivotal event occurred. In
kotas had bought Evdomi, and three
weeks later he fetched up in the U.S.,
October 1987, Koskotas traveled to
months later he shut it down. Then there
where he was apprehended.
Washington to attend a White House lun-
was Margaret. the second wife Papan-
Locked in the Salem prison and fight-
cheon at which Vice President George
dreou wanted to divorce. He said that
ing extradition, George Koskotas started
Bush was the host. Secret Service agents,
Margaret, absurdly, wanted a settlement
to get advice to keep quiet from old ac-
checking invitations, were surprised to
of $100 million. Koskotas heard himself
complices. One of them, Yannis Mant-
discover that the guest from Greece was
say he could over a period of time put to-
zouranis, former secretary to the Greek
under a six-year-old federal indictment.
gether $10 million to $20 million as a start.
Cabinet, sounded especially anxious to
They arrested Koskotas at his Washing-
In August 1988 the Prime Minister
learn if the prisoner was going to talk.
ton hotel. The banker posted bail of $1
suddenly flew to London for triple-bypass
Mantzouranis, Koskotas says, was still
million. A few days later, to get home,
heart surgery. The day before Papandreou
holding a $2 million payoff to Koutsogior-
Koskotas lied to Greek embassy officials
left. Koskotas says, Louvaris came to pick
gas in a Swiss bank account. The exis-
and obtained a travel document.
up the customary cash, a suitcase of 90 mil-
tence of the account would implicate him.
Only three weeks later, Koskotas
lion drachmas ($600,000). After the sur-
Hoping to entrap Mantzouranis. Kos-
says. he was summoned by Papandreou. It
gery, Papandreou for the first time made
kotas instructed his wife to make tape re-
was apparent to Koskotas that something
public what many already knew: his rela-
cordings of the phone calls from Athens.
was wrong. Sternly the Prime
The objective was to goad the
Minister warned that because
unwitting Cabinet secretary
of the passport violation, Kos-
into telling more about PASOK
kotas might have to go to jail.
corruption. Mantzouranis
Eventually Papandreou de-
warns of the consequences of
clared Koskotas need not
saying too much. "I know them
worry. But there were certain
better than George," he says of
requirements. An election was
his PASOK colleagues. "They
coming, the Prime Minister
wouldn't hesitate to do
stressed, and PASOK needed 5
anything."
billion drachmas ($33 mil-
Mantzouranis relates how
lion). Thereupon, says Kosko-
his own life has changed drasti-
tas, Papandreou bluntly de-
cally. "You must understand
scribed a much expanded
that I am in danger." he says. "I
plan for kicking back interest
do not circulate at night. I no
payments. Koskotas. he di-
longer live at my house."
rected. should work out the
In jail, listening to the cas-
details with Deputy Prime
sette. Koskotas heard the fright
Minister Koutsogiorgas. Says
in the caller's voice. It was an
Koskotas. sounding surpris-
echo of his own fears. Mant-
ingly disingenuous: "I realized
zouranis had an important
it was outright blackmail."
message to pass on: Koutso-
Until then he had rationalized
giorgas wants to be certain the
that the stolen interest pay-
prisoner knows what he is do-
ments to PASOK were simply
ing. "Menios says," the voice
the political cost of doing busi-
from Greece emphasized, "that
ness in Greece.
George should not betray the
Two weeks later, Kosko-
Dangerous liaisons: the Prime Minister attended by Dimitra Liani
only people who can help him
tas says, the first direct re-
now." Koskotas pondered si-
quest for money came by telephone from
tionship with Liani. That further under-
lently and for a second felt a twinge of his
Papandreou. The Prime Minister wanted
mined his slipping political standing. Ru-
old power. Then he dismissed the warning.
200 million drachmas ($1.3 million). pur-
mors of the Koskotas money connection
He wanted to talk.
portedly to pay the expenses for a PASOK
were also circulating: now opponents
youth festival. Georgios Louvaris would
called for a reckoning.
Throughout last week TIME sought com-
drop by. In the following months. says
ments and answers from government offi-
Koskotas. Papandreou made two other
he governor of the Bank of
cials-including Prime Minister Papan-
personal calls for cash. each for 150 mil-
Greece started to press for a spe-
dreou-on the accusations in this story.
lion drachmas ($1 million), for what he
cial audit of the Bank of Crete.
When all refused to be interviewed. a list of
described as PASOK events. Otherwise the
Koutsogiorgas told Koskotas that
questions was submitted to them. TIME did
Prime Minister received a weekly deliv-
the investigation could not be stopped.
not disclose that it had interviewed Kosko-
ery of around 75 million drachmas.
Fearing abandonment. Koskotas made a
tas, but made clear that it was publishing a
Soon Koskotas found the requests
last threat. "If I am destroyed." he says he
major story that contained serious and
from Papandreou and Koutsogiorgas
told Koutsogiorgas. "we'll all be destroyed.
damaging allegations. Papandreou did ad-
bolder-and more personal. Papandreou
You know what they will find at the
dress the affair in a Feb. 14 memorandum
wanted to squelch a critical memoir by his
bank."
to investigators. He said he met Koskotas
first wife. Christine, a psychiatrist.
Soon 40 secret service agents were
only three times. at the banker's initiative,
Through foreign book agents, Koskotas
keeping a discreet surveillance over Kos-
between March 4, 1987. and June 30, 1988,
paid out $90,000 and tied up world rights
kotas. He began to think he might be
during which the two discussed only Kos-
to the book. Papandreou raised another
killed. One day a friend in Greek intelli-
kotas' business and, later, the accusations
problem. The Prime Minister, then 69,
gence told him he would be arrested by
against him.
TIME. MARCH 13. 1989
35
Tilings for picture-perfect quasicrystals
Since the 1984 discovery of the first
alloy with atoms arranged in a pattern
having a symmetry forbidden by the
usual rules of crystallography, scientists
have debated whether such alloys belong
to a special category of materials known
as quasicrystals or instead consist simply
of tiny, conventional crystals joined in
unusual ways. New images showing
atoms on the surface of an aluminum-
cobalt-copper alloy provide the best evi-
dence yet that at least some materials
actually do solidify into quasicrystals.
150A
"For the first time, we've been able to
At right, a network of points and ring-like structures, corresponding to atomic positions.
resolve individual atoms on the surface of
covers a 150-angstrom-square region of a quasicrystalline alloy. The surface shows four
a quasicrystal," says A. Refik Kortan of
prominent steps, revealing parts of the material's four top layers. This picture suggests
AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill,
a tiling model (left) in which aluminum atoms (open circles) tend to settle into pen-
N.J. The resulting pictures clearly show
tagonal rings with copper or cobalt atoms (filled circles) at their centers. Shaded box
that atoms can arrange themselves into
corresponds to a surface region about 20 angstroms wide.
patterns having a fivefold or a tenfold
symmetry. The findings, reported in the
as 60 angstroms, and no periodic struc-
layer consists of a framework of pen-
Jan. 8 PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, establish
tures are seen, we can conclude that
tagonal rings made up largely of alumi-
the feasibility of growing near-perfect
multi-twinning does not adequately de-
num atoms, with either cobalt or copper
quasicrystals (SN: 3/11/89, p.149) and
scribe the features in the [microscope]
atoms at the center of each ring. Each
demonstrate that simple tiling models
images," the researchers report.
successive layer has roughly the same
can explain the structure of such mate-
"It's the first time anyone has con-
pentagonal pattern but rotated by 36°.
rials down to the atomic level.
firmed at the atomic level the existence of
"That's more or less what the data
In the theoretical model of a
a quasicrystalline material that appears
suggest, but it's obviously not our final
quasicrystal, units consisting of groups of
to be perfect," says Paul J. Steinhardt of
model," Kortan says. "The basic inter-
atoms fit together like tiles or blocks to
the University of Pennsylvania in Phila-
atomic distance we measure in this pen-
create an orderly, space-filling arrange-
delphia. "The atoms map out a beautiful
tagonal network is in good agreement
ment. But the fitted units are not equally
Penrose tiling."
with the aluminum-aluminum distance
spaced, or periodic, as in a conventional
Kortan and his colleagues propose a
one would find in similar transition-metal
crystal. Instead, the sequence of spacings
tiling model for this alloy in which each
compounds."
I. Peterson
follows a more complicated mathemati-
cal formula. A Penrose tiling (SN: 7/16/88.
p.42), in which two types of diamond-
Minoan culture survived volcanic eruption
shaped tiles combine to create just such a
quasiperiodic pattern, provides one pos-
The Minoan civilization of ancient
Crete, an island near mainland Greece.
sible mathematical model for a quasi-
Crete literally rose from the ashes, ac-
Their project represents the first system-
crystalline solid.
cording to new evidence. Advanced Mi-
atic excavation at Mochlos since 1908.
The alloy studied by Kortan and his co-
noan culture and its grand palaces disap-
Last summer, the researchers took a
workers crystallizes into small, 10-sided
peared around 1450 B.C. - a collapse
closer look at a domestic structure
columns. Earlier studies had shown that
attributed by many researchers to a dev-
largely uncovered in 1908. Numerous ex-
these crystals seem to consist of neatly
astating volcanic eruption on the nearby
amples of Minoan pottery dot the floor of
stacked, two-dimensional quasicrystal-
island of Thera (now known as San-
the three-room house. Beneath the floor
line layers. By preparing the crystals
torini). But recent excavations on Crete
lies a layer of soft, grainy volcanic ash
carefully, the researchers obtained sam-
indicate the Minoans rebuilt their dwell-
covering a 23-square-foot area, ranging in
ples with only a small number of defects,
ings on top of large quantities of volcanic
thickness from 2 to 8 inches.
suitable for studying with a scanning
ash soon after the Santorini blast.
"It appears the house was built on top
tunneling microscope.
"We have conclusive evidence for the
of the ash immediately after the ash fell.
The tunneling microscope images of a
survival of Minoan civilization after the
thus sealing and preserving [the underly-
cut, polished and cleaned surface show a
[Santorini] eruption," says Jeffrey S. Soles
ing ash]," Soles maintains.
network of points and ring-like struc-
of the University of North Carolina at
The 1908 investigators dug around the
tures, which correspond to the positions
Greensboro, who conducted the excava-
ash but did not comment on it at the time
of atoms. When viewed at an angle, these
tions with Greek colleagues. He de-
and probably considered it unimportant
structures appear to line up in five direc-
scribed the findings Dec. 29 at the annual
headds.
tions spaced 72° apart, attesting to the
meeting of the Archaeological Institute of
The Minoan civilization rose to promi-
material's fivefold symmetry. Moreover,
America in Boston.
nence between about 2000 B.C. and 1450
the fact that these lines continue across
Researchers had already begun to
B.C. It developed a sophisticated econ-
the steps that mark the edges of different
question the argument that the Santorini
omy and traded extensively with nearby
layers in the material indicates that the
explosion triggered the Minoan collapse.
peoples. With the elimination of the San-
positions of atoms are strongly corre-
Other investigators recently reported
torini eruption as the major culprit in the
lated from one layer to the next.
that seeds in Santorini's volcanic ash date
collapse of the Minoan culture, an alter-
The pictures effectively rule out the
to about 1600 B.C., 150 years prior to
native theory now gains support: The
possibility that this alloy consists of a
previous estimates of the eruption and
Minoans may have been conquered by
jumble of tiny, "multi-twinned" conven-
the decline of the Minoans.
members of the Mycenaean civilization
tional crystals. "Since the full decagonal
Soles and his colleagues are working at
that emerged on mainland Greece
symmetry is realized on scales as small
the site of Mochlos on the north coast of
around 1600 B.C.
- B. Bowe
22
SCIENCE NEWS, VOL. 13
1/13/90
and/or Communist forces could ham-
ON THE SCENE
string an ND government.
Although numerous factors have im-
peded ND's performance, the recent
failures are attributable chiefly to lead-
ership problems. The course Mitso-
takis chose for the last campaign il-
lustrates the point.
First, ND did not adequately define
its opponent for the electorate. It re-
lied on allegations of Pasok scandals
Greece Adrift
rather than emphasizing the parties'
policy differences.
Second, ND leaders went whoring
RICHARD C. CARPENTER
after left-wing votes. First, there was
charges of large-scale government cor-
the cock-and-bull coalition with the
ruption (none yet substantiated, but
Communists. Then, ND accepted the
probably all true). In the June elec-
Communist composer Mikis Theodora-
tions, his Panhellenic Socialist Move-
kis as one of its own-the first free-
ment (Pasok) was ousted from power.
market-oriented party in Europe to
But it was never reasonable to as-
have a recipient of the Order of Lenin
sume, as most pundits did, that the
as a candidate for state deputy.
quasi-conservative Constantine Mitso-
Third, on economic policy, Mitso-
takis and his New Democracy party
takis waffled between promises of
(ND) would automatically pick up the
Thatcherite programs one day, and
votes Pasok lost. The way the Novem-
notions of following a Mitterrand or
ber campaign was waged, and the
González model the next.
election results themselves, demon-
Fourth, Mitsotakis sent out confus-
strate why ND is unlikely to win the
ing signals regarding foreign policy.
next round, or to govern long or well
For example, he promised Greece
Jennifer Lawson
if it does win.
would finally give Israel diplomatic
True, the Communist-led Coalition
recognition, but then added a promi-
of the Left and Progress dropped two
nent exponent of Greek anti-Semitism
points; it garnered only 10.9 per cent
to ND's ticket. On issues such as
THENS-The general elections in
of the vote. Unfortunately, scandal-
participation in NATO, the future of
A
Greece last week mark the sec-
ridden as it is, Pasok still managed a
U.S. military facilities in Greece, bi-
ond time in five months that
1.5-point increase, to 40.7 per cent.
lateral relations with Turkey, and Com-
voters gave no political party a clear
The ND's vote increased by only two
mon Market cooperation, he became
mandate to govern the country. This
points, to 46.2 per cent. ND now holds
much like Andreas Papandreou: a man
means fresh elections in the not too
148 of the three hundred seats in
of his most recent word.
distant future, with protracted eco-
parliament (up three, but still three
The impression made? According to
nomic instability and foreign-policy
shy of a majority), Pasok has 128
one Western observer, ND has become
uncertainty.
(also up three), and the Communists
a "hodge-podge of political misfits and
As NR goes to press, the center-
have 21 (down seven). The three re-
has-beens strung together with ill-
right, Socialist, and Communist par-
maining seats went to various inde-
defined ideology"; it "ought to be
ties are haggling over various odd-
pendents. In short, the center-left to
called not New Democracy but New
ball possibilities for a governing
hard-left still accounts for some 52
Menagerie."
coalition. If these talks fail, a "na-
per cent of parliament.
"It's high time to send Mr. No-Win
tional unity" or "caretaker" government
At first glance ND's position might
packing," says a party insider. "If he
will be formed. In any case, by the
not seem too bad. After all, it did
won't leave peaceably, the party-at
time these lines are read Greeks may
improve on its June performance. In
least a large segment of it-may soon
be headed toward the polls again,
fact, however, in recent Greek his-
leave him behind."
perhaps as early as December 17.
tory, when two hotly contested gen-
These sentiments of disgust have
For those who take their news about
eral elections are held this close
not yet reached groundswell propor-
Greece in occasional spurts, all this
together, the party that is in the
tions. But after a string of defeats
may sound strange. Indeed, most of
ascendancy would normally gain more
(even if close ones) and erratic swings
the international media had been por-
than ten points. It has taken ND
in policy, the message that ND must
traying former Prime Minister An-
eight years to edge up 10.3 points.
reform itself is abundantly clear.
dreas Papandreou as easy prey. His
ND's inability to make more than
Sadly, it may already be too late.
popularity had plummeted thanks to
incremental gains is deeply discon-
Papandreou is sniggering on the side-
certing to Greece's allies as well as to
line, calculating his prospects and re-
Mr. Carpenter, NR's Athens corespondent,
Greeks themselves. Even if the party
portedly preparing a "spectacular de-
has lived in Greece since 1981.
obtains a marginal majority, Pasok
velopment" to solidify his position and
DECEMBER 8, 1989 / NATIONAL REVIEW 17
boost Pasok's support. If he delivers
democracy will suffer a further blow
tility to the West. The idea that West-
even half of what he is promising,
in the land of its birth.
ern-oriented education robs minority
youth of self-esteem, "turns off' the
child who is not European American,"
is not backed up by any evidence at
The Regents' Round Table
all. When we recall such figures as W.
E. B. Du Bois and Martin Luther
LAWRENCE AUSTER
King, as well as a host of other Amer-
ican blacks who were shining prod-
ucts of "Eurocentered" education, it is
hard to take that idea seriously. And
STATES
why, if a group's curricular "invisibil-
ity" harms its self-esteem, have Japa-
nese Americans done so well? Asians
have obviously been added to the lit-
any of aggrieved and ego-damaged
groups to make plausible the notion
of a blanket educational oppression of
all non-whites and the resulting need
431886A
for a radical overhaul.
Jennifer Lawson
Surprisingly, the report concedes the
presence of substantial "multicultur-
al" content (as well as the absence of
negative stereotypes) in the present
EW York-The radicalization of
The proposal was released at the
curriculum. A series of textbook re-
American schools proceeds apace.
