Inside the TRAGIC Marriage of Truman Capote’s Swan Babe Paley

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

LET"S DISCUSS! Why did they marry? Why didn't they divorce? Was it all Bill's fault? What about Babe? And... what did Truman Capote say to make her stay? Post your comments to join the conversation!

[@carlariggs525]

Babe sacrificed her happiness and sanity for money and social status. Women of that era did it all the time. She was a smart woman and could have found gainful employment but she listened to Truman Capote.

[@sandisteinberg731]

She was first set up by her mother.

[@tiaremaui]

Truman told Babe to consider her marriage to Bill a “well paying job.”

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

@@carlariggs525 Women of today are still doing giving their power over for money and status, I am sad to say. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

@@tiaremaui Truman was probably jealous of Babe for something he couldn't get himself so he minimized her experience. I don't think he really a very good friend to Babe. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@polyglot6542]

The worse nightmare for a good woman is to come to the realization that she depends, financially and socially on the abuser husband, all because she never developed her own identity and freedom. I still see millions of people resigned to accept the unacceptable.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Unfortunately it does still happen at all levels of society. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@emerybayblues]

How do you see millions of people?

[@margyrowland]

I used to

[@wjglll340]

Oh brother. I see millions of wives who make a lovely home and die happy because they didn't marry a philanderer.

[@aqualady0]

She worked at vogue for years

[@vickitaylor680]

Bill was a social climber. According to people, he would go into a party and immediately spot the prettiest girl. After Babe died, he said, “you understand the value of a marriage when it’s too late.” I think he knew he would never find anyone like her again. She was a very special woman.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Thanks for that additional information. I didn't find that info in my research but it explains how the show can portray him as kind to her at the end of her life. I got a different impression entirely. Thanks again!

[@sheenamcguire5225]

Hey would never find another woman that would devote themselves to him and he was rt. Men like that shouldn’t exist

[@museoflove8255]

And a very bad mother! Cold and distant

[@joansutton]

@@fabulouswomeninhistory The book on which this show is based described him as repentant and devoted while she was dying. If only he'd been so devoted before she became ill. But he wasn't. And then I came across something devastating - Slim Keith had a secret affair with Bill, and used to meet him when her best friend Babe was out of town. I've forgotten where I came across that little fact. It's disgusting how they all constantly betrayed each other. Truman wasn't the only one.

[@joansutton]

@@sheenamcguire5225 The very definition of a CAD.

[@howto4u705]

I read the book about Bill Paley you are referring to and what you say is spot on according to that author. I don't think even today that people get how serious mental abuse is and how harmful it can be. I like that you point out that Capote was no better. Her abused Babe is no many ways. He spotted her weakness and used it against her. I think that Capote was as much a predatory narcissist as Babe's husband. I feel for the woman. Thanks for this video.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Glad you caught that bit! Thanks!

[@starrycrown]

Great comment. I think of a mean Don Draper when I think of Paley.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

@@starrycrown Good comparison and betty is like Babe as well. Beautiful but insecure.

[@starrycrown]

@@fabulouswomeninhistory And I just realized they both died of cancer, too. Yikes. 😳

[@aprilgrant1957]

All the stress of being "Mrs. Paley," could not have been good for fighting cancer.

[@guerralg63]

These people are sadder than the poorest people on earth. They have everything, and it's not enough. Instead of being happy, they are miserable, and they enjoy making others miserable as well.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yes true but we sure do like to hear about them and watch shows about them! Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@guerralg63]

@@fabulouswomeninhistory Not really. I have a lot sympathy for this woman. I've been hearing a lot about this series coming up and I was wondering who these swans were. I've heard of Truman Capote, but I wasn't aware of this whole swan thing. The reason I watched this is because of your title. I knew who this media mogul was and just like media moguls today, they're a bunch of unscrupulous jerks, and that includes the women. I was not at all surprised that she was miserable with this egomaniac, but I was very surprised to see how dependent she was on him, and how she tried so hard to live life inspite of his mistreatment.

[@shilohnanny5422]

Well said.

[@Karen-e1f]

They may have gotten there by stepping on poor people. Some rich people really don't care. Thanks for the reality check. Not bitter but poor. I'll be fine.

[@guerralg63]

@user-dt3wm8rn4j , many rich people try to excuse their nastiness by doing charitable work, but their works are as filthy rags, snd doesn't justify or excuse them from their behavior.

