I Knew Gene Kelly: The President Is No Gene Kelly

Surely it must have been a slip for Maureen Dowd to align the artistry of my late husband, Gene Kelly, with the president's clumsy performances. To suggest that "George Bush has turned into Gene Kelly" represents not only an implausible transformation but a considerable slight. If Gene were in a grave, he would have turned over in it.

When Gene was compared to the grace and agility of Jack Dempsey, Wayne Gretzky and Willie Mays, he was delighted. But to be linked with a clunker -- particularly one he would consider inept and demoralizing -- would have sent him reeling.

Graduated with a degree in economics from Pitt, Gene was not only a gifted dancer, director and choreographer, he was also a most civilized man. He spoke multiple languages; wrote poetry; studied history; understood the projections of Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes. He did the Sunday Times cross word in ink. Exceedingly articulate, Gene often conveyed more through movement than others manage with words.

Sadly, President Bush fails to communicate meaningfully with either. For George Bush to become Gene Kelly would require impossible leaps in creativity, erudition and humility.

Comments

[wisechild]

Thanks for the post! I was in love with Gene Kelly all my life and one of my biggest thrills was when a friend of mine from WNET in NYC got his phone number from a producer she worked with and called him to see if we could get him on our magazine show. I was listening in when she dialed up and to our amazement he answered the phone.

[onethatknowstruth]

genesbrood most definitely knows of which she speaks when saying she definitely knew Gene Kelly in all his integrity and decency. She is also 'spot on' when it comes to the things she says about Patricia Ward and her self-serving attitude in responding to an article that was in no way comparing Gene to Bush.

[genesbrood]

Gene's third wife of only three years missed one important point: Gene, a gentleman, would have never been so impolite or crass as to use his talent to demean another. He was much too classy and kind for that, something which Ms Ward would never understand, as she is neither. Now if she would quit using his name to promote her 15 minutes of fame, we would all be better off.
Maureen Dowd, a good Irish Catholic girl, clearly intended no harm or insult, but rather merely recognizes that Gene Kelly means dancing joy, and as such, is a common analogy which all Americans understand and celebrate.

[theplaintruth]

How wrong you are. If you had actually known Gene Kelly, you would know that his wife's letter to the editor is spot on. Few people felt so passionately or expressed themselves so vehemently about politicians who betrayed the public's trust. As for Mrs. Kelly's elegant and informative missive, Maureen Dowd herself referred to it as "charming," on the 22 March 2008 National Public Radio broadcast of "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me." Gene would have thoroughly enjoyed Patricia's protest at the coupling of his name with that of George “Clunker” Bush.

[genesbrood]

I knew him quite well, thank you.

[onethatknowstruth]

to continue on, Gene would never have cared to respond to such a non-issue as this when seeing his name mentioned in such a context. The fact that Patricia Ward did again proves her ineptitude and clumsiness in thinking she can defend Gene's memory. Things are not truly what they appear with this woman, that you can certainly believe.

[carpentero]

Gene Kelly was incredibly talented and entertaining. I admired him; my parents loved him. I never knew anything about his intellectual side. Now I'm even more impressed. Thank you, Mrs. Kelly, for enlightening us.

[CeeCee]

Gene Kelly was my idol when I was growing up. Every Christmas in Paris, we watched "An American in Paris" on TV. While the US got It's a Wonderful Life every christmas; France got An American in Paris.

Now -- if the comparison had been: Bush has turned into a Gene Kelly gone horribly wrong, there might have been some point to it.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Pay no attention to MoDo, she is overly prone to bouts of hyperbole and flights of political fancy akin to Walt Disney.

For George Bush to become CHRIS MATTHEWS would require impossible leaps in creativity, erudition and humility.

[JKalos]

I loved it when I got to introduce my children to the films of Gene Kelley. They would watch
his dance routines over and over again (love those dvds). I would come home from work
and there would be my kids gathered around the tv set, watching him singing in the rain or
doing that marvelous bit with donald o'conner and the elocution professor.

Good memories of a good man. Thanks.

[Colmore]

Dubya reminds me of PeeWee Herman. Gene Kelly was a gifted dancer, a gentleman, with numerous fans. Who could say that about Georgie? He is a buffoon.

[jsinclair]

Beautiful post and what a nice time to think about a wonderful man (rather than look at the inept one mugging for the cameras R the White House).

Kelly was also famously idealistic, liberal and principled. So, yes, the definite antithesis of GWB in every way. (And I, too, loved all his choreography--but agree that the dance on roller skates in "It's Always Fair Weather" literally makes me hold my breath when watching).

What a treasure he was--and still is--to us all.

[BlueandGreen]

Ah, Gene! I had a massive crush on him ... in college I wrote him a gushing fan letter and got an autographed picture and a note in reply ... whether he actually penned it or it came from his secretary, I have no idea ... I was thrilled, regardless! Patricia, your husband really was a Renaissance Man ... so glad his films and his legacy live on. Wish Gene was still around ... so he could ride his roller skates right over Dubya's beady-eyed face.

[abliss2379]

Perhaps Gretzy, Dempsey and Mays should have been delighted to have been compared to the incomparable Gene Kelly.

[3fingerbrown]

Kelly's dance on roller skates from "It's Always Fair Weather" is one of my favorite movie moments. Not only a great athletic achievement, it's a beautifully conceived work of art. If you've never seen it, feast your eyes on this. (How did he do it?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aus1PA5-SyI

[rektruax]

Perhaps she (Dowd) was merely jesting? I really doubt any genuine comparison was attempted.

[cindyw]

I agree, but I think Mrs. Kelly probably knows that, because the comparison is blatantly ridiculous. Mrs. Kelly just seized the opportunity to praise her graceful and erudite husband, and to make a statement about our awkward dim bulb of a president.

[rektruax]

Good thing Dowd didn't use Donald O'Connor...

[Jude2004]

HuffPost's Pick

So you're the lucky person who married Gene Kelly. When my daughter was 4, she'd call him on a play phone and ask, "Gene Kelly, will you marry me?" Every time it rained, she'd grab an umbrella, head out onto the sidewalk and twirl around while I sang, "Singing in the rain." George Bush will never bring that level of joy to anyone.

[Egghead]

Thank you so much. I loved Gene Kelly's performances too. What a gifted man.

[TexasRuby]

Whoo Hooo!!! Your daddy would have been proud of you, girl. Gene Kelly is way too classy for MoDo the mean queen to denigrate.

[Arguman]

daddy? granted, it would have been possible, but she was his third wife.