72.3a

“He’s Still Trying to Aggravate Mamma.” Article-interview by Janet Chusmir. Miami Herald, 13 February, 14G. Brief report on Mailer’s speech at Temple Israel. Mailer says he was making 20 speeches in 20 days because he had to “make a great deal of money in a hurry, because I’m broke.” Speaking while wearing jeans, he said it would upset his mother, who is “very religious” and is about to celebrate 50 years of marriage to Barney. That should be a perfect day, he said, but calling it such “is asking for it,” i.e., tempting the evil eye. Mailer says that wearing jeans in temple offsets “the perfect day.”