July meeting of the New York Board
views written from each minority view-
A report recently issued by New
of Regents, the body that determines
point shows that "there has been a
York State Commissioner of Educa-
state education policy. Professor Harry
serious attempt to broaden the con-
tion Thomas Sobol, entitled "A Curric-
Hamilton, a member of the Commis-
tent to reflect the pluralism of Ameri-
ulum of Inclusion," opens with the
sioner's Task Force on Minorities,
can society." But such inclusion, says
declaration that "African Americans,
which prepared the report, told the
the report, does not solve the prob-
Asian Americans, Puerto Ricans/
Regents: "We're on the brink of some-
lem, because it is only "additive and
Latinos, and Native Americans have
thing very important for New York
not at the center of the endeavors."
all been the victims of an intellectual
and the nation. We have to change
This is what the Task Force calls
and educational oppression that has
the entire framework in the way we
"Eurocentered multiculturalism." The
characterized the culture and institu-
look at ourselves as a nation." Hamil-
mere inclusion of material on minor-
tions of the United States and the
ton invoked mythic imagery: "Instead
ity experience, no matter how exten-
European American world for centu-
of one group, European Americans,
sive, "cannot counteract deeply rooted
ries." No, this oppression does not
at the head of a long table, with oth-
racist traditions in American culture.
consist in giving an inferior education
er cultures present only as invited
Merely adding marginal examples of
to minorities, but in giving them the
guests, we will have a Round Table
'other' cultures to an assumed domi-
same education as whites. A "system-
with all cultures equal." Sitting at
nant culture cannot reverse long es-
atic bias toward European culture and
their own long table, the Regents
tablished and entrenched policies and
its derivatives" has "a terribly damag-
received the report with enthusiasm.
practices of that dominant culture.
ing effect on the psyche of young
Even conservatives liked it; former
The European American monocultu-
people of African, Asian, Latino, and
Chancellor Willard Genrich, one of a
ral perspective prevails. Its value sys-
Native American descent." The report
tiny minority on the Board that had
tem and norms dominate."
calls for a totally restructured curric-
just tried to block a major expansion
Hence the report's inoffensive-
ulum for the state's public schools, in
of bilingual education, declared: "This
sounding title, "A Curriculum of In-
which "the history, achievements, as-
is an excellent document and we
clusion," conceals a radical intent; it
pirations, and concerns of people of
should proceed with it."
is not just greater inclusion of minor-
all cultures [shall be] made an inte-
Unfortunately, if their recent han-
ity cultures the Task Force seeks, but
gral part of all curricula." This even
dling of bilingual education is any
the dismantling of the dominant cul-
includes science and math, since "by
guide, the Regents seem likely to de-
ture. By the Orwellian magic of a
ostensibly omitting cultural references
cide on the curriculum plan on the
name-"European American"-the na-
from science and mathematics materi-
basis of uplifting slogans about a new
tional culture is transformed into an
als, a subtle message is given to all
America rather than critical thought
ethnic culture on the same level as all
children that all science and mathe-
about the plan's contents. The report
of America's minority cultures. Chil-
matics originated within the Euro-
does contain some good ideas about
dren will be taught that all cultures
pean culture."
widening the curriculum to reflect mi-
are to be "equally valued"; that the
nority experiences; but on the whole
contributions of Puerto Ricans and
Mr. Auster is a freelance writer living in
it is a poorly thought-out document,
Chinese and Iroquois are as impor-
New York City.
steeped in racial victimology and hos-
tant in the development of our society
18 NATIONAL REVIEW / DECEMBER 8, 1989
hi
wis carrie Per my
PRESIDENT BUSH'S ARRIVAL STATEMENT
ATHENS, GREECE
MR. PRESIDENT -- I AM GREATLY HONORED TO HAVE YOU WELCOME ME
HERE TODAY, AND TO SEE PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS AND OTHER
DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT. AS SOME OF YOU MAY
KNOW, I VISITED ATHENS ONCE BEFORE IN THE EARLY 1960'S AS A
PRIVATE BUSINESSMAN. I COME NOW AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHO TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR LONGSTANDING
TIES OF FRIENDSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE OF GREECE.
DWIGHT EISENHOWER WAS THE LAST U.S. PRESIDENT TO VISIT GREECE,
IN DECEMBER OF 1959. THE WORLD WAS A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE
THEN. TENSIONS BETWEEN EAST AND WEST WERE ESCALATING. THE
RESOLVE OF THE ALLIANCE IN UPHOLDING THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY WAS BEING TESTED. AND THE LIGHT OF LIBERTY IN MANY
COUNTRIES WAS ALREADY EXTINGUISHED BY TOTALITARIAN RULE.
DURING PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S VISIT, OUR TWO COUNTRIES
REAFFIRMED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE OBJECTIVES OF NATO. TO UNITE
FOR THE COLLECTIVE DEFENSE AND FOR PRESERVATION OF PEACE AND
SECURITY. TO DEFEND THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY, INDIVIDUAL
LIBERTY, AND THE RULE OF LAW. THE ALLIANCE ROSE TO MEET EVERY
CHALLENGE TO ITS MEMBERS AND ITS BELIEFS. IT HAS PROSPERED AND
FLOURISHED. TOTALITARIANISM HAS BEEN ERODED BY ITS DEFEATS AND
COLLAPSED UNDER ITS OWN UNSUSTAINABLE WEIGHT.
-2-
I HAVE JUST COME FROM THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT MEETING IN LONDON.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY HOLDS MORE
PROMISE THAN EVER BEFORE. I SEE EVERY REASON FOR HOPE. EVERY
REASON TO JOIN IN BUILDING A WORLD ORDER FOUNDED ON THOSE SAME
TRIED AND TRUE ALLIANCE PRINCIPLES. AND ONE REASON I AM HERE
TODAY IS TO DISCUSS THAT FUTURE WITH GREECE'S LEADERS.
I AM ALSO HERE TO AFFIRM AMERICA'S INTEREST IN A STRONG AND
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES. AND
TO HONOR THE COUNTRY WHICH GAVE BIRTH TO DEMOCRACY IN THIS VERY
CITY 2,500 YEARS AGO.
DWIGHT EISENHOWER WAS HERE IN A COLD WINTER OF THE COLD WAR. I
AM FORTUNATE TO BE WITH YOU IN THE SUN-WASHED SUMMER OF GREECE
AND A NEW AGE. PERHAPS YOUR OWN NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING POET
GEORGE SEFERIS SAID IT BEST: "A LITTLE FARTHER -- WE WILL SEE
ALMOND TREES BLOSSOMING -- THE MARBLE GLEAMING IN THE SUN --
THE SEA BREAKING INTO WAVES. A LITTLE FARTHER -- LET US RISE A
LITTLE HIGHER."
LET US RISE TOGETHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
and/or Communist forces could ham-
ON
string an ND government.
Although numerous factors have im-
peded ND's performance, the recent
failures are attributable chiefly to lead-
ership problems. The course Mitso-
takis chose for the last campaign il-
lustrates the point.
First, ND did not adequately define
its opponent for the electorate. It re-
lied on allegations of Pasok scandals
Greece Adrift
rather than emphasizing the parties'
policy differences.
Second, ND leaders went whoring
RICHARD C. CARPENTER
after left-wing votes. First, there was
charges of large-scale government cor-
the cock-and-bull coalition with the
ruption (none yet substantiated, but
Communists. Then, ND accepted the
probably all true). In the June elec-
Communist composer Mikis Theodora-
tions, his Panhellenic Socialist Move-
kis as one of its own-the first free-
ment (Pasok) was ousted from power.
market-oriented party in Europe to
But it was never reasonable to as-
have a recipient of the Order of Lenin
sume, as most pundits did, that the
as a candidate for state deputy.
quasi-conservative Constantine Mitso-
Third, on economic policy, Mitso-
takis and his New Democracy party
takis waffled between promises of
(ND) would automatically pick up the
Thatcherite programs one day, and
votes Pasok lost. The way the Novem-
notions of following a Mitterrand or
ber campaign was waged, and the
González model the next.
election results themselves, demon-
Fourth, Mitsotakis sent out confus-
strate why ND is unlikely to win the
ing signals regarding foreign policy.
next round, or to govern long or well
For example, he promised Greece
Jennifer Lawson
if it does win.
would finally give Israel diplomatic
True, the Communist-led Coalition
recognition, but then added a promi-
of the Left and Progress dropped two
nent exponent of Greek anti-Semitism
points; it garnered only 10.9 per cent
to ND's ticket. On issues such as
THENS-The general elections in
of the vote. Unfortunately, scandal-
participation in NATO, the future of
A
Greece last week mark the sec-
ridden as it is, Pasok still managed a
U.S. military facilities in Greece, bi-
ond time in five months that
1.5-point increase, to 40.7 per cent.
lateral relations with Turkey, and Com-
voters gave no political party a clear
The ND's vote increased by only two
mon Market cooperation, he became
mandate to govern the country. This
points, to 46.2 per cent. ND now holds
much like Andreas Papandreou: a man
means fresh elections in the not too
148 of the three hundred seats in
of his most recent word.
distant future, with protracted eco-
parliament (up three, but still three
The impression made? According to
nomic instability and foreign-policy
shy of a majority), Pasok has 128
one Western observer, ND has become
uncertainty.
(also up three), and the Communists
a "hodge-podge of political misfits and
As NR goes to press, the center-
have 21 (down seven). The three re-
has-beens strung together with ill-
right, Socialist, and Communist par-
maining seats went to various inde-
defined ideology"; it "ought to be
ties are haggling over various odd-
pendents. In short, the center-left to
called not New Democracy but New
ball possibilities for a governing
hard-left still accounts for some 52
Menagerie."
coalition. If these talks fail, a "na-
per cent of parliament.
"It's high time to send Mr. No-Win
tional unity" or "caretaker" government
At first glance ND's position might
packing," says a party insider. "If he
will be formed. In any case, by the
not seem too bad. After all, it did
won't leave peaceably, the party-at
time these lines are read Greeks may
improve on its June performance. In
least a large segment of it-may soon
be headed toward the polls again,
fact, however, in recent Greek his-
leave him behind."
perhaps as early as December 17.
tory, when two hotly contested gen-
These sentiments of disgust have
For those who take their news about
eral elections are held this close
not yet reached groundswell propor-
Greece in occasional spurts, all this
together, the party that is in the
tions. But after a string of defeats
may sound strange. Indeed. most of
ascendancy would normally gain more
leven if close ones) and erratic swings
the international media had been por-
than ten points. It has taken ND
in policy, the message that ND must
traying former Prime Minister An-
eight years to edge up 10.3 points.
reform itself is abundantly clear.
dreas Papandreou as easy prey. His
ND's inability to make more than
Sadly, it may already be too late.
popularity had plummeted thanks to
incremental gains is deeply discon-
Papandreou is sniggering on the side-
certing to Greece's allies as well as to
line, calculating his prospects and re-
Mr. Carpenter, NR's Athens corespondent,
Greeks themselves. Even if the party
portedly preparing a "spectacular de-
has lived in Greece since 1981.
obtains a marginal majority, Pasok
velopment" to solidify his position and
DECEMBER 8, 1989 / NATIONAL REVIEW 17
boost Pasok's support. If he delivers
democracy will suffer a further blow
tility to the West. The idea that West-
even half of what he is promising,
in the land of its birth.
ern-oriented education robs minority
youth of self-esteem, "turns off' the
child who is not European American,"
is not backed up by any evidence at
The Regents' Round Table
all. When we recall such figures as W.
E. B. Du Bois and Martin Luther
LAWRENCE AUSTER
King, as well as a host of other Amer-
ican blacks who were shining prod-
ucts of "Eurocentered" education, it is
hard to take that idea seriously. And
why, if a group's curricular "invisibil-
ity" harms its self-esteem, have Japa-
nese Americans done so well? Asians
have obviously been added to the lit-
any of aggrieved and ego-damaged
groups to make plausible the notion
of a blanket educational oppression of
all non-whites and the resulting need
for a radical overhaul.
Jennifer Lawson
Surprisingly, the report concedes the
presence of substantial "multicultur-
al" content (as well as the absence of
negative stereotypes) in the present
EW YORK-The radicalization of
The proposal was released at the
curriculum. A series of textbook re-
American schools proceeds apace.
July meeting of the New York Board
views written from each minority view-
A report recently issued by New
of Regents, the body that determines
point shows that "there has been a
York State Commissioner of Educa-
state education policy. Professor Harry
serious attempt to broaden the con-
tion Thomas Sobol, entitled "A Curric-
Hamilton, a member of the Commis-
tent to reflect the pluralism of Ameri-
ulum of Inclusion," opens with the
sioner's Task Force on Minorities,
can society." But such inclusion, says
declaration that "African Americans,
which prepared the report, told the
the report, does not solve the prob-
Asian Americans, Puerto Ricans/
Regents: "We're on the brink of some-
lem, because it is only "additive and
Latinos, and Native Americans have
thing very important for New York
not at the center of the endeavors."
all been the victims of an intellectual
and the nation. We have to change
This is what the Task Force calls
and educational oppression that has
the entire framework in the way we
"Eurocentered multiculturalism." The
characterized the culture and institu-
look at ourselves as a nation." Hamil-
mere inclusion of material on minor-
tions of the United States and the
ton invoked mythic imagery: "Instead
ity experience, no matter how exten-
European American world for centu-
of one group, European Americans,
sive, "cannot counteract deeply rooted
ries." No, this oppression does not
at the head of a long table, with oth-
racist traditions in American culture.
consist in giving an inferior education
er cultures present only as invited
Merely adding marginal examples of
to minorities, but in giving them the
guests, we will have a Round Table
'other' cultures to an assumed domi-
same education as whites. A "system-
with all cultures equal." Sitting at
nant culture cannot reverse long es-
atic bias toward European culture and
their own long table, the Regents
tablished and entrenched policies and
its derivatives" has "a terribly damag-
received the report with enthusiasm.
practices of that dominant culture.
ing effect on the psyche of young
Even conservatives liked it; former
The European American monocultu-
people of African, Asian, Latino, and
Chancellor Willard Genrich, one of a
ral perspective prevails. Its value sys-
Native American descent." The report
tiny minority on the Board that had
tem and norms dominate."
calls for a totally restructured curric-
just tried to block a major expansion
Hence the report's inoffensive-
ulum for the state's public schools, in
of bilingual education, declared: "This
sounding title, "A Curriculum of In-
which "the history, achievements, as-
is an excellent document and we
clusion," conceals a radical intent; it
pirations, and concerns of people of
should proceed with it."
is not just greater inclusion of minor-
all cultures [shall be] made an inte-
Unfortunately, if their recent han-
ity cultures the Task Force seeks, but
gral part of all curricula." This even
dling of bilingual education is any
the dismantling of the dominant cul-
includes science and math, since "by
guide, the Regents seem likely to de-
ture. By the Orwellian magic of a
ostensibly omitting cultural references
cide on the curriculum plan on the
name-"European American"-the na-
from science and mathematics materi-
basis of uplifting slogans about a new
tional culture is transformed into an
als, a subtle message is given to all
America rather than critical thought
ethnic culture on the same level as all
children that all science and mathe-
about the plan's contents. The report
of America's minority cultures. Chil-
matics originated within the Euro-
does contain some good ideas about
dren will be taught that all cultures
pean culture."
widening the curriculum to reflect mi-
are to be "equally valued"; that the
nority experiences; but on the whole
contributions of Puerto Ricans and
Mr. Auster is a freelance writer living in
it is a poorly thought-out document,
Chinese and Iroquois are as impor-
New York City.
steeped in racial victimology and hos-
tant in the development of our society
18 NATIONAL REVIEW / DECEMBER 8, 1989
GREECE
28 seats and could form a government with
Caught in the Labyrinth
either PASOK, which holds 125 seats. or
New Democracy. Communist Party lead-
er Harilaos Florakis also demands cathar-
Papandreou, ailing and under attack, is not yet out for the count
sis but so far has refused to consider enter-
ing a coalition under either Papandreou or
R
easonable people expected that
Mitsotakis.
Prime Minister Andreas Papan-
Before he fell ill, Papandreou, 70.
dreou would suffer heavier losses. He had
hoped to talk the Alliance of the Left into
campaigned for the June 18 parliamenta-
joining PASOK in "a coalition of the pro-
ry elections amid a series of scandals link-
gressive forces." He dismissed the finan-
ing some members of his government to
cial scandals, claiming they are simply
huge embezzlement, fraud, payoffs and il-
plots instigated against him by "foreign
legal arms deals. On top of that. there was
and domestic forces." But last week an-
his public romance with Dimitra Liani, a
other scandal was revealed as U.S. au-
former airline flight attendant half his
thorities arrested 14 employees of the Na-
age. But Papandreou's Panhellenic So-
tional Mortgage Bank of Greece on
cialist Movement (PASOK) slid only far
charges of illegally transferring about
enough to lose its majority. And since no
$700 million to the bank's central office in
other party won more than half the seats,
Athens. apparently to avoid paying taxes.
Papandreou, who was hospitalized in seri-
While the political parties continue to
ous condition last week with lung, heart
look for a possible deal. the business of
and kidney complications, is staying on as
Greece has come to a halt. Since there is
caretaker Prime Minister while the strug-
no elected head of government. President
gle continues to form a government.
The Prime Minister enters the hospital
Christos Sartzetakis will represent Greece
The major beneficiary in the
at this week's European summit
balloting was Constantine Mit-
in Madrid. Negotiations with
sotakis' conservative New De-
the U.S. for a new agreement on
mocracy Party. which won 145
American military bases in
seats. just six short of control in
Greece must await a function-
the 300-seat Parliament. The
ing government. A long-over-
New Democrats campaigned on
due austerity program is also on
the promise of "catharsis."
hold. "The country is running
which included investigating
itself now." said Parliament
and prosecuting political big-
member George Voulgarakis.
wigs implicated in several cases
The Alliance has proposed
of alleged fraud that involved
a short-term "ecumenical gov-
millions of dollars, including the
ernment" made up of public fig-
embezzlement of more than
ures who are acceptable to all
$210 million from the Bank of
sides. Such a transition team
Crete by its former owner
would be assigned to set the
George Koskotas.
cleanup in motion and then
For the first time, the Com-
take the country into new elec-
munists in Greece hold the bal-
tions. As Papandreou's health
ance of parliamentary power.
deteriorated last week. many in
The Alliance of the Left, which
Athens believed it might be the
the Communists dominate, won
New Democracy's Mitsotakis confers with Communist leader Florakis
one way out of the labyrinth.
