500
PARTISAN REVIEW
Tues
May
5 (1936)
Interview with Mark
5:30-6 :15
P .M.
Told him account of interview with Steeves . Listened and ap–
proved . Started to say he had no part in the meeting . I warned him
that Steeves had said he had concurred. He said that when the attack
on me had taken place he had not said anything. Why? Doesn't know.
Could only say he admired me , that I was a nice fellow; weight of
numbers was against him; had no evidence such as teaching a course
with me . Did I not understand that? Might I not act in the same way?
Yes I might but I should not feel very proud of it. He felt ashamed,
said he .
Weaver had of course spoken against me but W . is usually dis–
counted. Dick had been silent. Everett had said that he had certain
reports from students: didn't set much store by them. Steeves rather
silent.
(Says Weaver dislikes me because thinks I like to be stepped on
too much: too meek. Said W. will be impressed by my standing up to
Steeves!) . ..
Telephone conversation with lrwin
12
May
5 (1936)
8: P.M.
Told him of interviews.... He told me of having lunch with
Edgar Johnson. Neff sits down. Conversation turns to Schappes at
C.C .N .Y. Edgar asks what doing about tenure at Columbia? Neffbe–
gins to make speech. Some people being fired for incompetence, some
for their own good, some because they didn't fit. Irwin asked what
about
L.
T., into what category does he fit? He is not .. . nor ... -
E.E.N. says that is very complicated. "I have followed L's career for
a long time with the greatest interest. But ... His great gift is his
literary sense.["] Irwin: Seems good thing in a teacher of literature .
E.E.N. But he has involved himself with Ideas .. .. He is too sen–
sitive .. . Doesn't fit because he is a Jew. At any rate, he was ap–
pointed against the will of the dept!!
Called E.E.N. and made date to annihilate him on Thursday .
6
May
(1936)
Interview with H .K. Dick 20 minutes
Stated case as put by Steeves. He replied that he knew nothing
of my teaching, saw no way he could know. Knew nothing of effect
of "happiness" on my teaching: Said that he had heard some com–
plaints about my emphasis on "Sociology." Said he did not teach
12
1rwin Edman.
