Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-11-02

uAlO NC OAAC AACW CAluAAlJlOlis IVY
guarantee was increased to
$4,000. I again agreed to play,
and I did defeat Stempel. At
this point my winnings totaled
$4,000. For the next twelve
programs I continued to play
in this manner, Freedman guar
anteeing that I would end up
with no less than a certain
amount.
Deeply Troubled
I was deeply troubled by the
arrangement. AS time went on
the show ballooned beyond my
widest expectations. ! had
supposed ! would win a few
thousand dollars and be known
to small television audience.
But from an unknown college
instructor I became a national
celebrity. ! received thousands
Of letters and dozens of re-
quests to make speeches, APP
pear in movies, and so forth
in short, all the trappings of
modern publicity.
To a certain extent this went
to my head. I was almost able
to convince myself that it die
not matter what was doing
because it was having such q
good effect on the national at
titude to teachers, education
and the intellectual life. At the
same time I was winning more
money than I had ever had OF
even dreamed of having. / was
able to convince myself that
could make UP for it after II
was over.
Again, I do not wish to EN-.
phasize my mental and mora
struggles. Yet the public re-
nown also made me terribly
uncomfortable. I hoped people
would not think I could dc
nothing besides stand in ar
isolation booth and answer
questions. I realized that I was
really giving a wrong impress.
sion of education. True educa-
hon does not mean the knowl.
edge of facts exclusively.
Giving Wrong Impression
I wrote articles, trying to ex.
press this feeling, but few were
interested. Instead I was re.
ferred to as a "quiz-whiz,
human book of knowledge" {
walking encyclopedia"
wanted to be a writer and {
teacher of literature. I seemed
to be moving farther ant
farther away from that aim.
I didn't know what to do no
where to turn, and, frankly,
was very much afraid. l tolC
Freedman of my fears and mis-
givingS, and asked him severa
times to release me from thu
program.
At the end Of January, 1857
when I had appeared 8 or II
times, I asked him once NOR
to release me, and this tim
more strongly. He agreed II
allow me to stop, but it wa
some time before it could b.
arranged. He told me that
had to be defeated in a dra
matte manner. A series of tie
had to be planned which woult
give the program the Required
excitement and suspense.
Defeat Arranged
On February 10 played til
with Mrs. Vivienne NearinI
and the following week playe'
two more ties with her. Freed
man then told me that she wa
to be my last opponent an
that l would be defeated b
her. I thanked him.
He told me that I would hav
to play twice more after Feb
ruary Is. The next program
was on March II. When
arrived at the studio Freedma
told me that since there wer
now only three programs
month. there was not tim
enough to build up" anoth2
contestant and so I was to los
that very night. I said:
Thank God!"
Mrs. Nearing defeated me |
the first game played ths
night. My total winnings ats
IA appearances were 300
I received $124.000 after m
defeat. Before Christmas. 1875
I had received an advance
$4,000 against my minimum
guarantee. which was at tn;
time, I believe. $4,000.
Given Check by Enright
The check was given me
Enright, who wished me ME
ry Christmas" when he handt
it to me. Enright and I new
discussed the contents of al
particular program. but I a
sumed that he knew what w
going on. He generally avoid'
speaking to me. but on the la
night he came into my dressil
room and said, I believe in Il
presence of Freedman: LAS sot
as it's over, come right ba,
to the dressing room SO as n
to interrupt the program. '
can meet the press after Il
show is over"
I thus assumed he must ha
known.
One result of my appearance
on "21" was a contract wi
NBC. I hoped this would 81
me the chance to do somethi
else besides answer questio
in an isolation booth. I ney
wanted to see another q
show.
Assigned to GarrOway SHOW
The opportunity came in c
t0hpr 1QEQ uybon uJoc {