[@freciemagdirila7075]

Very well done. I stumbled on Sally Bedel Smith’ “In All His Glory” when I was in college…a very sad story….Bravo, to Dorothy, Paley’s first wife. She escaped and, according to the book, ended up with a loving third husband.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Thanks for the added information and thanks for joining the conversation!

[@NinjaGrrrl7734]

Capote was a really crap friend. Who didn't he destroy?

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Good point! Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@cherylpelletier3165]

He was a writer and they knew it.

[@RuthlessHeathen]

It's simple. Mr. Capote hated all of them with a vengence. Only, Marella Agnelli realized it.

[@yvonneplant9434]

He died from alcoholism. So there's that.

[@joansutton]

And I think the real story being told in this series is about friendship.

[@baylorsailor]

Not all transactional marriages are "dark". Marrying for love is a rather new concept in human history.

[@sarahrobertson634]

That just means that males have been disgusting since the dawn of time. Transactional marriage is disgusting and dehumanizing for women. The marriages are abusive and the women are miserable. Transactional romance is always dark.

[@mesalouis8976]

True

[@margaretsterlacci5379]

But most end "dark" (unfortunately) in today's society...

[@marianneisaacs8232]

They both were focused on the superficial. Babe was trained up to keep up appearances above anything else . She swallowed the cool aid around what is important in life , we can lay the blame on her mother . It’s not so different to Jane Austin novel . He was trying to make it in a bigoted society where again appearances mattered more than anything else . She met his needs , he probably had attitudes to women common in the day . As for Mr Capote ,what a vile user

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

I found it interesting that BIll's first wife Dorothy introduced him to pscyhoanalysis - something new at the time. But narcissist are never changed from introspection so it didn't make a dent with him. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@greeneyedwarlock882]

EXACTLY 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻‼️‼️‼️

[@LannieLord]

KOOL AID.

[@lunallena5594]

Babe Paley endorsed Halston on the high society fashion map!

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Netflix did a series on him a few years ago. Another Ryan Murphy production.

[@3blackcats999]

Much like the way Prince Ranier treated Princess Grace, Bill Paley treated Babe as nothing but a trophy and was indifferent to her.

[@selfself8813]

Except Rainier was so creepy looking. Never understood Grace for taking that plunge. ICKY RAINIER.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

It takes a certain kind of man to do that. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@elliebellie7816]

@@selfself8813 The rest of the men in her life didn't want to marry her - just use her as a mistress.

[@joansutton]

@@selfself8813 Wealth and money money money, status and fame. Bet Grace regretted that marriage greatly.

[@Cindy-wt6jl]

​@selfself8813 Bill Paley was gross too.

[@a.jlondon9039]

In my profession I have worked with several high society wives. What always strikes me is the abuse they will endure to stay wealthy and socially connected. The men are powerful but abusive bores. I learned an important lesson from my great grandmother. She marched for women's rights and kicked her wealthy azzhole husband to the curb. She raised her sons without any child support. She refused to sell herself out.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Awesome message! Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@joansutton]

Here's a fact: All of their husbands were cads. An old fashioned word, Cad, but it's appropriate. All the husbands felt somehow obligated to betray their wives at every opp. I wash my hands of such men, and would rather live without them. Marrying for money - maybe they deserved what they got. But I feel sorry for their children, who were thoroughly ignored.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

It is true that Babe was not a great mother. In my research I read a quote by her daughter that said she was pretty non-existent as a parent. But then, Babe's mothere doesn't sound like she was much better. Is is a sad facet but - We parent as we are parented unless we get conscious and make a commitment to do better. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@joansutton]

@@fabulouswomeninhistory Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

[@markbrautigam2502]

Women and men sell themselves for the same purpose and reasons . We don’t have to agree but let’s not forget the individual man or woman went into the marriage as an adult . Own your own decisions, we don’t have to agree or like it , but they did it to themselves . The Monday morning quarterback is 20/20 .

[@mardigrassnowballs3258]

“He didn’t want her doing her hair at night” Goodness, friggin gracious !

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yeah, right!

[@lindadeal3344]

That is why you have separate beds and bedrooms...so you don't have to put up with "his stupid remarks" ...it works both ways.