THE COMMUNITY
Waffen-SS. won 7% of the vote by capital-
chamber, ensuring that their issues will be
izing on fears of competition from foreign
New Times
high on the European Community's agen-
workers.
da. West Germany's well-established
Elections for the Strasbourg-based as-
Green contingent will be joined by delega-
Thatcher down, Greens up
sembly. once consigned to the status of a
tions from other E.C. countries. including
European debating society, are fast be-
France and Italy. In Britain the Greens
A
Ithough elections for the European
coming a bellwether for European poli-
captured an impressive 15% of the vote
Parliament may still be more symbol-
tics. Thatcher aides sought to downplay
but no seats because Britain does not have
ic than substantive, the balloting shattered
the Tory defeat by arguing that the culprit
a proportional-representation system.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatch-
was domestic discontent with Britain's
As E.C. leaders hold their first post-
er's image of invincibility last week. Her
15% interest rates and 8.3% inflation.
election summit in Madrid this week, the
Conservative Party suffered its first nation-
Even critics within her own party scoffed.
big question is whether Thatcher's weak-
al defeat in nearly 15 years, capturing only
blaming her Britain-first. anti-European
ened position will cause her to be more
34.7% of the vote and losing 13 of its 45 Eu-
rhetoric at a time when Europe is moving
conciliatory on two key proposals: a social
ropean Parliament seats. By contrast. the
toward economic integration in 1992.
charter intended to safeguard workers'
left-leaning Labor Party totted up 40.2%,
Said a ToΓy backbencher: "She got it dras-
rights and, more important. the eventual
stirring dreams among Laborites of ousting
tically wrong."
establishment of a single currency man-
Thatcher from power at home.
Across Western Europe. the biggest
aged by a European central bank. Em-
In West Germany, Chancellor Hel-
gains were won by Green parties. which
boldened by the erosion of Thatcher's po-
mut Kohl's Christian Democrats received
nearly doubled their representation, to 39
litical strength. her fellow summiteers
a blow as the new right-wing Republican
delegates. The environmentalists thus
may decide to press on toward European
Party, led by a former sergeant in Hitler's
hold the balance of power in the 518-seat
unity. whatever her objections.
TIME, JULY 3. 1989
29
World
SCANDALS
The
Looting of Greece
For the first time, a fallen tycoon tells how he embezzled millions
BY ROBERT AJEMIAN
reeks were exhilarated in 198
when Andreas Papandreou an
his Socialist Party swept to po:
er. Their enthusiasm has lor
since turned to bitterness and disbelief
the worst financial and political scand
in four decades engulfs Greece. The pres
the Bank of Greece. a magistrate and Pa
liament are delving into charges of CO
ruption. seeking to uncover how mo
than $210 million disappeared from t!
Bank of Crete. Charges of embezzlemen
kickbacks and bribery. of banknot
stuffed into briefcases, have been levele
against high officials.
The scandal has scorched the Sociali
Party (PASOK). and public cynicism h:
increasingly focused on the party's leade
Papandreou himself. The Prime Minist
last September was already the target
snickering and outrage as he conducted
highly public extramarital liaison wit
airline flight steward Dimitra Liani. 3
Now inside a Salem prison, Koskotas fears
that once extradited, he will disappear behin
bars-or be murdered and declared a suicide
KOSKOTAS'TALEO
CORRUPTION.HE ALLEGI
THE SCAM
1984
FALL 1985
Koskotas buys
PASOK leaders order
Bank of Crete
state-managed
corporations to depo
funds in the Bank of
||||||||_||
Crete
SUMMER 1985
After winning re-
election, PASOK cuts
deal with Koskotas
By skimming interes
payments on the sta
KT
funds, Koskotas sta
building a huge pool
money for payoffs
32
TIME. MARCH 13. 1989
-As the parliamentary investigations
traordinary. though difficult to veri-
dug through testimony. the question
fy. In six lengthy prison interviews
loomed: Was the Prime Minister
with TIME, the banker describes a
aware of the crime all along?
Socialist government riddled by ex-
Papandreou has not testified be-
tortion and criminality. Koskotas
fore investigators, though he vehe-
charges that millions of dollars miss-
mently denies any involvement in
ing from his bank were actually pay-
what he calls a "conspiracy aiming to
offs that went directly to the head of
hurt Greece." But investigators have
the government. Andreas Papan-
yet to hear from the central figure in
dreou, and PASOK officials. The
the case, George Koskotas. 34. a one-
Prime Minister, says the banker.
time New York house painter who
personally authorized the plan to
vaulted to power as the multimillion-
loot the Bank of Crete. Koskotas de-
aire owner of the Bank of Crete. Now
scribes as well his own illegal com-
jailed in Massachusetts on a variety
plicity in the huge swindle. one that
of charges leveled just before he fled
involves enormous sums hard to ac-
Greece last November. Koskotas is
count for adequately.
facing extradition to answer accusa-
The plot was an audacious one.
tions of looting his own bank.
To create the pool of crooked mon-
Amid more than a dozen law-
ey. PASOK leaders had for three
suits. much has come out about the
years ordered state-managed corpo-
vast scandal. but most Greeks be-
rations such as the Post Office. the
lieve there is far more to be re-
Organization of Urban Transporta-
vealed-by one man in particular.
tion and the State Pharmaceutical
Given his central role in the affair,
Co. to transfer large bank deposits-
Koskotas' version of the dirty deal-
the country's money, in effect-out
ings could prove to be an imperfect
Papandreou: increasingly the focus of public cynicism
of the big national banks into the
account. Apparently nothing will be
Did he authorize the looting of the Bank of Crete?
Bank of Crete. then the smallest pri-
resolved until the public has weighed
vate bank in the country. There.
his tale. "At this point." says a frustrated
sorted freely with the country's ruling So-
Koskotas says, he arranged for the gov-
former PASOK member. "we are all waiting
cialist leaders. At 34. George Koskotas.
ernment deposits to draw an exceptional-
to hear what Koskotas has to say."
the Greek wunderkind. had achieved a
ly low rate of interest. only 2% or 3%.
dazzling reputation in his own land.
Bank savings accounts in Greece routine-
plump man with steady dark
Now inside a Salem. Mass., prison.
ly draw 15% interest. The excess interest
eyes and a soft voice. Koskotas
Koskotas has finally decided to talk. His
earned on the government deposits was
is no common embezzler. In ad-
chief motivation. he explains. is a fear
siphoned off and went straight to the poli-
dition to the Bank of Crete. he
that once extradited to Greece he will dis-
ticians. he says. In addition. protected
owned Grammi. a flourishing publishing
appear behind bars-or be murdered and
and encouraged by Papandreou. Kosko-
empire that operated five magazines.
declared a suicide and thus be unable to
tas secretly plowed Bank of Crete funds
three newspapers and a radio station. He
present his own version of what hap-
into his magazines and newspapers.
bankrolled big hotels. A year ago. he
pened. He figures his fate in Greece will
In the past year. says Koskotas. some
bought Greece's wildly popular soccer
be worse if Papandreou remains in power:
40 shipments of money. in blue briefcases
team. Olympiakos. He created one of the
so his motive for speaking may also be to
stuffed with 5.000-drachma notes. were
world's most advanced printing plants.
wound the government.
carted out of the Bank of Crete and taken
And until he fled Greece. Koskotas con-
The Koskotas accusations are ex-
first to his own residence. There the bank-
THE PAYOFF
THE SCANDAL
1986-87
OCTOBER 1987
LATE OCTOBER 1987
SEPTEMBER 1988
Koskotas begins making
Visiting Washington, Koskotas is
Threatening Koskotas with prison,
Papandreou's political power
illicit payments eventually
arrested on old charges of defrauding
Papandreou pressures him to make
slips amid heart surgery,
totaling more than $30
the U.S. Government but returns
regular payments directly to the Prime
revelations about his
million, to PASOK officials
to Greece
Minister; in the next year,
mistress and the
Koskotas hands over $20
emerging
million in about 40 blue
banking
briefcases
scandal
OCTOBER 1988
Papandreou is too weak to
THE INFLUENCE
stop an investigation into the
Bank of Crete that reveals
1986-88
After the weekly Evdomi
Papandreou presses
$210 million is missing
At Papandreou's urging, and using bank
publishes nude pictures
Koskotas to buy the
funds, Koskotas buys top Greek newspapers
of Papandreou's
popular Greek
Kathimerini, Vradyni; installs
mistress Dimitra
football team
editors favorable to
Liani, Koskotas
Olympiakos to
NOVEMBER 1988
Papandreou; and starts
buys it and
associate it with
Tipped by a friend in Greek
new paper 24 Hours to
shuts it
PASOK'S 1989
intelligence, Koskotas flees
promote the
down
campaign
and is arrested by the FBI
Papandreou family
after landing near Boston
TIME Chart by Joe Lertols
TIME. MARCH 13. 1989
33
World
er handed the money over to a Papan-
kotas later put up the money. and the first
But the Bank of Crete opened about 50
dreou confidant. Georgios Louvaris. who
issue of the paper, called 24 Hours. ap-
branches in four years, and licenses were
Koskotas says made the deliveries to the
peared in February 1988.
granted for an additional 20. Sure of his
Prime Minister. Pickups occurred weekly
political shield, Koskotas was unafraid to
and amounted over the year to more than
he Prime Minister always
violate banking laws and withdraw huge
3 billion drachmas ($20 million at today's
seemed to possess inside infor-
sums of cash at will. If Koskotas worried
rates). In addition, Koskotas claims he
mation. Papandreou, says the
aloud about audits. Papandreou was al-
personally carried a total of half a billion
banker, taps the home and busi-
ways reassuring. "So long as I am here."
drachmas ($3.3 million) to the home of a
ness telephones of such rivals as the head
Koskotas says Papandreou told him. "you
Deputy Prime Minister. Menios Koutso-
of the political opposition, New Democra-
never have to worry."
giorgas. At the Bank of Crete half a dozen
cy's Constantine Mitsotakis, and un-
Koskotas said little of his early years.
other PASOK leaders twice a month re-
friendly publishers. "I know all their
but he was a young man drawn to risk.
ceived briefcases filled with money total-
plans." he proudly told Koskotas.
Born in 1954 in Greece. he came to Amer-
ing 1.5 billion drachmas ($10 million).
Papandreou came to assume that
ica with his parents in 1970. "George was
There was little danger of interference.
Grammi's national magazines and news-
very ambitious," says his wife Kathy.
Fifty different national audits of the Bank
papers really served him. Certain Papan-
whom he married in 1973. "His mind was
of Crete that might have uncovered the
dreou favorites were hired as editors. Says
always working."
scheme were squelched over the years by
Koskotas: "All our editors were instructed
At New York University, that over-
PASOK officials. says Koskotas. twice by di-
never to criticize the Prime Minister per-
active mind seemed to be hunting for an-
rect calls from Papandreou.
gles. Koskotas ordered a
In the summer of 1988.
batch of N.Y.U. and Ford-
the government muscled
ham University stationery
through a special Secrecy
FABIO PONZIO
guaranteeing its overdrawn
banker financial confiden-
CRETE
from a printer. He said he
Act that had the effect of
wanted to send reprimand-
ing letters to some student
OF
friends as a prank. The
tiality. Koskotas says he
university believed he in-
was directed to pay an
tended to create fake tran-
additional $2 million to
scripts. He was arrested.
then Deputy Prime Minis-
fined $200 and asked to
ter Koutsogiorgas as a re-
leave school.
ward for managing the
Not satisfied with all
legislation.
Koutsogiorgas: Payoffs?
his claimed wealth. he con-
The dank atmosphere
tinued to indulge his com-
that nurtured this tangle of
pulsion for risk taking. and
alleged corruption began
it backfired badly. Kosko-
after the Socialists re-elec-
tas obtained fake Social Se-
tion in 1985. Papandreou
curity numbers for several
was eager to tighten his
of his painters who were il-
grip on the country. He
legal aliens-federal pros-
found a perfect match in
ecutors charge that he cre-
the ambitious young pub-
ated fictitious names-and
lisher and banker Kosko-
then used them in efforts to
tas. who saw in PASOK a
collect unemployment in-
means to build an empire.
surance claims and income
Now. sitting in the li-
Charges of embezzlement and kickbacks and
tax refunds. In 1979. be-
brary of the Salem prison.
Louvaris: Deliveryman?
banknotes stuffed into briefcases for officials
fore Koskotas was indicted
Koskotas recalled the be-
by the U.S. Attorney. he
ginnings of a relationship that led to his
sonally. not even a single cartoon." Papan-
returned to Greece with his wife and four
ruin. He wore a blue pullover sport shirt
dreou urged Koskotas to neutralize hostile
children. A year later. in 1980. the U.S.
and blue jeans. white leather sneakers on
newspapers by buying them up gradually.
formally charged him with stealing
his feet. Koskotas had squeezed his big
At their second meeting in early 1987. Pa-
$40.000. In the years that followed, Kos-
waist into a one-armed desk chair.
pandreou pressed Koskotas to buy Kathi-
kotas traveled back and forth numerous
In his lap he balanced a pile of tape
merini, the country's most respected paper:
times to America. always unaware he was
transcripts and letters he had carried out
he did. using Bank of Crete funds.
under indictment. he claims. Long after.
of Greece as evidence. From time to time
Another time Papandreou had an un-
the incident would rise up to haunt him.
he ran his finger across the pages of his
expected idea: Koskotas should purchase
Back in Greece. still only 25. he landed
old appointment book. picking out entries
the Olympiakos football team. Papan-
a job as an administrative officer at the
of meetings with the Prime Minister and
dreou. according to Koskotas. wanted the
Bank of Crete. Five years later. in late 1984
other key government officials.
banker to build up the team. so that just
when the Bank of Crete came up for pur-
He remembers the meetings with Pa-
before the 1989 election the government
chase at $9 million. Koskotas somehow
pandreou vividly. five times alone in the
would agree to build Olympiakos a new
produced a bankroll big enough to buy it.
Prime Minister's home at Kastri. once at
stadium. an announcement certain to be
He knew exactly where he wanted to go.
the home of a Papandreou intimate. Mi-
highly popular. Koskotas laid out 4 billion
The Socialists were immersed in an elec-
chalis Ziangas. At the first meeting in ear-
drachmas for the plan.
tion and Koskotas was determined to curry
ly 1986. Koskotas recalls. the Prime Min-
Koskotas' first ambition. he says. was
favor. Within a few months he hired as
ister had a proposal: Koskotas should
to enlarge the Bank of Crete. Private
bank general manager a PASOK veteran.
start a daily newspaper to provide positive
banks routinely had to wait at least a year
Panayotis Vakalis. whom he knew to be a
coverage of the Papandreou family. Kos-
for authorization to open a single branch.
longtime friend of Andreas Papandreou's.
34
TIME. MARCH 13. 1989
The connection eventually brought the
was keeping company with Dimitra Liani,
6:30 that evening: Koskotas fled. He
young banker and the Prime Minister to-
a buxom airline hostess half his age. The
slipped out of his printing plant unseen.
gether. The great swindle was under way.
weekly newspaper Evdomi. Papandreou
hidden in the back of one of his newspa-
For two years, says Koskotas, payoffs
complained, kept turning up nude photo-
per delivery trucks, to start a desperate
went to the party, none to Papandreou
graphs of Dimitra. Within a month Kos-
journey across three continents. Three
himself. Then a pivotal event occurred. In
kotas had bought Evdomi. and three
weeks later he fetched up in the U.S..
October 1987, Koskotas traveled to
months later he shut it down. Then there
where he was apprehended.
Washington to attend a White House lun-
was Margaret. the second wife Papan-
Locked in the Salem prison and fight-
cheon at which Vice President George
dreou wanted to divorce. He. said that
ing extradition, George Koskotas started
Bush was the host. Secret Service agents,
Margaret, absurdly. wanted a settlement
to get advice to keep quiet from old ac-
checking invitations, were surprised to
of $100 million. Koskotas heard himself
complices. One of them, Yannis Mant-
discover that the guest from Greece was
say he could over a period of time put to-
zouranis. former secretary to the Greek
under a six-year-old federal indictment.
gether $10 million to $20 million as a start.
Cabinet, sounded especially anxious to
They arrested Koskotas at his Washing-
In August 1988 the Prime Minister
learn if the prisoner was going to talk.
ton hotel. The banker posted bail of $1
suddenly flew to London for triple-bypass
Mantzouranis. Koskotas says. was still
million. A few days later, to get home.
heart surgery. The day before Papandreou
holding a $2 million payoff to Koutsogior-
Koskotas lied to Greek embassy officials
left. Koskotas says, Louvaris came to pick
gas in a Swiss bank account. The exis-
and obtained a travel document.
up the customary cash, a suitcase of 90 mil-
tence of the account would implicate him.
Only three weeks later, Koskotas
lion drachmas ($600,000). After the sur-
Hoping to entrap Mantzouranis. Kos-
says. he was summoned by Papandreou. It
gery. Papandreou for the first time made
kotas instructed his wife to make tape re-
was apparent to Koskotas that something
public what many already knew: his rela-
cordings of the phone calls from Athens.
was wrong. Sternly the Prime
The objective was to goad the
Minister warned that because
unwitting Cabinet secretary
of the passport violation, Kos-
into telling more about PASOK
kotas might have to go to jail.
corruption. Mantzouranis
Eventually Papandreou de-
warns of the consequences of
clared Koskotas need not
vais
saying too much. "I know them
worry. But there were certain
better than George." he says of
requirements. An election was
his PASOK colleagues. "They
coming. the Prime Minister
wouldn't hesitate to do
stressed. and-PASOK needed 5
anything."
billion drachmas ($33 mil-
Mantzouranis relates how
lion). Thereupon. says Kosko-
his own life has changed drasti-
tas. Papandreou bluntly de-
cally. "You must understand
scribed a much expanded
that I am in danger." he says. "I
plan for kicking back interest
do not circulate at night. I no
payments. Koskotas. he di-
longer live at my house."
rected. should work out the
In jail. listening to the cas-
details with Deputy Prime
sette. Koskotas heard the fright
Minister Koutsogiorgas. Says
in the caller's voice. It was an
Koskotas. sounding surpris-
echo of his own fears. Mant-
ingly disingenuous: "I realized
zouranis had an important
it was outright blackmail."
message to pass on: Koutso-
Until then he had rationalized
giorgas wants to be certain the
that the stolen interest pay-
prisoner knows what he is do-
ments to PASOK were simply
ing. "Menios says." the voice
the political cost of doing busi-
from Greece emphasized, "that
ness in Greece.
George should not betray the
Two weeks later, Kosko-
Dangerous liaisons: the Prime Minister attended by Dimitra Liani
only people who can help him
tas says, the first direct re-
now." Koskotas pondered si-
quest for money came by telephone from
tionship with Liani. That further under-
lently and for a second felt a twinge of his
Papandreou. The Prime Minister wanted
mined his slipping political standing. Ru-
old power. Then he dismissed the warning.
