OFFICE OF
HENRY A. KISSINGER

By Facsimile

December 13, 2000

Dear Mrs. de Borchgrave:

Dr. Kissinger is happy to provide you with the following blurb
for Villard: The Life and Times of an American Titan:

"Henry Villard is a name not widely known today, but a century ago this would not have been the case. Alexandra de Borchgrave and John Cullen's biography of her great-grandfather's rise from penniless and prospectless young German immigrant to prominence and wealth has the fast pace and rich detail of a good novel and the meticulous research of a good history."

With best wishes for much success with your book,

Mrs. Alexandra de Borchgrave
Facsimile 202/965-1278

cc: Ms. Lorna Owen
Nan A. Talese/Doubleday
1540 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Facsimile 212/782-9261

TWENTY-SIXTH FLOOR • 350 PARK AVENUE • NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022 • (212) 759-7919

To: HAK

From: SSM

Re: Jacket blurb for Alexandra de Borchgrave's biography of her great grandfather. (Nancy told her you would do it. You may know that Le Cirque is housed in what was once her great-grandfather's home.)

Henry Villard is a name not widely known today, but a century ago this would not have been the case. Alexandra de Borchgrave's and John Cullen's biography of her great-grandfather's rise from penniless and prospectless young German immigrant to prominence and wealth has the fast pace and rich detail of a good novel and the meticulous research of a good history. The authors weave Villard's diaries and journals with contemporary source material to form a colorful image of America's "Gilded Age", of its leading figures and of a fascinating tycoon who got there with pluck, ability and hard work.

OK as edited

In Praise of Villard:

"A spruce, engaging account of the life and services of one of the great public and private figures of our time. Anyone engaged with New York and American values in the past century should certainly read it. It will be time admirably spent."

- John Kenneth Galbraith, Professor of Economics, Harvard University

"Alexandra de Borchgrave and John Cullen at last do justice to a forgotten giant of American journalism and finance. A civil war correspondent who invented the news syndicate and knew and was admired by President Lincoln, then entered the world of finance to tussle with the likes of JP Morgan in the building of American railroads and the founding of what became General Electric. Almost ruined in the panic of 1883, he returned to rebuild his empire and regain his place both in business and society. It's a great addition to the story of America."

- Walter B. Wriston, Former Chairman, Citicorp

"Henry Villard's great-granddaughter Alexandra de Borchgrave and John Cullen have brought us a fascinating, brisk and judicious life of one of the most intriguing figures in American history. Villard is the story not only of one man's heroic enterprise, but also of Abraham Lincoln, William Lloyd Garrison and the Civil War, the rise of railroads, the contradictions of the Gilded Age and New York's arrival as a world-class city."

- Michael Beschloss, Historian and Author of *The Power and the Presidency*

"A remarkable, illuminating portrait of one of the great figures of New York history. Superbly told. An important adjunct to anyone's library who is interested in the history of New York City."

- George Plimpton, Author and Editor of *The Paris Review*

"The stirring saga of a truly remarkable man who enthusiastically embraced the challenges of his turbulent century. Immigrant, journalist, explorer, war correspondent, entrepreneur, tycoon and visionary - Villard's boundless energy, adventurous spirit and courage in the face of adversity are an inspiration."

- Brian C. Pohanka, Civil War Author and Consultant to Time-Life Books "The Civil War"