[@brandyjean7015]

Babe was the original Stepford wife.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yep, he was in control. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@epistemichumility]

Just ask her daughter

[@thomasmcnerney9745]

There are still loads of Stepford wives out there...we live in a town full of them. Their husbands have mistresses while these wives are either shopping, taking gym classes or out walking on their cell phones. The despise women like my wife who have professional careers.

[@stephaniewolf2411]

She was so much more than a character from a B movie.

[@alexandrap6071]

Love your channel! New subscriber. I love how you showed compassion for Babe. While she might have led a life of privilege, she also paid for her choices, as she was never happy, and died so young.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Thanks! Appreciate the positive feedback!

[@afrosamourai400]

Rich people problems are ridiculous, materialism, status and superficiality makes her miserable but she chose that stupid life.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

I guess you are watching the FX show then😁

[@gtaylor6937]

@@fabulouswomeninhistory I'm watching the show too and the emptiness of these womens' lives is palpable. Babe didn't have a close relationship with her own children - how sad to forfeit all that love for social stature. Truly am shaking my head.

[@terrybrowning-e9b]

hey, im a nice person.

[@Yvonne-ox8sv]

So sad . She should have divorced him and moved to Europe

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

As with a lot of abuse cases - and it was psychological abuse - the victim stays for a variety of reasons. I sought to explain in my analysis in this video why she did stay. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@thomasmcnerney9745]

True.... But she was "addicted" to the money he had made that provided an extremely comfortable life for herself. There is ALWAYS some sort of sacrifice involved in these marital transactions.

[@LKre-vi5oq]

I think you missed something. Babe had money, lots and lots of it, prior to the marriage. She could have lived gorgeously without him. Period. Yeah, Bill made lots of money. He showered her with it, usually.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

@@LKre-vi5oq That is true. She had tons of money. That is why the WHY question is worth looking at and what compelled me to do the research and find out and share my analysis. . Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

@@thomasmcnerney9745 Good point. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@dostagirl9551]

I think she definitely suffered long before her husband at the hands of her mother's desire to have her family become social elites. Reminds me a bit of Consuela Vanderbilt in that regard. That being said, she could have stepped away. The truth of her having "no money" isn't the same as what we typically associate with a woman of this era. She wouldn't have been destitute; she divorced her first husband despite having two children with him, but she would have to give up the social standing she had built up. The truth is that her obsession with a perfect life kept her in that marriage as much as anything else.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Just like in the GIlded Age!Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@travelseatsyellowlab]

Each of the Cushing sisters was superficial, social climbing women of little substance. Money, power, and status were of the utmost importance to them to the exclusion of everything else. They ultimately ended up with what they deserved.

[@fumikofawcett9032]

There are millions of women today putting up with abusive husband not knowing that they are abused. Babe traded her abusive husband for the social status, she did not love her husband but used him. Thus they are equal.

[@MeretSeger]

A tale as old as time. Beauty and the Beast.

[@panam747]

I can't believe we care about their crummy marriage. Someone once said, "When you marry for money, you pay for every dime." It couldn't be more accurate.

[@chiendinh-je2xi]

100% correct, spend the money that your work hard to earn is the best

[@ThatEllen74]

I just found your channel last night. I love this series! So interesting! Thank you for your hard work and great videos. I definitely subbed! ❤

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@HeathertheGreat_]

Bill must have loved that lamp.

[@arribaficationwineho32]

Control issue

[@mallorygraf8574]

Great job! I have been reading about the Swans for years...have a almost every swan bio which is why I am sooo disappointed in the Capote vs Swans FX movie. It reminded me of the old cheapy mini series movies they used to show on network television. That being said...to get back to subject...I think that she would have been the loser if she had divorced Bill. New York society was very important to her and Bill would have just remarried some other glamourous woman and she would have been just another ex-Mrs. Paley. Plus all the work she put in their homes...I just can't see her giving it all up just to be another divorcee. Not in that era anyway!

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Glad you like it and thanks for joining the conversation!

[@jonnarobinson7541]

I agree about the show. I have only watched one episode, but I find it tawdry.

[@mallorygraf8574]

@@jonnarobinson7541 Very tawdry.

[@variousJnames]

Yessss! The show sucks and is so miscast

[@cross75man75]

Truman talked her out of divorcing bill because he too was enjoying all the perks of bill's money and power.