200 million drachmas ($1.3 million). pur-
mors of the Koskotas money connection
He wanted to talk.
portedly to pay the expenses for a PASOK
were also circulating: now opponents
youth festival. Georgios Louvaris would
called for a reckoning.
Throughout last week TIME sought com-
drop by. In the following months. says
ments and answers from government offi-
Koskotas. Papandreou made two other
he governor of the Bank of
cials-including Prime Minister Papan-
personal calls for cash. each for 150 mil-
Greece started to press for a spe-
dreou-on the accusations in this story.
lion drachmas ($1 million). for what he
cial audit of the Bank of Crete.
When all refused to be interviewed. a list of
described as PASOK events. Otherwise the
Koutsogiorgas told Koskotas that
questions was submitted to them. TIME did
Prime Minister received a weekly deliv-
the investigation could not be stopped.
not disclose that it had interviewed Kosko-
ery of around 75 million drachmas.
Fearing abandonment. Koskotas made a
tas, but made clear that it was publishing a
Soon Koskotas found the requests
last threat. "If I am destroyed." he says he
major story that contained serious and
from Papandreou and Koutsogiorgas
told Koutsogiorgas. "we'll all be destroyed.
damaging allegations. Papandreou did ad-
bolder-and more personal. Papandreou
You know what they will find at the
dress the affair in a Feb. 14 memorandum
wanted to squelch a critical memoir by his
bank."
to investigators. He said he met Koskotas
first wife. Christine. a psychiatrist.
Soon 40 secret service agents were
only three times. at the banker's initiative.
Through foreign book agents, Koskotas
keeping a discreet surveillance over Kos-
between March 4, 1987. and June 30, 1988.
paid out $90.000 and tied up world rights
kotas. He began to think he might be
during which the two discussed only Kos-
to the book. Papandreou raised another
killed. One day a friend in Greek intelli-
kotas' business and. later, the accusations
problem. The Prime Minister, then 69,
gence told him he would be arrested by
against him.
TIME. MARCH 13. 1989
35
Tilings for picture-perrect
Since the 1984 discovery of the first
alloy with atoms arranged in a pattern
having a symmetry forbidden by the
usual rules of crystallography, scientists
have debated whether such alloys belong
to a special category of materials known
as quasicrystals or instead consist simply
of tiny, conventional crystals joined in
unusual ways. New images showing
atoms on the surface of an aluminum-
cobalt-copper alloy provide the best evi-
dence yet that at least some materials
150A
actually do solidify into quasicrystals.
"For the first time, we've been able to
At right, a network of points and ring-like structures, corresponding to atomic positions.
resolve individual atoms on the surface of
covers a 150-angstrom-square region of a quasicrystalline alloy. The surface shows four
a quasicrystal," says A. Refik Kortan of
prominent steps, revealing parts of the material's four top layers. This picture suggests
AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill,
a tiling model (left) in which aluminum atoms (open circles) tend to settle into pen-
N.J. The resulting pictures clearly show
tagonal rings with copper or cobalt atoms (filled circles) at their centers. Shaded box
that atoms can arrange themselves into
corresponds to a surface region about 20 angstroms wide.
patterns having a fivefold or a tenfold
symmetry. The findings, reported in the
as 60 angstroms, and no periodic struc-
layer consists of a framework of pen-
Jan. 8 PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, establish
tures are seen, we can conclude that
tagonal rings made up largely of alumi-
the feasibility of growing near-perfect
multi-twinning does not adequately de-
num atoms. with either cobalt or coppe!
quasicrystals (SN: 3/11/89, p.149) and
scribe the features in the [microscope]
atoms at the center of each ring. Each
demonstrate that simple tiling models
images," the researchers report.
successive layer has roughly the same
can explain the structure of such mate-
"It's the first time anyone has con-
pentagonal pattern but rotated by 36°
rials down to the atomic level.
firmed at the atomic level the existence of
"That's more or less what the data
In the theoretical model of a
a quasicrystalline material that appears
suggest, but it's obviously not our fina
quasicrystal, units consisting of groups of
to be perfect," says Paul J. Steinhardt of
model," Kortan says. "The basic inter
atoms fit together like tiles or blocks to
the University of Pennsylvania in Phila-
atomic distance we measure in this pen
create an orderly, space-filling arrange-
delphia. "The atoms map out a beautiful
tagonal network is in good agreemen
ment. But the fitted units are not equally
Penrose tiling."
with the aluminum-aluminum distance
spaced, or periodic, as in a conventional
Kortan and his colleagues propose a
one would find in similar transition-meta
crystal. Instead, the sequence of spacings
tiling model for this alloy in which each
compounds."
I. Petersol
follows a more complicated mathemati-
cal formula. A Penrose tiling (SN: 7/16/88.
p.42), in which two types of diamond-
Minoan culture survived volcanic eruption
shaped tiles combine to create just such a
quasiperiodic pattern. provides one pos-
The Minoan civilization of ancient
Crete, an island near mainland Greece
sible mathematical model for a quasi-
Crete literally rose from the ashes, ac-
Their project represents the first system
crystalline solid.
cording to new evidence. Advanced Mi-
atic excavation at Mochlos since 1908
The alloy studied by Kortan and his co-
noan culture and its grand palaces disap-
Last summer, the researchers took
workers crystallizes into small, 10-sided
peared around 1450 B.C. - a collapse
closer look at a domestic structure
columns. Earlier studies had shown that
attributed by many researchers to a dev-
largely uncovered in 1908. Numerous ex
these crystals seem to consist of neatly
astating volcanic eruption on the nearby
amples of Minoan pottery dot the floor 0
island of Thera (now known as San-
the three-room house. Beneath the floo
stacked, two-dimensional quasicrystal-
line layers. By preparing the crystals
torini). But recent excavations on Crete
lies a layer of soft, grainy volcanic asl
carefully. the researchers obtained sam-
indicate the Minoans rebuilt their dwell-
covering a 23-square-foot area, ranging il
ples with only a small number of defects.
ings on top of large quantities of volcanic
thickness from 2 to 8 inches.
suitable for studying with a scanning
ash soon after the Santorini blast.
"It appears the house was built on to
"We have conclusive evidence for the
of the ash immediately after the ash fell
tunneling microscope.
The tunneling microscope images of a
survival of Minoan civilization after the
thus sealing and preserving [the underly
cut, polished and cleaned surface show a
[Santorini] eruption," says Jeffrey S. Soles
ing ash]." Soles maintains.
network of points and ring-like struc-
of the University of North Carolina at
The 1908 investigators dug around th
tures, which correspond to the positions
Greensboro, who conducted the excava-
ash but did not comment on it at the tim
of atoms. When viewed at an angle, these
tions with Greek colleagues. He de-
and probably considered it unimportant
structures appear to line up in five direc-
scribed the findings Dec. 29 at the annual
headds.
tions spaced 72° apart, attesting to the
meeting of the Archaeological Institute of
The Minoan civilization rose to prom.
America in Boston.
nence between about 2000 B.C. and 145
material's fivefold symmetry. Moreover,
the fact that these lines continue across
Researchers had already begun
6
B.C. It developed a sophisticated ecor
the steps that mark the edges of different
question the argument that the Santorini
omy and traded extensively with nearb
layers in the material indicates that the
explosion triggered the Minoan collapse.
peoples. With the elimination of the Sar
positions of atoms are strongly corre-
Other investigators recently reported
torini eruption as the major culprit in th
lated from one layer to the next.
that seeds in Santorini's volcanic ash date
collapse of the Minoan culture, an alte
The pictures effectively rule out the
to about 1600 B.C., 150 years prior to
native theory now gains support: Th
possibility that this alloy consists of a
previous estimates of the eruption and
Minoans may have been conquered b
jumble of tiny, "multi-twinned" conven-
the decline of the Minoans.
members of the Mycenaean civilizatio
tional crystals. "Since the full decagonal
Soles and his colleagues are working at
that emerged on mainland Greec
symmetry is realized on scales as small
the site of Mochlos on the north coast of
around 1600 B.C.
- B. Bour
SCIENCE NEWS, VOL. 13
22
1/13/90
A new kind of Greek tragedy
The land that invented democracy can't make it work
D
emocracy may be thriving almost
Vangelis Papadimitriou, an innkeeper
everyplace else, but it has fallen on
VLADIMIR SICHOV-SIPA
and New Democracy supporter, says Pa-
hard times in the land of its birth.
pandreou exploits these passions. "He
Some 2,500 years after Pericles, Greece
wants to convince Greeks that today's
is an ordinary Eastern Mediterranean
right will again persecute the left." Tri-
state of 10 million people more reason-
kala folk who support Papandreou re-
ably compared with neighboring Yugo-
gard Mitsotakis's conservatives as fas-
slavia, Bulgaria and Turkey than with
cists, says Labros Katsiambas, editor of
Athens's Golden Age. The Greeks' in-
the local newspaper. "People won't
ability to govern themselves mocks the
change their votes. They're fearful of
legend and is a warning to Romanians,
betraying values established in the civil
Nicaraguans, Argentines and others that
war and before." Adds tax consultant
building a better future sometimes re-
Theodoros Spathis, a Communist,
quires forgetting the past.
"They'd forgive Papandreou anything
Greece cannot, or will not, and it is
just to block the right. There are people
caught in a new age of paralysis. Its
who vote for him who hate him."
parliament cannot choose a new figure-
Digging up the past. There is an even
head President, let alone face tough bud-
older dimension to Papandreou's dura-
get issues. Washington's recent decision
bility. His anti-Americanism, particular-
to close two of the four U.S. military bases
ly on the issue of the bases, harkens
in Greece was a godsend; no local politi-
On the right. Constantine Mitsotakis
back to the 400-year Turkish occupa-
cian had the authority to negotiate their
tion of Greece, argues Mitsotakis sup-
removal. Greece remains the second-
mean producing a viable government.
porter Papadimitriou. "We were dis-
poorest nation in the European Commu-
The origins of this polarization lie in
graced by subordination to the Turks;
nity, edging out only backward Portugal,
Greece's vicious 1947-49 civil war and,
Papandreou says we cannot be subordi-
and saved from catastrophe only by con-
to a lesser extent, in a conflict over the
nated to the U.S."
tinuing aid from the EC and the United
monarchy that only flickered out in
The chances that Papandreou will
States. In the past two years, one govern-
1974. The civil war broke out when the
stand trial for his alleged misdeeds have
ment slithered into a pit of corruption,
Communists, who had led Greek resis-
dimmed since his Socialists teamed up
two national elections produced nothing
tance to the Germans during World War
with New Democracy and the Commu-
more than futile coalitions, and now a
II, tried to take over. With strong U.S.
nists in the latest do-nothing coalition.
third parliamentary vote on April 8 is
support, they were beaten. But the war
Absurdly, the ex-Premier and the old foe
likely to produce only another nonresult.
and the conservatives' subsequent repres-
who beat him, Mitsotakis, recently were
Placing all the blame on the last lead-
sion of all opponents, not just Commu-
saying nice things about each other in
er to hold real power, Socialist Andreas
nists, created lasting divisions. "The civil
closed-door strategy sessions. Less ab-
Papandreou, is easy. Charges of corrup-
war still helps dictate the way people
surdly, there are signs of political com-
tion and illegal wiretapping against him
vote," says Eleftherios Simos, chairman
promise between Socialists and conser-
blackened Greece's image. But some-
of Trikala's Chamber of Commerce. "It
vatives as free-market thinking takes
thing deeper is behind Greece's failure to
is a continuing self-destruction."
hold across Europe.
make democracy work.
There is even talk of
Dig deep into why
putting the country on
Greeks vote the way
course with a left-right
they do-for dead-
"government of nation-
lock-and an immov-
al salvation," but hard-
able wall of passion and
ly anyone believes that
prejudice appears. Tri-
would be any more de-
kala, a relatively pros-
Ka
cisive than the present
perous cotton-growing
benumbed caretaker
town of 45,000 in the
squads. Must Papan-
province of Thessaly,
dreou and Mitsotakis
mirrors the national
both step aside? Proba-
mood: It is split between
ПАЯ
bly, say Trikala voters.
Papandreou's center-left
But only a new willing-
Socialists and Constan-
ness among Greeks to
tine Mitsotakis's conser-
cast their votes for the
vative New Democracy
anyount yid TO napor
future instead of the
Party, with the Commu-
past can save Greece
nists drawing perhaps 10
from itself.
percent. No one is will-
ing to change his vote,
by David Lawday
even if doing so would
On the left. Socialist Papandreou is trying for a comeback
in Trikala, Greece
U.S.NEWS & WORLD REPORT, April 9, 1990
35
had recently threatened to
cut its 1991 contribution to
the national budget by $244
billion, or 83 per cent. And
Lithuanian Prime Minister
Kazimiera Prunskiene told a
news conference last week
that her Baltic republic would
continue its independent
path. Declared Prunskiene:
"Lithuania will not take part
either in the union budget or
in the currency or some other
common funds and structures
of the Soviet Union."
Gorbachev, meanwhile,
has issued a flurry of recent
orders designed to aid hungry
consumers and contain social
unrest. He assigned the KGB a
new task: cracking down on
theft and black-market profi-
teering. He installed Boris
Pugo, the former head of the
KGB in Latvia, as interior min-
ister in charge of the coun-
Leningrad shopper in nearly empty store: billions of dollars' worth of foreign emergency aid
try's regular police forces.
He also reaffirmed his own
Curtain along its eastern borders, a possibility
pledged easier terms for nearly $1 billion in
intention to preserve the boundaries of the
in which self-preservation would triumph over
food credits.
union. Those hard-line measures have sparked
its commitment to democracy."
The situation in the Soviet Union, however,
widespread speculation that Gorbachev was
To help alleviate Soviet food shortages and
remains precarious. Last Thursday, Gorba-
about to resort to dictatorial rule, and led to the
show support for the embattled Gorbachev,
chev announced a temporary economic accord
sudden resignation of foreign minister Eduard
foreign governments have sent billions of dol-
with rebellious republican leaders. The Soviet
Shevardnadze last month. Gorbachev's aides
lars' worth of emergency aid, technical assist-
president said that agreement had been
say that the Soviet president's tough stance is a
ance and credits. At a December meeting of
reached on food supplies for the coming year,
tactic intended to marshal conservative sup-
the 12-nation European Community at which
and he hinted at progress in resolving disputes
port for long-overdue reforms. With growing
leaders agreed on a $2.8-billion package of
with the republics over who controls natural
disorder and frustration within a fraying Soviet
such aid, British Foreign Minister Douglas
resources and hard-currency export earnings.
Union, however, failure could make dark pre-
Hurd declared: "It is not in the interests of
But it was not clear whether the Kremlin had
dictions of a mass exodus increasingly realistic.
Europe that the Soviet Union lapse into anar-
completely patched up differences with the
chy or that it should fall back into the hands of
Russian Federation, the largest republic, led by
ANDREW BILSKI with MALCOLM GRAY in
some backward-looking tyrant." Canada has
Gorbachev's archrival, Boris Yeltsin, which
Moscow and BOGDAN TUREK in Warsaw
A PERILOUS
the liberalization process. But a speed-up
without clothes, said Mayor Pantelis Koufa-
seemed unlikely-many Albanians are deeply
las, and many were sleeping in courtyards
WINTER EXODUS
skeptical about Alia's commitment to installing
and on sidewalks, huddling around camp-
a measure of democracy. And even after Alba-
fires for warmth.
nian border guards shot and killed five would-
Albania's 45-year-old Communist re-
They came by the thousands, stumbling
be refugees last month, the exodus continued,
gime, once so rigid that it severed relations
along mountain paths, tunnelling under
swelling to over 2,000 during December.
with the Stalinist Soviet Union in 1961,
fences and swimming across freezing rivers
There was a sudden surge over the holidays:
began minor reforms last year following the
to escape Albania, Eastern Europe's last
Greek border police reported that 3,000 Alba-
collapse of authoritarian governments in
bastion of orthodox communism. Most of
nians crossed the border on New Year's Eve
other Eastern European nations. Then, Alia
the refugees were ethnic Greeks and their
alone. Some frontier guards made no attempt
undertook to accelerate the reforms after
destination was Greece itself, on the far
to stop them. In fact, some observers said that
anti-government riots last month. He au-
side of snow-covered Mount Tsamandás
authorities in Tirana may have deliberately
thorized opposition political parties and
straddling the border. They fied despite
opened the frontier to allow the Greeks to
scheduled free elections in February. As
promises by Albanian President Ramiz Alia
escape. Clearhos Bolomos, 45, who made a 13-
well, a draft constitution, published in the
to democratize his country, Europe's poor-
hour trek to freedom, said that one guard had
state-controlled press just after Christmas,
est nation. And they created an acute prob-
let his group through even though he "told us
would give Albanians the right to enter or
lem for Greece, where the government
we were traitors, pointed his machine-gun and
leave the country freely. But, for many of
broadcast an appeal to their fellow ethnics,
spat at us."
them, the changes were plainly too little, too
who make up about 10 per cent of Albania's
Meanwhile, the exodus created a major
late. Like most dictatorships, Tirana's faces
3.5 million people, to stay at home.
problem in the Greek border zone. In
its gravest dangers as it begins to reform.
Greek Prime Minister Constantine Mit-
Filiátes (population 5,000), 4,000 refugees
sotakis scheduled a Jan. 13 visit to Tirana,
crowded the muddy streets in search of food
JOHN BIERMAN with correspondents'
the Albanian capital, in an effort to hasten
and shelter. Many of them were practically
reports
MACIEAN'S/JANUARY 14, 1991
23
world
ALBANIA
a good part of Albania's estimated 400,000
ethnic Greeks, especially when it believes
Climbing Out of the Cage
that Tirana is encouraging the flight to wrig-
gle through political difficulties.
