Now that Matt Lauer has done himself proud with his sanctimonious interview of Kitty Kelley
\n— a holier-than-thou attempt to prove that a “Today” show co-host who shills for every piece of
\nNBC Entertainment drek imaginable can be mistaken for a legitimate journalist — I’m
\ngoing to post a profile I did of Kitty Kelly that never appeared in English.<\/P>
\n
I wrote it for a German magazine many years ago, when her unauthorized biography of Frank While I’m typing the profile into the system, divert yourself with an Here’s the way that profile of mine begins:<\/P> <\/P> Maybe it’s because she wants to convey the idea that she suffers for her work. The mere “Take pleasure?” she asks, hardly able to contain her sense of injury. “I don’t do that kind of By now Kelley has a small, tight smile on her face. Not content with this rather academic <\/P>
\nSinatra, “His
\nWay,”<\/FONT><\/B><\/A> <\/FONT>was published. After interviewing
\nher at length at her home, which was then in Georgetown, I came away impressed. Despite
\nthe somewhat sarcastic tone of my piece, I had a sneaking admiration for her, and I think it
\nshows. I also think she hasn’t changed a bit.<\/P>
\n
\nexcerpt<\/FONT><\/B><\/A> from Kelley’s latest unauthorized book, “The Family: The
\nReal Story of the Bush Dynasty,”<\/FONT><\/B><\/A> which had the Pecksniffian
\nLauer so exercised. “Today” is not above posting it on its Web site. (And scroll
\ndown for the Lauer vs. Kelley video.)<\/P>
\n
\n
\nFor a professional snoop, Kitty Kelley harbors a remarkably decorous feeling
\nabout her work. The least suggestion that she takes a certain pleasure in exposing the
\nsexual peccadillos of her high and mighty targets brings an intense glare to her china-blue
\neyes.
\n
\n
\nsupposition that she enjoys tattling about the drug addictions and the desperate
\nboozing of the rich and famous — worse, that she has become a millionaire by
\nholding their private tragedies up to public ridicule — puts a wounded expression
\non her face and a solemn tone in her voice.<\/P>
\n
\nthing in my writing. I’ve established a reputation as an unauthorized biographer, but
\nthat doesn’t give me license. I have to be very fair. And I have to abide by the laws of libel,
\nwhich I do. I let the reader make up his mind.”<\/P>
\n
\ndefense, the 44-year-old author of “Jackie Oh!,” “Elizabeth
\nTaylor: The Last Star,”<\/STRONG><\/FONT> and “His Way,” swivels her body on the loveseat
\nin her Georgetown living room like a petite artillery gun.<\/P><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
\n
\n