Unsavory Characters

Two somewhat unsavory figures died recently . . .

Allen Klein was a music mogul who made his reputation as the "Robin Hood of Pop" for getting sweetheart royalty deals for his pop star clients (and, coincidentally, himself). Starting out as the manager of singers like Bobby Darin and Sam Cooke, Klein advised and later managed the Rolling Stones (his record company still has the rights to their pre-1971 catalog) and later acted on behalf of three of the Beatles. Paul McCartney didn't trust him and had his affairs taken care of by his father-in-law, which turned out to be a good idea. Klein was a skank, making lot of money off the chaos at Apple, and he may have contributed to the Beatles's breakup. Ironically, Yoko Ono - wrongfully credited to instigating the split - was instrumental in getting Apple separated from Klein, thanks to her skillful negotiating tactics. Klein compared her negotiating skills - as a compliment - to those of Henry Kissinger.

His handling of the Stones's finances so angered Mick Jagger that he had to chase Klein down a hotel corridor to pick a bone with him over it.

Klein later did time in prison for tax fraud.

Also, Robert McNamara died today at 93. As Secretary of Defense under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, McNamara oversaw the escalation of the Vietnam War and was blinded by anti-Communist paranoia into keeping the war going, even though he knew the U.S. couldn't win. He later expressed regret for his policy but never actually apologized for it.

Personally, I think McNamara would have been better off staying at Ford, where President Kennedy found him.

Two extremely unsavory people celebrate birthdays today. Former President George Walker Bush and former box office attraction Sylvester Stallone both turn 63 today. Meanwhile, Nancy Reagan, 88 - who it turns out, wasn't unsavory at all - celebrates her 86th birthday today.