As the communist regime confronts demands for change, ethnic
In mid-December student demonstra-
tions, belatedly inspired by the upheavals
Greeks flee to their motherland-and a less than rousing welcome
in the rest of the East bloc, forced conces-
sions from the government of
nowcapped in winter and pre-
ARIS
S
President Ramiz Alia, including
cipitous in many places, the
promises of fair elections and eco-
Pindus Mountains, which straddle
nomic reform. According to
Greece and Albania, are all but im-
spokesman Polydoras in Athens,
passable. That has not stopped
Alia is trying to rid himself of the
thousands of desperate Albanians
Greeks before the vote scheduled
from crossing into Greece since the
for February because the ethnic
last week of 1990. In early Decem-
group, which exceeds 10% of the
ber, four fleeing Albanians were
population, is opposed to his rule.
shot dead near the frontier by sol-
Fearing persecution, ethnic
diers of the Stalinist regime in Tira-
Greeks chose to flee at the first
na. Last week, by contrast, refugees
word that border guards would not
walked into Greece with little to
stand in their way. The country-
deter them except the cold and the
side the refugees left behind is a
mountains. Instead of opening fire,
wasteland of want. Virtually the
border guards merely shot curses at
Exhausted refugees: better than Albania's wasteland of want
only meat rural families saw last
the fugitives. By week's end about
year was half a chicken distributed
5,000 refugees streamed into the north-
tional disaster." As for refugees in Greece,
to each household on Nov. 29, the Nation-
western Greek province of Epirus, doubling
government spokesman Vyron Polydoras
al Day. By contrast, even the icy refugee
the population of the border area. Most of
said, "We wish that the idea will ripen that
camps, such as Kalpaki in northern
the fugitives belonged to Albania's large
they will return to their homeland."
Greece, seem like paradise, providing
Greek minority, leaving territory once dis-
With few volunteers for the trip back to
shelter and plentiful food. Said a high-
puted by the two countries.
Albania and more refugees expected in the
ranking Greek official: "The question is,
But even as Prime Minister Constan-
months to come, Mitsotakis scheduled a
Where does one draw the line? We don't
tine Mitsotakis extended temporary-resi-
trip to Tirana. He will be the first Western
want to make them feel too comfortable
dent status to refugees claiming Greek an-
leader to visit since Albania withdrew into
because we want them to go back." But
cestry, he pleaded with ethnic Greeks still
isolation at the end of World War II. Athens
back to what?
-By Howard G. Chua-Eoan.
in Albania to stay home to prevent a "na-
is aghast at the prospect of accommodating
Reported by Mirka Gondicas/Kalpaki
SOVIET UNION
cal secessionists would halt their efforts to
splinter the republic.
Good News, Bad Times
Gorbachev was clearly pleased to show
that his newly enhanced presidential pow-
Gorbachev seeks an economic truce with his restive republics,
ers can produce results, but tougher tests
lie ahead. Crucial economic disagreements
hoping to ease the country's tensions
must still be resolved with the powerful
and populous Russian republic, whose par-
W
ith good news scarcer than sausage
liament voted at year's end to withhold the
in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorba-
lion's share of its contributions to the cen-
chev made the most of what was available
tral government.
last week. Emerging jubilant from a Krem-
Elsewhere, the outlook was far from
lin meeting with the Federation Council, a
hopeful. General Mikhail Moiseyev, Chief
policymaking body that includes leaders of
of the Soviet General Staff, pledged last
the 15 republics, the President announced
week that "not a single additional soldier"
that a temporary economic truce had been
would be sent to the breakaway Baltic
reached with the republics, finally making
states, but that did not stop tensions from
it possible to draft a national budget for the
mounting in the region. Interior Ministry
coming year. The central government and
special forces seized Latvia's largest print-
the republics, Gorbachev said, would also
Stopping the presses at a Latvian plant
ing plant and brought publication of major
cooperate to overcome a deepening food
newspapers in the republic to a virtual halt.
crisis and set up a transitional administra-
the southwestern republic of Moldavia.
Moscow officials said the raid in Riga was to
tion until a new treaty reorganizing the
Russian and Turkic minorities have tried
recover Communist Party property, which
federal structure of the Soviet Union was
to set up independent states there in oppo-
was allegedly seized illegally by the republi-
approved. "Months were lost in the tug-of-
sition to a republican government that is
can government. In neighboring Lithuania,
war between the center and the republics,"
dominated by the Romanian-speaking ma-
Interior Ministry troops took control of par-
Gorbachev complained. "We are special-
jority. In Kishinev, Moldavia's capital, the
ty headquarters, expelling local police units.
ists at going to extremes, but I am for com-
parliament bowed to an ultimatum from
Such bully tactics have raised questions
mon sense."
Gorbachev and agreed to reconsider laws
about how repressive Gorbachev is pre-
The embattled President could also
promoting rights for ethnic Moldavians; in
pared to be to hold his crumbling empire
claim some success in easing tensions in
return, the parliament was assured that lo-
together.
By John Kohan/Moscow
26
TIME, JANUARY 14, 1991
Books in Review
Athens vs. Sparta
ephemeral yet still integral to the
our most expensive universities and
web of events.
to treat the History of Thucydides
THE OUTBREAK OF THE PELO-
Now imagine that despite his
as just one more text among many.
PONNESIAN WAR (391 pp., $42.50,
shortcomings, this vastly enhanced
of inevitably modest importance
1969); THE ARCHIDAMIAN WAR
Rommel had written a history of
alongside the writings of every age
(367 pp., $39.50, 1974); THE
World War II of such surpassing
and culture. We could, moreover.
PEACE OF NICIAS AND THE
merit in every way that it caused
cheerfully overlook its limitations
SICILIAN EXPEDITION (372 pp.,
all other contemporary accounts to
as a source by agreeing that the
$39.50, 1981); THE FALL OF THE
be abandoned without trace, keep-
warfare it records among Athens.
ATHENIAN EMPIRE (426 pp.,
ing subsequent historians in its
Sparta, and even pettier town-states
$39.50, 1987). By DONALD
thrall thematically, factually, and
two-and-a-half millennia ago was
KAGAN. Cornell University Press.
stylistically, and indeed defining
of no greater importance than. say.
the very task of writing history.
African tribal struggles. Aztec
Reviewed by EDWARD N. LUTTWAK
What would we then know of
slave-raiding expeditions, the Mog-
World War II? As it is, the gap
ul invasion of the Deccan. or the
MAGINE that the only contempo-
between the texts-official histories
contemporaneous strife of the Chi-
rary record of most events of
included-that now fill our librar-
nese warring states. Since none of
World War II had been written by
ies and the findings of the latest
these episodes is anywhere nearly
a well-known general on the losing
documentary research is becoming
so well documented as the Pelo-
side, seriously at odds with his own
embarrassingly wide, so that repu-
ponnesian War. historiographical
people-a Rommel, say, though of
tations once secure are now greatly
egalitarianism would surely com-
philosophical disposition, moral
diminished by recent scholarship
pel us to research them first, rather
clarity, evident compassion, and al-
while others have been greatly ele-
than striving for further clarifica-
together superior intellect. Such a
vated; various events once supposed
tions of the minor details of a war
Rommel would be an incompara-
to have been inevitable are now
so remote in time. and materially
bly greater man than his real-life
revealed as adventitious, and vice
so insignificant.
prototype, but as a historical source
versa; and the Holocaust is slowly
But even though no human cul-
his shortcomings would still be
emerging as the central event of
ture should be alien to us. and
most severe. Because of the inevi-
Hitler's war, but less and less a
curiosity about the past. regardless
table limits of his knowledge of a
purely German crime. What colos-
of what ensued from it. needs no
complicated and protracted war,
sal mystifications would be uncov-
justification, it is simply foolish to
many events would escape his scru-
ered. what sort of sweeping reap-
deny that the history of the Greeks
tiny in the whole or in detail; be-
praisal of causes and modalities
before, during, and after the Pelo-
cause of the unconscious partisan-
would be necessary, if till now the
ponnesian War is of incomparably
ship induced by his origins and
only record of what happened be-
greater significance than the deeds
fate, further events would be subtly
tween 1939 and 1945 had been a
of Aztecs, African tribes, Moguls, or
or less subtly distorted; and given
single book by our transfigured
ancient Chinese-and precisely be-
Rommel?
cause of what ensued from that
the great variety of polities, cus-
That, in short, is more or less our
toms, and procedures he would
history. Instead of surviving only
condition vis-à-vis the Peloponne-
as a passive residue, of great schol-
have to cover, still other events
sian War between Athens and Spar-
arly and antiquarian interest per-
would be obscured by confusions
ta. which lasted from 431 to 404
haps but no more, the record of
technical, topographic, or even po-
B.C.E. and resulted in the transfer of
what a few Greeks said and did so
litical. Finally, there would be a
hegemony over Greece from Athens
long ago still resonates vibrantly in
partiality entirely deliberate,
to Sparta. But in the case of the
our own day-and not least for
caused by the author's selection of
Peloponnesian War there are no
Latin Americans, Africans, Indi-
what he deemed most important.
archives to redeem our dependence
ans. and Chinese. The comedies of
thereby slighting other facts per-
on Thucydides, son of Olorus,
the Greeks make us laugh and their
haps only circumstantial and
born around 460 B.C.E.. one of ten
tragedies make us weep, we know
generals elected in 424, there-
their names and even their feelings
EDWARD N. LUTTWAK holds the Ar-
after exiled from Athens for twenty
as we share in their great events.
leigh Burke Chair in Strategy at the
years. and the author of the great
glorious victories, crushing defeats.
Center for Strategic and International
Studies. Washington, D.C. His books
History of the war that breaks off
or agonized debates. But it is above
include The Grand Strategy of the Ro-
abruptly in the year 411.
all the ideas of those 5th-century
man Empire. The Pentagon and the
One very simple solution to our
Greeks that are so completely alive
Art of War. and Strategy: The Logic
difficulties would be to adopt the
for us.
of War and Peace.
view already sanctioned by many of
Our own schools and universi-
60
BOOKS IN REVIEW 61
ties may now be subjected to a
us Thucydides the philosopher of
are only hints and jocular referen-
regime of cultural relativism.* but
life and continuing master of our
ces to the events and personalities
polite pretense or academic perver-
thoughts.
of the war. But because these plays
sity cannot alter the primacy of the
To build the edifice of a coherent
were performed for a public that
culture that invented the three
and more comprehensive history of
included many who actually took
ideas which are still instructing,
the Peloponnesian War around the
part in those events and knew those
id
inspiring, and conquering minds
incomplete and often cryptic text of
personalities quite intimately, au-
all over the planet: the idea of sci-
Thucydides. Kagan has employed
thenticity is uniquely guaranteed:
ence-that is, the quest for rational
several methods.
had Aristophanes been inaccurate,
explanations by refutable hypothe-
First, he has made the fullest use
his audience would have missed the
sis, invented by the ancient Greeks
of all other contemporary sources,
joke and his parodic intention
alone and by no one else; the idea
poor as they are. In the comedies
would have misfired. Kagan ex-
is
of democracy and its concomitant,
of Aristophanes, for example. there
tracts what he can from this source,
le
5,
the priority of freedom as the great-
est happiness, most famously ex-
IS
pressed by Pericles in the funeral
oration which Thucydides reports
NEW FROM LibertyClassics
(or improves), but concretely man-
ifest in the detailed political prac-
HISTORY OF THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND
tices he records; and the idea of the
TERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN
individual personality as a universe
REVOLUTION
of consciousness, rather than as a
INTERSPERSED WITH BIOGRAPHICAL. POLITICAL
mere fragment of some imposed
AND MORAL OBSERVATIONS
collectivity, whether tribe, nation,
civic community, or family, wheth-
By Mercy Otis Warren
Edited and annotated by Lester H. Cohen
er caste, faith, class. or party.
These three intertwined ideas,
"At last Mercy Otis Warren is enabled 10 claim the
place she deserves in American intellectual history.
more subversive today than ever
Lester Cohen has written a powerful introduction
before of every form of political,
which situates Warren in the cultural context of the
ideological, religious, and social
revolutionary era. Warren's work is now far more
oppression, are autonomously liv-
accessible to us than it has been. No future student of the
early republic will be able to take Warren for granted."
1-
ing forces. Simply because they
-Linda K. Kerber, University of Iowa
d
arose in that place and time, the
Peloponnesian War is far more
M
ercy Otis Warren was the most formidable
woman intellectual in early America, and a
than another historical episode
proponent of the American Revolution. This work
among many. Because all three
(in the first new edition since 1805) is an exciting
ideas pervade and find within the
narrative of the Revolution, from the Stamp Act of
History of Thucydides their finest
1765 through ratification of the Constitution in
1787-88.
expression, that text is far more
than just another text among
Volume I - 382 + xliv pages. Foreward. bibli-
ography. editor's note. list of abbreviations.
many.
Volume II - 380 + XV pages. Index for both
volumes.
AND this is the text that has been
Hardcover
$30.00 the set
0-86597-066-1
Liberty Fund. Inc.
Paperback
815.00 the set
0-86597-069-6
7440 North Shadeland Ave.
the subject of the twenty-year la-
Prepayment is required on all orders not for resale. We
Indianapolis, IN 46250
bors of Donald Kagan, long-time
pay book rate postage on prepaid orders. Please allow
professor of history and classics at
approximately + weeks for delivery. All orders from
Yale. In four volumes and 1,556
outside the United States must be prepaid in U.S. dollars.
pages (not counting appendices.
To order, or for a copy of our NEW 1989 catalogue,
write:
bibliographies, and indices), of
which the last has recently been
Please send me: History of the Rise
of
i-
published, Kagan contends with
the American Revolution.
Thucydides as a historical source
Liberty Fund edition, 1988
Enclosed is my check or money order
made payable to Liberty Fund. Inc.
while incidentally displaying for
Quan.
Price
Amount
Hardcover
$30.00
Please send me 1 copy of your NEW
1989 catalogue.
My thirteen-year-old son. unprompted.
Paperback
$15.00
complains that he is not allowed to study
Name
Subtotal
the Greeks and Romans. Chinese history. he
tells me. is "boring" -as it would be when
Indiana residents
Address
taught by one also forced to teach about
add 5% sales tax
Antecs and Indians. Africans and Arabs.
Total
City/State/Zip
while lacking the insight into those cultures
112 pay book rate postage. Please allow approx-
Mail to: Liberty Fund. Inc.
that in the case of Greeks and Romans
7440 North Shadeland Ave.
imately 4 creeks for delivery. All orders must be
percolates from all directions even into the
Department Z103
prepaid in U.S. dollars.
crassest mind.
Indianapolis, IN 46250
62/COMMENTARY MARCH 1989
which many previous scholars have
his use of the later writings of an-
er reliance on him is thus solidly
simply overlooked. Similarly, he
tiquity. Diodorus the Sicilian (Si-
justified.
strives to use fragments from the
culus), author of the Bibliotheke
speeches of Andocines the compan-
Historike, a world history in forty
THIRD, Kagan is not afraid to evoke
ion of Alcibiades, and of Lysias the
books, lived at the time of Julius
analogies, ancient and modern. Al-
orator (whose views do not appear
Caesar some four centuries after
though they can provide no new
to have been mechanically condi-
Pericles. He was, moreover, a rather
facts they can offer explanations for
tioned by the fact that his family
uncritical compiler of previous
facts unexplained, poorly ex-
owned a shield factory), and from
texts. But because among his sour-
plained, or even misrepresented in
Plato, who as it happens is of re-
ces were earlier writers who in turn
the primary sources-and in Thu-
markably little use though he was
had access to solid evidence, Kagan
cydides most often. For even Thu-
over twenty when the war ended.
uses what he can of the fifteen
cydides, whose insistence on expla-
Xenophon (born C. 430 B.C.E.), an
surviving volumes (which fortu-
nation defined the very nature of
experienced soldier, a late-phase
nately include the period 480-323
historiography (as against mere
participant in the war, and a pro-
B.C.E.), just as he carefully extracts
chronography), and whose honesty
lific writer, could have been the
bits and pieces from the unreliable
and insight are so inspiring-even
ideal author of a competing version
biographies of Cornelius Nepos,
Thucydides can nod, and his exper-
of the war from a pro-Spartan per-
the military anecdotes of Frontinus
tise too is not limitless.
spective; though he was an Athen-
(1st century C.E.), the abridged his-
That analogy is a dangerous de-
ian, it was Sparta that gained his
tory of the still later Justinus, and
vice is clear enough, for it can
loyalty, and kept it even after later
so forth, and also consults Aris-
easily serve to mislead. But Kagan
defeat at the hands of Thebes. As
totle, who was of course much clos-
does not employ analogies to per-
it was, though, Xenophon must
er in time to the war but otherwise
suade us; his purpose, rather, is to
have been one of the first to be
preoccupied.
find new explanations, which he
dissuaded from emulating his pred-
Even bolder because altogether
then offers in full for our own
ecessor by the immensity of the
larger is Kagan's use of Plutarch,
scrutiny. Thus, for example, in dis-
latter's achievement. (Others did
who lived half a millennium after
cussing the Athenian invasion of
write, but in competition with
the events of the war, and under a
Aetolia in 426 B.C.E., Kagan invokes
Thucydides their works could not
Roman imperial autocracy in
the analogy of Churchill's landings
attract enough interest to ensure
many ways more different from the
at Gallipoli to suggest that the
survival-only the names of such
age of Pericles than are our own
Athenian strategy may have been
lost authors have been preserved.)
days of turbulence and freedom.
sound even though this particular
In his Hellenika, Xenophon mere-
Worse, Plutarch's Bioi paralleloi,
application of it failed. After point-
ly tries to continue where Thucy-
the "parallel lives" of eminent Ro-
ing out that in 426 as in 1915.
dides left off in 411 B.C.E., and the
mans and Greeks, are moral and
powerful alliances were stalemated
book's shortcomings (glaring dis-
psychological character studies
in a war of attrition, Kagan quotes
tortions, worse omissions) are so
rather than "life-and-times" biog-
Churchill on the merits of surprise
severe that Kagan follows all mod-
raphies. Hence, historical events
outflanking maneuvers as a path to
ern historians in preferring the ac-
are described in them only inciden-
victory that can "save slaughter."
count of a later anonymous his-
tally, when they figure in illustra-
He then reproduces Churchill's list
torian recovered in 1906 from
tive anecdotes. For these reasons,
of the conditions under which even
papyrus, as well as much later au-
Plutarch on Pericles, Alcibiades,
a secondary front can be a decisive
thors.
