January 16, 2009

The Door That Claiborne Pell Opened

By BETH MACY

Claiborne Pell lived in a waterfront house in Newport, R.I. The Princeton-educated senator came from such old money that his people once owned much of New York's Westchester County and the Bronx.

Among my favorite tales told about the quirky politician was the time he dispatched an aide to buy him some emergency rainwear. When the aide rushed back with galoshes from Thom McAn, Senator Pell remarked: "Well, do tell Mr. McAn that I am much obliged to him."

I grew up in a

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