[@catlover4700]

Bill provided Babe with all the money she would ever need. She was not innocent, her & Bill were having an affair and BABE was having affairs too . Babe married Bill for the money End of. She traded off ! Wake up folks. I grew up with a mother like Babe. And remeber these women never did housework, laundry , or worked 9-5 came home and had to cook dinner and out the kids to bed. They were having affairs , drinking with the gals and shopping haute . So please stop makkng Babe a victim.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

I think that Babe had affairs looking for love and kindness. Not quite the same a Bill- the womanizer but am always glad to hear the other side of things. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@catlover4700]

@@fabulouswomeninhistory So it's OK for her to have affairs ? Why didn't she leave? Make a clean break? She wasn't exactly mother of the year , and that was clear even during her first marriage. She cheated with Bill. And she stayed with Bill because of the power. No offense but please stop painting her as a victim. She was not a victim, she had for more choices than any other woman had in that era. She had privilege. May she rest in peace.

[@Meggiebeth19]

What a monster he was. All the money in the world can’t buy happiness or peace of mind.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Babe's life does make that point. ThanKS foR joininG the coNversaTIoN!

[@camhamster3891]

Capote was such a nasty little snake to parade her suffering for his own aggrandizement.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

It sure seems that way. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@pauladouglas9891]

He was so naive to think he could write anything about his swans and that they wouldn't realize that they were the subject of his vitriol.

[@arribaficationwineho32]

@@pauladouglas9891but the public did not. Only those in that society would know who thhey were

[@citizen1163]

Babe Paley...such a beautiful but tragic face 🎭😢 Great photos btw

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Thanks to getty images! Thanks for joining the conversatioN1

[@pennyp.coleman3944]

Were there any love matches during the 1950’s or 60’s? The only one I can think of is the Carters.

[@joansutton]

We used to think the Kennedys were the ideal couple. my mother just worshipped them. But all the time Jack was serially betraying Jackie constantly.

[@lindadeal3344]

The Carters were a love match maintained it all their lives.

[@RuthlessHeathen]

There were, Willis and Estella, my mother and father. Married 65 years.

[@retrobebop61]

My mom and dad. Married for 64 years. And the best mom and dad my sister and I could ask for.

[@TheKyPerson]

My parents were married for 63 years. I know of more in my home town. But they weren't concerned with money and status. Their main focus was their home and family.

[@adellemery3336]

I'd like to feel sorry for Babe, but her mother, like Jackie Kennedy's mother, raised her daughter with only ONE goal in mind, and it wasn't to be well educated and have a career; it wasn't to get married to a good man and raise happy children: no, her ONE purpose in life was to marry well, a man with pockets deeper than the man next to him. And in that, Babe didn't fulfill her one purpose since both her sisters married men much richer and just as callous as Bill Paley.

[@toniam.2080]

She was beautiful and very kind. Not cold. The cruel on was Truman.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yes, to my understanding is that she was kind. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@ellenh6471]

She was not kind to her children at all. Stature and appearance was what mattered to her and her sisters. Her daughter, Kate, had to literally be begged to visit her mother on her deathbed.

[@variousJnames]

No she was cold to her two sets of children.

[@williamevans9426]

I had no idea CBS was built on the profits of the cigar industryl one learns something every day! This pattern of marriage seems, in many ways, an entirely US-based mirror of the earlier 'Gilded Age' aspirations of ambitious American mothers to marry their wealthy daughers off to cash-poor British aristocrats, to attain both affluence and society kudos for both families in one partnership. Whuile these arrangements appear to have satisfied the bridal mother and groom, there seems to be a recurring narrative of the wealthy bride having to accept her lot and to sublimate absolutely her own ambitions and desires. So much for a 'charmed life'!

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yes it is very much like the Gilded Age. I am sure this show will be as popular because we all like to look into the lives of the wealthy. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@tonyurrutia4308]

It's interesting how all.of a sudden there is so much interest in persons that were so fabulous in their time, up to now nobody knew who they were! Its good that all the people now realize what taste, style and great living is! There is nobody nowadays that lived like these people lived. Reading would help. But nobody reads.

[@terry4137]

Speak for yourself!

[@joansutton]

I knew that era because I'm in my 80s and remember it well. I compare it to the Gilded Age - these wealthy people could be the grandchildren of Gilded Age millionaires, and inherited old money from them

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Very true Joan!