Nicias, etc., has been little used by
theater
if the strongest power
There are also some contempo-
previous historians of the war.
cannot be directly defeated itself,
rary inscriptions, though many
Obviously Kagan relies on a par-
but cannot stand without the weak-
fewer than would be the case for,
ticular statement in Plutarch only
est, it is the weakest that should be
say, the Roman empire, where the
when he has no stronger corrobo-
attacked"). Kagan then tests the cir-
abundance of surviving epigraphic
ration, for otherwise he would not
cumstances of 426 B.C.E. by Chur-
material allows the reconstruction
need so very late an author. But the
chill's criteria, and finds that the
of entire decades of history without
reliability of Plutarch as a whole
Aetolian operation. like the Galli-
a single narrative source. For 5th-
can be tested in detail, because
poli landings, could have been so
century Greece the most notable
some of his Roman lives at least are
successful as to justify the risk. The
epigraphs are the Athenian Tribute
well documented in other texts of
overall effect is illuminating and,
Lists, which record the voluntary
known reliability, and. even better,
to this reader at least, persuasive.
and involuntary affiliates of that
by epigraphic. numismatic, even
peculiar empire. Cut in stone or
archeological evidence. Unlike that
FOURTH, Kagan, a scholar of the
scratched on pieces of broken pot-
other collection of biographies. the
classics. that most disciplined of
tery (ostraka), the inscriptions that
pseudonymous Historia Augusta
disciplines. has also made complete
survive, mostly in fragments, can-
so heavily followed by Gibbon and
use of the abundant modern re-
not tell stories. but they do provide
now condemned as hopelessly un-
search on the war. in French and
factual reference points for Kagan's
reliable, Plutarch's Roman biogra-
Italian as well as German. On im-
account, sometimes invaluably.
phies have triumphantly survived
portant points, the views of earlier
systematic comparisons with the
historians are not merely cited but
SECOND, Kagan has been bold in
mass of new evidence: Kagan's wid-
quoted, sometimes by the para-
BOOKS IN REVIEW 63
!ly
graph; without pedantic excess the
terms of debate are defined, rival
hypotheses deployed, criteria of se-
ke
lection established, and only then
"Here is a treatise on urban renewal that has al-
\1-
does Kagan present his own view.
That view, moreover, is always
most nothing to do with government. You'll like
:W
or
sound, often subtle, and not infre-
the beat. It bounces."
quently original.
in
Finally, Kagan employs the in-
-- Daniel Patrick Moynihan
u-
formation he derives from all four
u-
methods to extract more from
a-
Thucydides himself than any pre-
of
vious scholar. This is a text which
re
ever since the 3rd century B.C.E. has
ty
been subjected to systematic edit-
in
ing, exegesis, and internal analysis.
r-
Work begun so well by the Helle-
nistic scholiasts of Alexandria-
their "book" divisions, still fol-
NEW YORK
lowed in every modern edition, are
New
.n
the convenient length of a papyrus
UNBOUND
roll-was being continued by Byz-
antine commentators a thousand
The City and the Politics o the Future
years later, and was resumed in the
York
ie
West as soon as a knowledge of
Attic Greek was broadly revived in
the 16th century. Kagan ably stands
on the shoulders of all his prede-
Unbound
:S
cessors, to construe more than ever
e
before from the much-studied text.
The City and the
.T
ALTHOUGH I am not qualified to
Politics of the
assess the validity of Kagan's choi-
ces when alternative theories are in
Edited by
Future
d
contention, there are some things
PETER D.SALINS
that even a nonspecialist can assert
Edited by Peter D. Salins
with confidence about his recon-
struction of the Peloponnesian
War.
This is above all a wonderfully
New York Unbound is a critical examination of the problems and prospects of
attractive work. Once the reading
New York City. As the authors take stock of the city's remarkable resources,
begins, the four volumes seem not
they argue for the release of market forces to stimulate further growth, greater
too long but too short; it was in
prosperity and opportunity.
the middle of the second volume
that I began to dread the parting
The contributors include Blanche Bernstein, Nathan Glazer, Paul Goldberger,
to come. Given the interest of the
Jose A. Gomez-Ibanez, Andrew Hacker, Harold M. Hochman, Frank J. Mac-
subject, only a poor style could
chiarola, E.S. Savas, Roger Starr, Mark A. Willis, and Louis Winnick
dissuade, but Kagan's style is light
and perfectly lucid, always elegant.
$19.95 hardcover 223 pages 1-55786-008-4
never intrusive. For all its care and
A Manhattan Institute Book.
completeness, Kagan's careful
scholarship does not at any point
deprive us of the dramatic excite-
ment which makes the reading of
Thucydides himself as stirring as it
is instructive.
It seems most unlikely that the
fate of Kagan's four volumes will
Available at Bookstores
be settled once and for all by their
Basil Blackwell
current publication. for he too has
or by calling
432 Park Avenue South
written a work that will attract the
Toll-Free: 1-800-638-3030
New York, NY 10016
continuing attention of future
generations. In the meantime, to
read these volumes is a delight not
64/COMMENTARY MARCH 1989
to be missed: seldom is such pro-
their origins and the modern Ger-
ism was barely in evidence in the
found education so amply pleasur-
man and European world with
United States when Reform arrived
able.
which they identified and in which
on the scene. Indeed, among the
they longed to participate." Then
early Jewish settlers in America,
Tradition and Change
again, the fact that German Jews
"disregard for Jewish observance
were "neither wholly denied civil
was rampant and mixed marriage
RESPONSE TO MODERNITY: A
rights nor granted them complete-
not infrequent." On the positive
HISTORY OF THE REFORM
ly" served as a spur to religious
side, Meyer points out, the Reform
MOVEMENT IN JUDAISM. By
reform.
movement's emphasis on "individ-
MICHAEL A. MEYER. Oxford Uni-
Still another important stimulus
ual authority in religious matters"
versity Press. 494 pp. $39.95.
to the growth of Reform Judaism
fitted in well with the individual-
in Germany was the impact of the
istic strain of the American ethos.
Protestant environment. Protes-
Moreover, Reform's sense of mis-
Reviewed by DAVID SINGER
tantism, Meyer notes,
sion-the obligation to spread eth-
ical monotheism-was quite com-
I The Origins of the Modern
provided a model for theological
Jew (1967), Michael Meyer deft-
reformation, for the rejection
patible with the open-ended view
of an old hierarchy, and for lit-
of American destiny that was char-
ly described the initial encounter of
European Jews with modern secu-
urgy in the vernacular. Protes-
acteristic of the United States in the
tantism placed the sermon at the
19th century.
lar society. In his new book, a study
center of the service; it focused on
of the quintessential modern move-
words spoken and sung, not
Response to Modernity is extreme-
ment within Jewish life, he shows
physical ritual acts; and as a re-
ly useful in exploding a number of
us what that encounter has meant
ligion which had itself revolted
negative myths that still cling to
over the long haul.
and developed further, it raised
Reform. Thus, Meyer makes it clear
Meyer is associated with Reform
the hope that, in its liberal for-
that the early Reform rabbis did
Judaism as a faculty member at
mulations, it would go far to-
not cause the initial rupture be-
Hebrew Union College in Cincin-
ward meeting Judaism on com-
tween Jews and traditional Juda-
nati, but his book bears none of the
mon religious ground.
ism. On the contrary, it was be-
marks of a potted institutional his-
Finally, Meyer points to the rise
cause that rupture had already
tory. He presents the Reform move-
among German Jews of a "new
occurred-with sizable groups of
ment in all its diversity and com-
religious leadership," a "sizable ca-
Central and West European Jews
plexity, paying particular attention
dre of
secularly trained" rabbis
moving away from traditional pat-
to the intellectual element without,
conversant with modern critical
terns of religious observance and
however, slighting the institutional
scholarship. These men, unable to
belief-that early Reform was able
side. Meyer also consistently un-
obtain academic positions in the
to find an audience. Moreover.
derscores the larger historical con-
larger society, turned to the Jewish
Meyer indicates, calls for religious
text in which Reform developed,
community as a sphere for acting
change had less to do with a con-
pointing up the interplay with
out their "conflicting intellectual
scious pandering to Gentile opin-
concurrent trends in both Jewish
and communal commitments."
ion-although this sometimes en-
and general society. Finally, and
But if Germany was the scene of
tered the picture-than with the
most importantly, Meyer shows
Reform's first growth, the United
fact that European Jews had begun
eminent good sense in his judg-
States from the mid-19th century
to internalize the religious and cul-
ments, readily acknowledging the
and onward was to be the place of
tural values of the larger society.
achievements of Reform but also
its fullest development. Today,
Still another myth is the notion
facing up to its more problematic
close to 30 percent of all American
that Reform Judaism in Germany
aspects. All in all, he has produced
Jews identify as Reform, and over
was particularly "un-Jewish." In
an important work of historical
the past two decades Reform has
truth, Meyer shows, German Re-
synthesis, one that will be cited for
been the fastest growing Jewish de-
form was far more respectful of
years to come.
nomination.
Jewish tradition than was its Amer-
Response to Modernity is organ-
As Meyer puts it in accounting
ican counterpart; it was in the Uni-
ized along chronological lines, but
for this success, the United States
ted States that "radical" Reform
with special emphasis on Europe-
"lacked the obstacles that had lain
came into its own. Finally, with
an origins. Reform Judaism had its
in the path of European Reform
regard to the American Reform
first flowering in early 19th-centu-
while providing an environment
movement itself, Meyer disposes of
ry Germany, and Meyer points to
which could scarcely have been
the idea that it was consistently
several factors in accounting for
more conducive." Most important
anti-Zionist prior to the creation of
this. One was that German Jews,
in this context, of course, was the
the state of Israel. By 1935, Reform
caught up in an accelerating pro-
religious freedom that America ac-
in America had moved to a posi-
cess of acculturation, felt "an in-
corded its citizens. In addition, Re-
tion of official neutrality on Zion-
congruity between the world of
form Judaism in America did not
ism, with a pro-Zionist majority
carry a stigma of "rebellion against
increasingly holding sway.
DAVID SINGER is director of Injorma-
long-established traditions and
tion and Research Services of the Amer-
against an entrenched rabbinical
WHAT makes Reform the paradig-
ican Jewish Committee.
leadership," since traditional Juda-
matic modern Jewish movement is
Leuel II UIII AUICIIS
"LA PASIONARIA" OF THE ACROPOLIS
Why did Melina Mercouri, the
impassioned movie-star Cabinet minister,
so dramatically lose her last bid for office?
BY MAUREEN ORTH
n the Richter scale of high
divadom. this is a major
quake. Melina Mercouri's
whole body is racked with sobs. "My
life is sheeet!" she shrieks in Hellenic
English. "I don't want to fight anymore.
I just want to be alone!" For a nanosec-
ond she seems to forget that her devoted
husband. film director Jules Dassin, is
sitting next to her. "I just want to be
alone with my hus-
band!" she wails
without missing a
beat.
"Oh sure," laughs
Dassin. "Wouldn't
that be something?"
It is the morning
after. Late the night
before. Melina Mer-
Mercouri campaigning for mayor of Athens.
couri, the most pow-
Left: in the sixties, with her husband, director
erful woman in Greece.
Jules Dassin, and Peter Ustinov, who starred
formerly both a major
with her in Dassin's Topkapi.
motion-picture star
and the country's flam-
boyant minister of cul-
ture. lost her bid to become mayor of
across a table and buries her face in her
with morosely quiet PASOK officials.
Athens. Her defeat is humiliating. Her
arms. "Today I think my life has been
their faces buried in newspapers. In
fellow Athenians have rejected her, re-
mostly nightmares." Her smoky voice
early September the polls said Mer-
jected her attempt to follow in the foot-
is hoarse and cracked. "I am so
couri was the most popular politician in
steps of her famous grandfather, who
ashamed."
Greece-six weeks later she has man-
had been mayor for thirty years. Not
aged only 46 percent of the local vote.
only the Athenians. the very gods of
Worse. all of Athens is whispering that
M
ercouri, now seventy-one (more or
politics have betrayed her.
less), is used to getting her way. No
she conducted a frivolous campaign. full
Mercouri looks haggard but mildly
one close to her, including her hus-
of platitudes instead of programs. A
glamorous in her long turquoise silk
band, thought it was a remotely good
few days before the election, her color-
dressing gown embroidered with pink
idea to run for mayor. but since she was
ful opponent, Antonis Tritsis, a former
beads and her gold lamé slippers that
practically the only remaining scandal-
socialist Cabinet minister who broke
match her honey-colored hair. She also
free figure of note in the Panhellenic So-
with the left, had complained that all
looks fierce, and reinforces this effect by
cialist Movement (PASOK)-the party
Melina Mercouri would take a stand on
crushing a pack of unfiltered Greek ciga-
she helped found in the mid-seventies.
was her love for the city. "She talks
rettes in her palm while glaring at her
when the dictatorial Colonels were over-
about these these feelings. About
companions: her husband, her brother,
thrown-she accepted the baton. assum-
love
It's like running against a
Spiro, who functioned as her campaign
ing there was no way she could possibly
U.F.O."
manager, and her close friend actress
drop it. Now the anterooms of Mer-
According to Spiro. however, this
Despo Diamantidou. This American re-
couri's four-story house in Athens's Ko-
was deliberate. "Her campaign is based
PHOTOGRAPH, TOP, BY DIMIS ARGYROPOUL OS
porter is especially unwelcome.
lonaki section, the same posh neigh-
on emotion because Athens has so many
La Mercurial throws her glasses
borhood where she grew up, are filled
problems that you can't do anything un-
VANITY FAIR/FEBRUARY 1991
62
LUIUI
less you make people feel a part of the
for their black cloud-air so unhealthy it
emment from PASOK and the left. but not
solution. It's not a matter of doing this
is hard to breathe without choking.
by much of a margin (a single seat).
or that. but saying. Come on. let's do it
In the last fifty years. Athens has sur-
considering that PASOK's leader. former
together." And. more practically. since
vived a World War. undeclared civil
prime minister Andreas Papandreou.
the conservative central government
war. wave upon wave of villagers who
along with many of his colleagues. had
controls the municipal budget. promises
been involved in a
might be hard to keep for a vociferous
bribery scandal.
member of the party out of power. Plus.
It probably didn't occur to
Papandreou had
as Mercouri's French political consultant
also divorced his
pointed out on election night. ``she`s an
Mercouri that glamour, bravado, and
longtime American
actress, not a political girl. Outside her
wife to marry his
campaign headquarters in Athens. a
bravery might not be enough
mistress (a flight at-
huge grid of sixteen TV screens mount-
tendant nearly half
ed above the sidewalk had featured
in end-of-the-millennium Athens.
his age). had suf-
scenes from her signature film. Never on
fered a heart attack.
Sunday. as well as clips of Mercouri's
allegedly consulted
meetings with world leaders and ex-
an astrologer daily.
cerpts from a 60 Minutes interview.
want to be urbanites, and the return of
and left the country in economic chaos.
The message was that Melina Mercouri
thousands of expatriate Greeks who
However, since the new government's
is a great star and patriot, able to at-
came rushing home when politics al-
harsh austerity measures shocked a pop-
tract international attention for Greece
lowed it-swelling the population of the
ulace used to being under socialist pro-
-which needs all the help it can get
city and its environs to three million. or
tection. most of Athens went on strike
these days because of its high inflation
one-third of the entire country. The re-
only a few weeks before the mayoral
rate and huge foreign debt. The images
sult is that some Athens neighborhoods
election. Many viewed the mayor's race
were a reminder that the mayor can ask
are more densely populated than Singa-
as a referendum on the national govern-
the European Community for fund-
pore. There are virtually no sidewalks in
ment. "We are really running two elec-
ing for specific projects and can also
many places. let alone shrubbery, and
tions here." noted Tritsis. who was
go abroad for loans. Mercouri's abil-
traffic is in a permanent snarl. particu-
campaigning against Mercouri on the
ity on the foreign front has always
larly in the center of the city. where the
New Democracy ticket. "One is nation-
been one of her most potent political
government bureaus are concentrated.
al. the other is local."
assets.
Yet for all the horrors that plague Ath-
It was a bold stroke for PASOK-if not
"I want to make Athens again a city
ens. it is still one of the more humane
a desperate one-to offer the popular
that has glamour. pride. and a con-
cities in the Western world. There are no
Melina for mayor. In response. and to
science, to do whatever 1 can for this
homeless wandering the streets. Build-
distance themselves from defeat if she
city that I loved as a child." she said.
ings are rarely higher than several sto-
was elected. the conservative New De-
But it probably didn't occur to Mercouri
ries. Neighborhoods are vibrant and
mocracy party had backed Tritsis. a
as she repeatedly thrust her arms in the
alive-the Greek family is still largely
mustachioed former minister of educa-
air and gave the V sign with both hands
intact. and the police walk around with
tion and the environment in the leftist
or stared transfixed at her image up on
unloaded guns. The city is so safe that a
government who had fallen out with the
the grid of TV screens that glamour.
woman can wander alone at night and
socialists two years ago and lost his Cab-
bravado, and bravery might not be
never have to be afraid. Compared with.
inet seat. To many conservatives. he is
enough anymore in a city fraught with
say. the citizens of New York. Los An-
still suspiciously liberal. however. and
more than its share of end-of-the-mil-
geles. or even Milan. Athenians don't
not a team player. In some circles. Tri-
lennium problems.
have that much to complain about-but
tsis. fifty-three. a former decathlon
they do anyway. constantly, among
champion and city planner with an
prominent architect has described
themselves and in the city's seventeen
American Ph.D., is considered a gadfly
A
modern-day Athens as "a visual
contentious daily newspapers. "We like
and an eccentric. But he proved to be an
wound." Although the boundaries of
complaining." says Fotini Papathanou.
energetic campaigner who thrilled audi-
the old city, and the parameters of the
a political scientist. "People have very
ences with rhetorical flourishes and myr-
mayor's power. are still drawn as they
strong negative feelings about Athens.
iad schemes to fix Athens.
were in her grandfather's day. much of
but everybody keeps on coming here-
"I will break the asphalt." he prom-
the far more charming city Mercouri
it's a love-hate relationship. When I
ised. explaining that he would create a
grew up in is gone-sacrificed to greed
asked the outgoing mayor. Nikolas Ya-
new archaeological park around the
and the need for space. Worse, pollution
trakos. how many murders had been
Acropolis by eliminating the roadway
is eating away at the city's largest dollar,
committed in Athens in the last year, he
which currently carries tourists up to the
yen, and mark draw: its incomparable
said. "You mean apart from traffic fa-
decaying wonder of the world. So then
repository of classical architecture,
talities? I guess about three or four."
how would the tourists get to the Acrop-
which has withered away more in the
Yatrakos. a member of the ruling con-
olis? "On their knees!"
last twenty-five years than in all the time
servative party. New Democracy, had
Melina wanted to break the asphalt
since its creation in 500 B.C. Until re-
not been permitted to run against Mer-
too-somewhere in her campaign litera-
cently so little has been done to control
couri. "I'm not a movie star,' the rather
ture she said so. But the idea of her vig-
pollution that for many days of the year
lackluster economist explained.
orously attacking the city's problems
Athenians are virtually held hostage to
Last April the New Democracy party
and protecting its precious heritage
the dread nephos-the Athenians' word
had gained control of the national gov-
didn't come across on TV, where much
64
VANITY FAIR FEBRUARY 1991
Leuer ADICIIS
of the election was decided. She looked
Michael Cacoyannis on a budget of
he was adapting from a story by Nikos
frail and off her game. Privately. she
about $30,000. burst into view at the
Kazantzakis-and Mercouri knocked
was like a raging faucet. "You never
1955 Cannes Film Festival and astound-
him dead. Dassin remembers that when
ed its audiences. Mercouri was in turn
he met Melina she was "more or less the
know which one you're going to get
when you go over there." said Despo
alluring, selfish. warm. self-centered,
same wild creature I saw up on the
screen. At the
Diamantidou, "hot or cold." Her
friends, already concerned about her
She was "more or less the same
time, he was mar-
ried with three chil-
health, despaired. She was simply not
the old Melina. But, looking wild-eyed
wild creature I saw up
dren and not plan-
and fearful at times, she stubbornly
ning a divorce.
on the screen," remembers her
Dassin's wife de-
plowed on. "She feels disarmed of her
charm-the main weapon she's had in
cided to stay at
life is gone," said a woman who has
husband, Jules Dassin.
home while he shot
the Kazantzakis
known her for years. "The glorious Me-
film in Greece-a
lina is like a frigate in full sail. With this
big break for Me-
campaign she is demystify-
lina, who was not
ing herself."
