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356 THIS DIFFICULT INDIVIDUAL
do what I could to get him out. I knew that Hemingway, Williams,
MacLeish and other international figures had spoken out in Mr.
Pound's behalf; I also knew that there had been no organized or
sustained effort. Someone would make a statement, and there
would be a little flurry of activity and sporadic and ineffectual
efforts to free him. But the strength and influence of these people
seemed wasted because it had not been co-ordinated . . . I asked
Mr. Pound to give me a list of men and women throughout the
world who were sympathetic and whom he thought would be
helpful. Over a period of months, I communicated with all on
EP's list. Frankly, I felt that some of the people might further
prejudice his case—since prejudice played so large a part anyway
—and a few were dropped. Then all of us wrote letters to the
Attorney General. In fact we wrote two—because Rogers came
in smack in the middle of the campaign.
"I asked the editors of several newspapers to write an editorial
urging Pound's release, but so far as I know, the only one who
responded was J. J. Kilpatrick, Editor of the Richmond News
Leader, and he wrote two!
"Late in 1957 Mr. Pound wrote me: 'I don't think you shd/
have too narrow a program or bore people with my personal
sorrows. BUT with yr/ admirable aim to eliminate captivity of yrs.
truly, you might mix a few germane ideas into yr/ conversation.'
"The timing was perfect; actually, we tapped a reservoir of
good will—or guilt—and things began to happen. You know all
about this, and more, and I don't know why I repeat it unless I
do so in the hope that I may throw a little light into some dark
corners. I should like to know the entire story of his release, for
I think it would be of great interest to future generations. For
instance, I found (or thought I found) Archibald MacLeish at the
core of this thing. The attached reprint from the Washington
Merry Go Round is, I think, a lot of guess work. I don't know
how active Hammarskjold was, but I had several letters from him,
and I know he did what he could. I know he was sympathetic.
This article refers to the influence of Frost, Eliot, and Hemingway.
I know Hemingway was active, for I heard from him, also.
"As to Frost, while I have no proof of this, I'm convinced that
he did what he did at the urging of MacLeish. I don't think he