1949

There he was in The New York Times, California State Senator Quentin Kopp, photographed next to Gov. Pete Wilson, dramatizing the drive to "restore fairness" by ending affirmative-action programs in the state's hiring, contracting, and college admission programs. Quent is honorary cochairman of this California Civil Rights Initiative and wrote the language that will appear as a ballot proposal this fall.

Will the controversial campaign affect the presidential race? Republicans, including Bob Dole, endorse the measure. Bill Clinton has said of affirmative action, "mend it but don't end it." There is, however, growing organized opposition and Quent—who's a registered Independent says, "Passage is not a slam-dunk." But he does predict "Clinton will shellac Dole in California." Stay tuned.

In the meantime, Quent—whose current four-year term will end in 1998 with his (term-limited) retirement—keeps busy as chairman of the senate's transportation committee. One of the developments on his watch: toll roads. Four of these have been introduced, mostly in southern California, and use experimental transponders which monitor usage electronically and bill subscribers monthly or quarterly. "The future is here," says Q. Too bad "freeway" had a nice ring to it.

Quent's did-the-earth-move dilemma: Paying for "seismic-safety retrofitting of 2,400 highway bridges" without raising the gas tax or issuing bonds. Politics makes strange carpooling.

Moving from west to east, consider the accomplishments of Don Durkee. Don is the longtime president of a family-owned company, Durkee-Mower, of Lynn, Mass., which makes not mowers but Fluff. Marshmallow Fluff, that is, one of the key ingredients in a fluffernutter sandwich (the other being peanut butter). It has been the company's sole product for 75 years and enjoys about a 25-percent share of the marshmallow spread market, a market Don's father and partner Mower invented. At one time Fluff was sold nationally, but Kraft got into the business and became Fluffs sticky wicket. So Don's company decided to concentrate in the Northeast.

There are alternatives to a fluffernutter. Mix Fluff with chocolate for a piebald fudge, or combine it with Rice Krispies for a crunchy snack. And there's a new cheesecake recipe. If you're pregnant you can spread it on pickles.

The bad news is that in a diet-conscious world there's a ceiling on growth. The good news is that Don and Nancy have slowed down a bit and get to Florida for golf more often, while son Jonathan watches the store.

Did you catch Leaving Las Vegas, based on a semi-autobiographical novel by John O'Brien, who died of alchoholism shortly before the picture was made? The original book was discovered, edited, and sold to Hollywood by Ray Powers. Ray is still active as a principal with the Marje Fields agency in New York. He became a good friend of O'Brien, talked every day with him during the editing process, but (surprise) never met him in person. The film, which has earned well over $20 million and many awards despite its noir character, was made (another surprise) for $3.5 million and shot on (last surprise) 16-mm film.

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Don Durkee used to sell his Fluff nationally, until Kraft became a sticky wicket. BOB NUTT '49