But, ah, what a myth.
shy about her feelings for him. "A man
could not escape when she wanted
ither you eat men or be
him," says Deni Vachliotou, an old
'E
friend who did the costumes for Never
eaten by them-make
on Sunday. "She had such success with
your choice," Melina
Mercouri's beautiful mother
men. She provoked them to the point
taught her, and indeed it has
they went after her." And from that
moment on, Melina Merçouri and Jules
been she who has seduced
and devoured for the better
Dassin-whom many characterize as
"a saint"-have had an extremely
part of her life, most visibly
at first as the happy hooker in
close personal and professional col-
Never on Sunday (1960), and
laboration. "Thirty-two years I am
with Julie, and he has never lied to me
then as the passionate soul of
the opposition starting in the
or told me anything that is second-
late sixties, when the repres-
rate," Mercouri says. And. of course.
it was Dassin who made her a star.
sive Colonels ruled Greece.
Never on Sunday, written and di-
and finally as the charismatic
minister of culture in the gov-
rected by Dassin, began life as The Hap-
emment of Andreas Papandreou.
Never on Sunday
and charming, and when
py Whore and has probably done more
the socialist prime minister who re-
was launched at
she sang she smoldered.
for tourism in Greece than anything
placed the fascistic Colonels. Mer-
an unforgettable
Filmed in gritty black-and-
since the building of the Parthenon. It
couri became the symbol of Greek
party during the
white, it is the story (writ-
had sun, it had the sea, it had Melina. In
national identity. "I know just
1960 Cannes
ten especially for her) of a
1960, at a moment when U.S. audiences
enough English to wince along
Film Festival.
singer in a bouzouki café
could choose between Sandra Dee, Eliz-
with you when I mispronounce."
who refuses to marry. for
abeth Taylor, Annette Funicello, and
she said during a lecture in London.
fear she will lose her freedom. In the
Marilyn Monroe, Melina Mercouri hit
"Permit me then to launch our theme
end she must die for having loved too
the screen as incredibly sexy, forthright,
with a few Greek words: Music. Dra-
many men (even though one at a time)
unneurotic, and uncontrived-"abl to
ma, Tragedy, Comedy. Theater, Cho-
and for leaving an archetypal Greek
devour ouzo, men, city corruption, and
reography, Philosophy, History, De-
male. a soccer star. at the altar. "To see
American imperialism in equal mea-
mocracy. All Greek words
"Me-
this macho Greek man led by this wom-
sure," Peter Aspden notes. Dassin cre-
lina is an exhibitionist of the mind."
an-it had an incredibly powerful ef-
ated a character of sunny. unbridled
says her brother.
fect," says Aspden. Especially in
optimism who even makes up happy
Her magic on the screen. however,
Greece. Yet Stella is Melina Mercouri's
endings to the Greek tragedies-a trait
was anything but cerebral. "She has a
only film in Greek. and she had to wait
inspired by Melina's mother. **It
very aggressive sexuality, which is rare
until she was an established stage actress
came from our differing interpretations
in a female film star," says Peter Asp-
and in her thirties to make it. "She had
of the Bible," says Dassin, who is Jew-
den, a British journalist who has written
been ignored by filmmakers until then,"
ish. "Melina's mother did not believe
about Mercouri in a forthcoming book
says Cacoyannis. "because they thought
Christ was crucified, he didn't die on the
on what makes certain actors explode
her mouth was too big."
cross, and he wasn't a Jew."
into mega-stardom. "It's almost mascu-
Mercouri's captivating performance
line. She's always been rather emanci-
ules Dassin, a blacklisted American
was enhanced considerably by a bou-
pated-she knows what she wants and
director from the Bronx who had be-
zouki-music score and an Oscar-winning
she knows how to get it. The irony is
gun working successfully in France,
title song. Inside the industry. it didn't
that all this emerged on the screen in the
saw Melina for the first time at Cannes
hurt either that the film was launched
fifties and in Greece."
in Stella. He was looking for a Greek
with an unforgettable party on the
Stella, her first movie, directed by
actress to play a secondary role in a film
French Riviera complete with imported
VANITY FAIR/FEBRUARY 1991
66
Leuer II'UIII ALICHS
bouzouki players. hundreds of European
for Christmas, she looked in the mirror
and Melina taught me I could realize
jet-setters linking arms and dancing
and conjured her first crocodile tears.
them. I was lucky.' Melina says. "I
Greek folk dances. and the traditional
one at a time. Childhood playmates re-
had great freedom in those years-it was
breaking of several hundred pounds of
call that she could often outdo the boys
very. very exciting."
crockery. "I knew we had a hit." says
in sports and climbing trees. that she
The bliss was interrupted by World
Alain Bernheim. Dassin's agent at the
War II. Greece was
time. "when the Begum Aga Khan start-
invaded by Germa-
ed smashing glasses with her barefoot
"The glorious Melina is like a
ny, and the Greeks
sandals." Melina Mercouri walked off
were left to starve.
with the best-actress award at Cannes.
frigate in full sail. With
Today. Melina Mer-
an Academy Award nomination, and an
couri's contempo-
international reputation.
this campaign she is demystifying
raries speak of the
Even today most people think of Mer-
war and the decade
couri as the golden. happy-go-lucky
herself," said a friend.
of civil unrest that
creature who was so overpowering in
followed as if it
Never on Sunday. The movie is still so
were yesterday. "I
much her trademark that wherever in the
think our whole
world she appeared during her eight
was bright and quick-witted but wild and
generation was wounded by the war,"
years as minister of culture the band in-
undisciplined, often cutting school and
says Despo Diamantidou. Many joined
evitably struck up the tune. The opposi-
sneaking off to the movies. "She was a
the Resistance. Melina was more practi-
tion even used it against her in the
terrible child." says her brother, Spi-
cal. She took a quisling for a lover. a
campaign for mayor. Greeks traditional-
ro. "Her grandfather had a colossal
handsome black-marketeer who kept her
ly go to the polls on Sundays, so thou-
weakness for her. and because he was a
in furs and food and who later commit-
sands of leaflets were printed saying.
very grand person, nobody dared to ob-
ted suicide because. some say. Melina
"Melina-Never on Sunday." At a
ject to what Melina was doing. He
threw him over after the war. She claims
huge rally a few days before the vote.
spoiled her a lot."
now that she also gave a lot of money to
Mercouri, dressed in a white shirt with
She was ten when she decided she
the Resistance. Certainly the food she
the sleeves rolled up. white slacks. and
wanted to act. At fourteen. rarely at
got she shared with her friends-her
brand-new white U.S. Keds. threw red
school, she began a mad pursuit of a
generosity and her loyalty to her friends
and white carnations to the crowd from a
thirty-five-year-old matinee idol. Her
have never been in doubt. "During the
platform and intoned deeply. "Melina.
family was appropriately scandalized.
war I was able to eat because I went to
always on Sunday. The crowd roared.
but by this time Melina's elegant parents
Melina's house." says Diamantidou. In
had divorced-her father. a ladies' man
her autobiography. / Was Born Greek.
S minister of culture during the eight-
and a member of Parliament. had run off
Mercouri mentions that many of her first
A
ies, Mercouri oversaw everything
with an actress. They were undoubtedly
theater audiences "hated" her for her
from archaeological sites to soccer
relieved when she eloped at seventeen
ability to survive in style during that
stadiums. At important events in Europe
with a very rich Greek in his thirties who
time. Today she defends her behavior:
she hobnobbed with her best buddy. the
had to quickly divorce his Romanian
"I don't like to apologize for that-I
French minister of culture. Jack Lang.
dancer wife to marry Melina.
don't want to. If I see my life today. I
and she waged a noisy fight to have Brit-
"She got married so she could leave
would say I was a young girl who just
ain ship back the Elgin Marbles. which
her family's house and become an ac-
wanted to live and that's why war is a
had adorned the Parthenon before Lord
tress." says Despo Diamantidou. "In
terrible thing."
Elgin finished removing them in 1812.
those days in haut bourgeois families.
Although Mercouri's theater debut in
When the roof fell in on Andreas Papan-
acting was not considered a proper occu-
1944 was inauspicious-one critic
dreou's government in 1989. Mercouri
pation.' Pan Characopos. Melina's first
wrote. "Too tall. too young. too blonde.
had to relinquish her office. which may
husband, was a Cambridge-educated
Too awkward. No talent. Why doesn't
have been inevitable, since for the last
Anglophile who doted on Melina. Ap-
Miss Mercouri stay home where she be-
two years she has battled a serious lung
parently never sexually compatible. they
longs?"-she was determined to be a
disease that has noticeably drained her.
stayed married for a long time in a most
star. "She liked the applause. she liked
(It is currently in remission.) If there
unconventional style. Melina took lovers
to be worshiped." says Deni Vachli-
was ever a time to slow down. this was
with Pan's approval and brought them
otou. And she worked very hard. Even-
it. So. friends were shocked last June
into the house. "We had a great rela-
tually. her stage career began to take off.
when she declared her intention to be-
tionship." she says. "He was not a typi-
first in the classical theater, then in mod-
come mayor. although they probably
cal Greek man-he was very eccen-
em pieces. And she set out to conquer
shouldn't have been. "I hate the word
tric." She spent the first years of her
Paris.
'retire.' Mercouri says. "I hate it."
marriage playing at being a rich bohemi-
Wearing a pink hat at lunch one day.
Center stage has always been her natural
an. studying acting. and presiding over a
Melina attracted the attention of French
milieu.
glorious salon.
playwright Marcel Achard. who imme-
As a toddler. Melina rode beside her
"Melina was full of charm and the joy
diately wrote a part for her in his new
grandfather-who was far more impor-
of life," says Deni Vachliotou. "All the
play. The rest of the cast snubbed her, of
tant than the mayor of Athens today-in
artists and all the politicians gathered in
course. as only the French can. But Co-
an open carriage waving to the faithful.
her house. We had wonderful conversa-
lette met her and wrote her a petit poem
At the age of five, knowing she would
tions and wonderful parties. We were
that ended, "Elle n'a qu'à lever ses yeux
not receive the phonograph she wanted
young and handsome: we had dreams
et l'Acropole est là." Tant pis for the
68
VANITY FAIR FEBRUARY 1991
"
cast. Unfortunately. those difficult
couldn't." Melina says. She began to
recalls that one night in Paris in 1963
French also gave her trouble with Stella.
make a speech every night after her per-
she and Melina went to see the last per-
Mercouri was the supposed favorite to
formance. telling the audience that the
formance of Edith Piaf, who died a few
win the best-actress prize at Cannes. but
happy-go-lucky musical they had just
days later. The legendary chanteuse
she and the jurors celebrated so hard one
seen did not accurately reflect the reality
could no longer stand alone, but was
night at a party given by the Soviet dele-
held up by two men
gation that they arrived in no state to
supporting her ban-
judge that evening's French entry. A lo-
Since she was practically the
daged arms and hands,
cal scandale ensued and no best-actress
and on her feet were
prize was given in Cannes in 1955.
only remaining scandal-free
old bedroom slippers.
She no longer had a
M
ercouri and Dassin set up house-
figure of note in the Panhellenic
voice. Nonetheless, the
crowd went wild as she
keeping together in Paris. to be near
his children. What was for her an
Socialist Movement, she
sang all her greatest
astoundingly quiet life was something
hits, especially "Non,
quite different for him. "Julie was a lit-
agreed to become a candidate.
Je Ne Regrette Rien."
tle Jewish boy from the Bronx." says
Melina was spell-
his ex-agent. Alain Bernheim. "Sudden-
bound. "This is how
ly he was turned into this jet-setty Pari-
I'm going to die,"
sian. Melina knew a lot of people-
in Greece at that time. The response of
Vachliotou remembers her declaring.
she'd been around Paris. And they were
the Colonels was swift. "Julie had gone
"standing, standing onstage."
surrounded by her faithful servants-
to the Middle East and I was sleeping in
they were like slaves who catered to
the same room with Melina," recalls
n 1974, when the Colonels were over-
their every whim. You could have din-
Despo Diamantidou. "In the middle of
thrown, Melina Mercouri returned to
ner at their apartment at any hour-two
the night an American reporter was on
Greece in delirious triumph. Her over-
A.M., they'd cook for them." Not sur-
the phone to tell Melina she had lost her
joyed countrymen hoisted her onto their
prisingly. Dassin catered to Melina's
Greek citizenship." Her response be-
shoulders straight from the airplane. "As
whims as well. Though he had many
came famous: "I was born a Greek, I
soon as she heard the news, she told me
chances after Never on Sunday to work
shall die a Greek. Colonel Pattakos was
she wanted to go back to Greece," says
on major movies with big-name stars.
born a Fascist. He will die a Fascist."
Dassin. "That meant I would have to
she would never allow it-unless she
By her own admission. "the hedonist
change my life. But I thought about it
could somehow star in them too. "He
became Joan of Arc." She also made the
overnight and I decided I would go."
made a choice and his choice was to be
cover of Life.
At home once again, she decided to
with Melina." says Bernheim. "If she
If anything. Melina's views in her
stay in politics- because they needed
was in the movie, she was happy and he
youth were rightist and royalist. She be-
women in Parliament in Greece." In
could be happy-if not. well. she was
gan to have a more heightened political
fact, when Mercouri got elected for the
bigger than life." Bernheim. who re-
consciousness in her early theater days,
first time, in 1977, representing her old
mains friends with Dassin, gave up their
and under the tutelage of Dassin drifted
Never on Sunday stomping ground. Pi-
professional partnership when Dassin
steadily leftward. But even today Melina
raeus. there were no toilet facilities for
turned down a big directing job with
Mercouri is the quintessential cham-
women in the Greek Parliament and
Elizabeth Taylor. "I'll never forget his
pagne socialist. Her baths are drawn by
there were rules against women wearing
line: 'It's more important for me to be
servants. her clothes laid out. During the
pants. Her fights to bring the patriarchs of
with Melina than to make a movie'
mayor's race she voted in Armani. "But
Greece into the modern world got lots of
an attitude Dassin says he doesn't dis-
it was always in the back of her mind
headlines. For Jules Dassin, however. his
agree with today.
since she was a child that at some time
wife's ascending political star was some-
"I was very jealous when he worked
she would get into politics," says Deni
thing else-in his words, "a partnership
with others." says Melina. "It was very
Vachliotou. She got it from her
dissolved." For a few years. until he be-
bad for his career. very bad. It's the only
grandfather. When the moment pre-
gan directing plays in Greece. he was
remorse I have in my life. that I didn't
sented itself. she was outspoken and
stranded professionally.
let him have his career. And that I
brave.
Mercouri became minister of culture
brought him here."
