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PARTISAN REVIEW
our differences, which we enjoyed arguing about, there was a good deal of
warmth underneath our disagreements. And we both tried to live by the
principle that unless the issues were crucial, our friendship ought not be
affected. And whether one agreed or disagreed with her, she remained a
cui tural force.
As a matter of fact, Diana's politics mellowed considerably toward the
end of her life. Both she and Lionel were quite conservative earlier on .
Indeed, they had what might be called conservative instincts. But in recent
years Diana was critical of the neoconservatives. Actually, I think she
tended to play down Lionel's conservatism, insisting that he was essential–
ly a liberal - which seems to me questionable unless one thinks of him as
a liberal in the most traditional sense of the term.
Lionel's life was remote and largely unknown even to his friends, as
though he were a legend. His students admired him, and Diana human–
ized him by writing of his blemishes as well as his virtues. Indeed, she
spent a good part of her life after his death fiercely defending him against
his personal and political critics.
We shall miss Diana's great candor, her insistence on the highest of
standards, her loyalty to her family and friends, and her sincerity. But most
of all, I miss our friendly squirmishes that ultimately cemented our friend–
ship.
W.
P.
I
had met Diana Trilling a number of times, at various functions, at gath–
erings at William Phillips's house, and at Columbia University. But I first
came face-to-face with her in 1984, at the fiftieth anniversary celebration
of
Partisan Review.
By then, I was executive editor. Towards the end of the
evening, a journalist began to ask me some things. Diana was nearby, and
apparently noticed that I was hesitant, still not used to giving sharp answers
to pointed questions. She grabbed the mike from me, and told that
reporter what she thought he ought to hear. I was dismayed, thought her
rude, especially when, after handing back the mike she turned to me by
saying, "that's how you do it." However, after that incident we became
friends. She had taught me a lesson I needed to learn, and I respected her
for it.
None of Diana's friends would be surprised at this "typical Diana
story." They all knew of her need to get things absolutely right. She could
not bear sloppiness or imprecision especially in thinking and expression.
In
the course of many a dinner, she would stop herself in the middle of a
juicy story: "No, that's not exactly right, what I mean is - come on, some-
