Dick Cavitt and Bill Buckley

Dick Cavitt:

...

Conversation seemed to be moving along nicely when, in reference to something he had just brought up, I said, “I’m not really familiar with that.” Back came, “You don’t seem to be familiar with anything.”

Wham!

I think I nearly lost consciousness. It was a rotten thing to say to a beginner.

...

I felt I just had to ask him about it. I recreated it exactly. He clearly didn’t recall it and seemed a bit embarrassed. I had gotten to know and to like him so much by then that I was sorry I’d brought it up. It clearly disturbed him. I quickly offered him an out.

“Is there any chance you had me confused with David Frost”? I asked.

“Precisely,” he said, taking my offer and flashing that trademark wink and grin. We laughed.

...

Cavitt discusses his introduction to Bill Buckley when he was a freshman at Yale and the close friendship that developed between the Buckleys and the Cavitts. It is a pleasure to read.