For seven years Mercouri raged
in 1981 and seized on the return of the
Although Dassin and Mercouri made
against the Colonels in country after
Elgin Marbles as her pet cause. No mat-
nine films together, with the exception
country, rally after rally. Jean-Paul Sar-
ter that just before her first press confer-
of the hit caper Topkapi in 1964. nothing
tre and Simone de Beauvoir. Yves Mon-
ence in the British Museum she report-
came close to the success of Never on
tand and Simone Signoret-the crème
edly shed tears in front of the wrong
Sunday. Nor was her luck any better
de la crème gauche were her allies in the
sculpture, not the Parthenon marbles at
with directors ranging from Joseph Lo-
Resistance. In the process the temptress
all. Never mind, because she was out 111
sey to Norman Jewison. Melina. in fact,
became a feminist. "I became great
raise the world's and Hellenic con-
was reprising her role from Never on
friends with women," she says. "I had
sciousness about preserving the Greeks
Sunday on the Broadway stage in 1967
great conversations with them-they
heritage. She abolished museum fees
when she received the shocking news
helped me a lot. I believe that the wom-
all Greeks and announced that a
one night that the Greek government had
an is a great fighter to the end." which
Acropolis Museum would be bur!:
fallen to the Colonels.
is obviously the way that Melina Mer-
house the treasures when they
"I had a choice to shut up. but I
couri looks herself. Deni Vachliotou
turned. (Finally, in November
70
$100 million plan for the building was
G
recks are notoriously hard on one an-
would have in Greece." says Gage. As
unveiled. but so far only $1.8 million
other and so highly politicized that it is
a result the film was shot in Spain.
has been raised to build it. "I am sure it
almost impossible to get an objective
"Listen. we were not responsible for
will be easy to find money." Mercouri
assessment of the weather let alone of
Eleni. They asked and we gave the per-
insists.) But some complain that muse-
anyone as controversial as Melina Mercouri
mission-Mr. Gage can say nothing!"
ums are often dirty and that even at the
Melina Mercouri re-
Acropolis. with its extremely serious
sponds defiantly. ''l be-
problems of disintegration due to pollu-
"This is how I'm going to die,"
lieve I was an excellent
tion. much more could have been done.
bureaucrat. I did good
One woman involved in its restoration
a friend remembers her
work on many things-I
reports that moneys the European Com-
had no money. but the
munity offered for projects at the Acrop-
saying during Edith Piaf's last
ministry was well organ-
olis went unspent because Mercouri's
ized and we had excellent
ministry was never organized enough to
performance, in the sixties,
relations abroad." And
institute the programs. "She was not
what about the charges of
really worse than usual. perhaps." the
"standing, standing onstage."
anti-Americanism? "Ri-
woman said, "but people expected more
diculous. I visited Ameri-
from Melina. She made promises she
ca a thousand times." Her
couldn't deliver." Another archaeolo-
position is that things fell
gist. an American. was shocked that af-
and her tenure at the Ministry of Culture.
apart after she left. "Now. now it's the
ter she personally appealed to Mercouri
The charitable view is of good intentions
shits." she thunders. "Now there is noth-
to preserve "an important historical
gone awry. and even the political opposi-
ing going on. You will see-now the
site an office building was erected
tion gives her high marks for her efforts to
Ministry of Culture will not even exist!"
over it instead."
promote the glories of Greece outside the
Mercouri herself would rather empha-
country. But she has serious critics.
T
his last year has been a tough one for
size other things. like the many exhibi-
"Because of her worldwide fame she
Melina Mercouri. She lost the elec-
tions of Greek art her brother organized
had a chance that nobody before or after
tion. Greece lost the campaign she
for international consumption. and her
her will ever have and she blew it." says
spearheaded to bring the 1996 Olympics
success in getting the European Commu-
Greek-American TV-and-film producer
to Athens. Jules Dassin was hospital-
nity to go along with her plan to have
Renee Pappas. who is married to a
ized. She refuses to stop smoking, and
Athens made "the Cultural Capital of Eu-
Greek actor and ran a talent agency in
her own health is fragile. All her ex-
rope" in 1985. As a result. some of the
Athens while Melina was minister. "If
traordinary life, say her closest friends,
world's best performing companies
you wanted to go to Greece to make a
Melina Mercouri has lived in a state of
came. and continue to come. to Athens.
film. you'd have to rely on luck. There
anxiety-never celebrating her happiest
In true socialist style. Mercouri created
was no office to scout locations. no of-
times. but constantly worrying that such
myriad new little theaters for the prov-
fice to get actors. There are dozens of
moments will not come again. "She
inces (while many of the more elite tradi-
English-speaking actors in Greece and
doesn't enjoy such things. It's a meta-
tional theater companies languished or
nobody knows about them." Pappas ar-
physical problem." says Deni Vachlio-
declined). When the classics were per-
ranged for a possible "Greek Film
tou. who remembers Mercouri running
formed at the summer festivals. Melina
Week" at the Museum of Modern Art in
down the steps of the palazzo in Cannes
Mercouri was always there to lend sup-
New York but needed prints of twenty
like Cinderella moments after the smash
port. taking her seat amid the crowd's
Greek films. At a meeting. Mercouri as-
opening of Never on Sunday. sobbing
applause. Young. untried filmmakers were
sured her she would have them. "It's
that the triumph would not last. "For the
given the chance to make feature-length
eight years later and I'm still waiting for
first time in my life I was an optimist for
movies on government subsidies. The
those twenty prints.' she says.
this election and you see what hap-
fact that Greek audiences stayed away in
"The ministry was chaos whenever
pened." Mercouri said. "It's the only
droves from these works did not disturb
you walked into her office." says for-
time I thought I would win."
Melina. *I believe we have made three or
mer New York Timesman Nicholas
She sank into gloom and despair for
four directors." she says. "They were
Gage. "There were always twenty peo-
weeks afterward. Then suddenly the
psychological films only for the directors.
ple in there: she'd be on the phone trying
black cloud. her own personal nephos.
but it doesn't matter-young cinema is
to talk. there would be groups muttering
lifted. "She might run for president." a
good." In contrast. Erikos Andreou. who
in various corners of the room-it was
friend predicts. At any rate. Melina
now runs the Greek Film Center. talks
just havoc." Gage has a bone to pick
Mercouri seemed to turn into that frigate
about "trying to win back the Greek pub-
with Mercouri because the movie ver-
in full sail again. Certainly there was no
lic by steering closer to the center." and
sion of Eleni. his book about his moth-
time anymore to hash over old history.
encouraging foreign film production in
er's murder in Greece at the hands of
She is still a member of the Greek Par-
Greece. particularly by U.S. companies.
Communists right after W.W. II. was not
liament. and the leader of the opposition
which were never made to feel welcome
shot there. The harsh portrait of the Com-
in the Athens city council. "You see. I
during the years the openly anti-American
munists drawn in the story did not sit well
am very. very busy." she said to me on
Papandreou government was in power.
with the Papandreou government. al-
the phone after I had returned to the
(Mercouri's Film Center director once
though the Ministry of Culture did O.K.
U.S. "I am having a big meeting here-
told a Hollywood Reporter writer that he
the project. But "we didn't get the kind of
many people are coming to my house to
was more interested in the North Korean
encouragement that made it possible to
talk about what is the word? That
than the U.S. market.)
leave behind the $8 to $10 million we
dark air. Pollution!"
72
VANITY FAIR/FEBRUARY 1991
SENT BY:EUROPEAN AFFAIRS
; 7- 1-91 ; 13:39
;
US DEPT OF STATE-202 395 6926
:# 7
VENIZELOS, STATESMAN
Elevtherios ("Liberator") Venizelos (1864-1936), was a
towering figure in early 20th century Greek and
international politics.
o
He was born in Mouriou, Crete, the son of a wealthy
businessman banished from the island after its Ottoman
rulers charged him with revolutionary behavior. Elected a
Cretan deputy in 1889, Venizelos dominated Greek republican
politics for thirty years.
o
He first gained fame by defying Prince George and
advocating Cretan enosis or union with the mainland, which
he effected in 1908.
Throughout the pre- and post-World War I period, Venizelos
worked with, and was supported by, Western powers,
particularly the British under Lloyd George.
Respected by both Greeks and Turks as a strong, dedicated
leader who dedicated himself to an ideal, Venizelos
appealed across class boundaries.
He fought for thirty years for a constitutional monarchy
against royalists and communists. He has been called the
"apostle of Greek political modernism."
o
His government signed the 1919 Treaty of Sevres and
occupied Smyrna (IZmir), but the royalists forced him out
of office in November 1920, before launching the Greek
offensive into Anatolia.
o
Venizelos realized that Greece could not conquer non-Greek
areas, and called repeatedly for negotiations with Turkey
after the collapse of the Greek troops in Anatolia.
His administration signed friendship treaties with Italy
and Yugoslavia, and, more signficantly, with Turkey in
1930, heralding warm ties in Greek-Turkish relations that
lasted until the the 1950's. That singular achievement
reflected in part his his personal friendship with Turkish
leader Ismet Inonu.
He retired to Crete in 1933, but was condemned to death
after the 1935 rightist coup and died the following year in
exile in Paris.
JUL 1 '91 13:14
2026470967 PAGE.007
Byzantine trade relations 3:564h
scenes from the antique in the Urbino manner
Byzantine trading concessions 1:483c
(see Urbino maiolica), they excelled in depict-
Crusades and capture of
ing arrangements of decorative trophies,
rately with Italy, Bulgaria, and Turkey to
Constantinople 5:305h
globes, musical instruments, and other ap-
Greece's considerable advantage. Defeated by
.Cyprus subjection to merchants 5:407f
paratus, executed in a brilliant linear style in a
the Monarchists in the 1920 elections, he re-
Dandolo's rule and expansion 5:480g
blue-tinged enamel on a bluish-white or white
diplomacy and wars from 1494 6:1082b
turned to lead the Liberal Party during the
ground, highlighted with opaque white.
Genoa's history of rivalry 7:1017a
second Hellenic Republic (1924-35). His final
exile in France followed an abortive anti-mon-
Latin attempt to recover Byzantine
12:97b
archist revolt in Crete (March 1935).
rule
Leopold III and the Venice-Genoa
REFERENCES in other text articles:
war
2:452g
Allied intervention against
medieval trade and politics 9:1122b
Constantine 19:958f
Oriental trade domination 4:880b
Ottoman imperial collapse 2:630e
Ottoman imperial expansion 2:620h
role in Crete's union 5:253c
25-34
Ottoman war of 1499-1503 2:776h
Ottoman wars and trade disputes 13:773f
Venkata I, king of Vijayanager, reigned 1585
to 1614.
il increase per
papal conflict in 17th century 16:251c
100,000 popu-
Renaissance history and culture 15:663e
defeat of rebellions 9:377e
eoplasms and
Renaissance political evolution 9:1143h
Venkatanatha (religious leader): see Vedãn-
4.
republic economic and political
tadeśika.
(1969): Roman
decline 9:1151e
spice trade power in Europe 17:502f
Venkataraman Aiyer: see Ramana Ma-
supremacy over Ravenna 15:534e
harishi.
rations 30.6%
.Swiss invasion and occupation 17:882c
%, health and
and irrigation
Istanbul foreign trade monopoly 9:1070d
Venlo, municipality (gemeente), Limburg
map, Italy 9:1088
province, southeastern Netherlands, on the
visitors: U.S.
Marco Polo voyage map 14:758
Venice maiolica dish decorated with arabesques, from
Maas (Meuse) River, near the West German
newspaper publishing history 15:236d
the workshop of Maestro Ludovico, C. 1540; in the
border. Chartered in 1343, it joined the Han-
quarantine period origin 15:326f
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
seatic League in 1364 and was a medieval for-
per capita).
Rialto Bridge construction 3:177b
By courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: photograph, EB Inc
tress and trade centre. Venlo (Marsh and
trade development and routes 18:664h
Wood) is now the centre of a market garden-
% of
labour
Another typical design was a dense network
Venice, resort city, Sarasota County, south-
ing "greenhouse" area exporting vegetables to
force
of intertwining stems and arabesques. In their
the Rhineland. It also manufactures electric
western Florida, U.S., on the Gulf of Mexico.
preference for blue-and-white enamel decora-
19.8
Originally planned (1924-25) as a retirement
bulbs, optical instruments, and wood prod-
tion, the Venetians showed the influence of
city for members of the Brotherhood of
ucts. Heavily damaged in World War II, it
1.6
Chinese porcelain and Turkish ware.
has since been restored. Notable medieval
17.5
Locomotive Engineers, the project was aban-
5.6
doned after the stock-market crash of 1929,
Vening Meinesz, Felix Andries (b. July
buildings include St. Martin's Church and the
1.4
but Venice survived as a small resort noted
30, 1887, The Hague-d. Aug. 10, 1966,
town hall. Pop. (1972 est.) 63,106.
6.4
for tarpon fishing. It prospered after 1960,
Amersfoort, Neth.), geophysicist and geode-
51°24' N, 6°10' E
17.6
when it became winter headquarters for the
sist known for developing, in 1923, a method
map, The Netherlands 12:1060
24.4
Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. Light
of measuring gravity in ocean basins by means
Venn, John (1834-1923), British logician and
5.8
manufacturing augments tourism as the eco-
of a device carried in a submarine, which con-
man of letters, taught logic and wrote The
100.0+
nomic mainstay. Nearby are Oscar Scherer
tributed to an understanding of the Earth's
Logic of Chance (1866), Symbolic Logic
s): milk 477,600,
State Park, Warm Mineral Springs and Cy-
crust beneath the ocean.
(1881), and The Principles of Empirical Logic
9 171,000, rice
at 1967 prices):
clorama, the National Police Hall of Fame
Vening Meinesz was a professor of geodesy
(1889).
); vehicles, as-
and Museum, and Floridaland-a recreated
at the Delft Technical University, Nether-
algebraic structure theory 1:521e
00; paper and
town of the Old West. Inc. 1925. Pop. (1970)
lands, from 1938 to 1957. He is also noted for
Pragmatism influenced by Empiricism 14:941c
dustry facilities
6,648; (1980) 12,153.
his investigations concerning convection cur-
probabilistic theory and method 11:667e
0 kW-hr (1,215
27°06' N, 82°27' W
rents within the Earth and for his study of the
effect of solar movements on the deformation
Vennberg, Karl Gunnar (b. Nov. 4, 1910,
Venice, Gulf of, Italian GOLFO DI VENEZIA,
of the Earth's crust.
Blädinge, Swed.), poet and critic who was the
971
north section of the Adriatic Sea (an arm of
gravity anomaly formula derivation 6:3g
leader of the critical-analytical line in the
5.0
the Mediterranean Sea), extending eastward
for 60 mi (97 km) from the Po River Delta, It-
regional gravity anomaly correction 6:20g
modern Swedish poetry of the 1940s. Venn-
berg's impelling and influential reviews and
agricultural
aly, to the coast of Istria, Yugoslavia. It re-
Vénissieux, town, southeastern suburb of
critical essays broke the ground for the radical
ceives the Po, Adige, Piave, and Tagliamento
Lyon, Rhône département, southeast central
cause of the 40-talslyrik (1947; "Poetry of the
rivers. Marshes, lagoons, and sandspits bor-
France. It was the site of a Gallo-Roman vil-
1940s"), an anthology that he edited together
ial uses 15.5%;
der the gulf's shores as far as Trieste, Italy,
la, Vinitiacum, and the medieval village of
with Erik Lindegren. Moreover, his two
17.1%; power-
where the low plateau of the Istrian Peninsula
Venicy. Latest census 47,460.
2.5%; organic
volumes of verse, in which he exposes con-
cientific, medi-
begins. A northeast or east-northeast wind,
called the bora, causes rough seas and creates
venite: see migmatite rock.
temporary deception and self-deception,
ources: United
Halmfackla (1944; "Straw Torch") and Tide-
a 4.2%, France
shipping hazards in the gulf. The rise of the
Vénitienne, La (1705), opera ballet by Hou-
räkning (1945; "Reckoning of Time"), togeth-
city of Venice as a maritime power at the
dar de la Motte.
of which, dis-
er with Lindegren's collections from these
gasoline 2.5%,
northwest end of the gulf gave special impor-
Watteau's adaptation of Cythera
years, are considered the central works, the
o, Netherlands
tance to Adriatic shipping routes in the Mid-
theme 19:664a
essence of the new poetry of the 1940s. In his
ds (U.S.) 2.5%,
dle Ages. Modern gulf ports, apart from Ven-
Venius, also called OCTAVIUS VAENIUS, real
later poetry, Gatukorsning (1952; "Crossing
ice, include Pula and Rovinj, Yugoslavia, and
name OTTO VAN VEEN (1556-1629), Flemish
the Street") and Synfält (1954; "Points of
Trieste, which is located on a northeast inlet,
9,000,000; short
the Gulf of Trieste.
artist whom Rubens served as apprentice.
View"), he remains an adamant nonbeliever
mi, 55,725 km
45°15' N, 13°00' E
Rubens' style and background influence 16:1g
and, as such, sees himself as forced to stand
1 drained 4,170
alone.
cks and buses
map, Italy 9:1088
Venizélos, Eleuthérios 19:76 (b. Aug. 23,
ge 480,000. Air
map, Yugoslavia 19:1100
1864, Mourniés, Crete-d. March 18, 1936,
Venn diagrams, means of depicting math-
go 42,371,000,
Paris), the most prominent Greek politician
ematical sets and subsets, a graphical aid in
Venice, League of, 15th-century alliance of
Venice, Milan, Spain, the Holy Roman Em-
and statesman of the early 20th century, con-
the study of Boolean algebra (q.v.).
71, total circu-
sion (1971): re-
peror, and the Pope that was intended to drive
siderably expanded Greece's territory through
algebraic structure theory 1:521d
the French from Italy.
his diplomacy.
class inclusion representation 17:897d; illus.
er 26 persons).
Italian defense against France 9:1146c
Abstract of text biography. He gained pub-
venom, a toxic secretion of animal origin pro-
lic notice by his part in Crete's uprising
duced by specialized glands often associated
Venice, Peace of (1177), resolved hostilities
against Ottoman rule (1897). After serving as
with spines, teeth, or other piercing devices;
between Frederick I Barbarossa and Pope
Crete's minister of justice (1899-1901) and
some are skin or cuticular secretions. The ven-
Alexander III.
Athens' deputy in the Greek Parliament (Au-
om apparatus may be primarily for killing or
papal anti-imperial success 9:1132a
gust 1910), he became prime minister (Octo-
paralyzing prey or may be a purely defensive
Venice Film Festival: see festival, film.
ber 1910) under King George I. Through his
adaptation. The venoms of snakes, cen-
erate (over 10)
policy Greece doubled in area and population
tipedes, and some marine invertebrates are
ns); (1966) daily
Venice maiolica, tin-glazed earthenware
during the Balkan Wars (1912-13). Engineer-
also digestive fluids.
pries).
made at Venice and reaching its zenith in the
ing the exile of the pro-German King Con-
Most venoms injure man only when intro-
16th century. The workshops of Maestro
0.0 because of
stantine during World War I, Venizélos led
duced into the skin or deeper tissues, usually
ngs, public ad-
Ludovico (flourished 1540-45), Domenigo da
Greece into the war on the side of the Western
through a sting or bite. Local effects include
Venezia (flourished 1550-60), and Jacomo da
Allies. He gained international repute at the
wheals, blisters, and violent inflammation, of-
Pesaro (flourished 1543) were outstanding.
Treaty of Versailles (1919), negotiating sepa-
ten followed by death of tissue, muscle spasm,