[@mjohnson1741]

I'm a classic movie fanatic and knew about all these people well before this.

[@variousJnames]

😂I say that all the time about people not reading anymore. But some do! These eras and this lifestyle is fascinating to me

[@warrenpeece1726]

"Groomed to serve a man without complaint." Nostalgic indeed!

[@arribaficationwineho32]

That was how marriages worked then

[@Richard-dw4qo]

The sad part about this is that Truman was her best friend and he betrayed her. So she was not only screwed over by her husband but also by her best friend. I mean what was Truman thinking when he wrote Lacote Basque? . He destroyed his relationship with her and I got a wonder did he really value it? I think he was a narcissist too.

[@cherylb2008]

Different era Very interesting story

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Glad you liked it

[@CALIFREAKINFORNIABOY]

BABE WAS OLD MONEY. BILL WAS JUST .. BILL…

[@joansutton]

Bill created CBS. No small achievement.

[@historychannelpodcasts]

I haven't seen anyone else cover this topic so kudos to you for doing so. I imagine you will get a lock of flak for calling out Paley for what he was. KZbin is largely a male based audience - and youn, too - so I don't you will get the credit you deserve for tackling this topic. I am sure there will be guys crying in their beer that you are too hard on Paley and calling you all kinds of names. Keep a stiff upper lip! I love and appreciate your channel

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

I volunteered at a shelter for abused women back when I was getting my psych degree and fully undertand the cycle of abuse and how and why the women stay in their abusive situation so this topic called out to me to do this video analysis. Thanks so much for appreciating the work it takes to put these videos together and thanks for joining the conversation!

[@pauladouglas9891]

I read that one of his swans, Slim Keith had a job briefly and was so incompetent that she vowed never to work again, and always depended upon men.

[@colleenwhalen6981]

In the era of Slim Keith it was not considered "proper" for women to work at paid employment outside the home unless they had no other options - of course, working class women had jobs but they were drudgery jobs, badly paid and for them - the entire focus was on GETTING MARRIED - it was the norm for women to get married straight out of graduating high school. That is what my mother did in 1953. Upper middle class women ONLY went to college "to find a good husband who was training to be a professional person". Even during the 1960s when birth control pills were invented and women entered the workforce in large numbers, feminist movement - it was STILL considered that a woman with a college degree would just find some short term lady like job to work at for a fairly short time - a few years and THEN settle down and find a husband. Back in 1976 when I was only 22, I went on a job interview to be a secretary. The first thing the executive who was the hiring manager said at the interview was "WHY AREN"T YOU MARRIED?" He kept banging on that such an attractive young woman my age should be MARRIED BY NOW and inferring that something must be deficient and wrong with me. I was desperate for a job and not employed at that time - so I accepted the offer of employment but QUIT after just two weeks because that executive was such a collosal jerk. He would deliberately talk about me in staff meetings "Now we need to get some of the eligible bachelors in the office to start dating Colleen because SHE STILL ISN"T MARRIED AND SHE IS 22" as if I was some dried up spinster. Seriously! I could not make this crap up! So in that regard, Slim Hawks was exactly like all women back in the day. She was from a working class background and she grew up in rural California on a farm or a ranch - nothing in her family background was remotely in the same stratosphere as the social circles she travelled in. Slim Hawks was considered to be absolutely brilliant at conversation, the ultimate in style - she mentored Lauren Bacall when she was unknown. Slim Hawks was to me, a fascinating character - she did marry into British aristocracy, but soon realized her titled husband was a thumping bore who was more interested in HER money than the marriage - so she ditched him and came back to the USA - she was quite colorful and lived life on her own terms - despite the social constraints women were expected to conform to back in the day.

[@barbaras8562]

Why pity her? She chose to live a vacuous life as an armpiece. Beauty and grace exchanged for material wealth and social status. And fashion.

[@sararichardson737]

Yep. She felt like hell but looked fabulous and that is all that life was about for this milieu

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

She did look fabulous!

[@alexandrap6071]

Maybe you need to understand that she was raised that way. In those times, you didn’t question your upbringing, much less if you were part of high society. Divorce was a failure in those times…and maybe by being abused so many years, she felt she couldn’t do it. Let’s not judge.

[@barbaras8562]

@alexandrap6071 quite the opposite. Divorce among the elites was pretty common. So was bed hopping. Same as today. I'm not judging her, I'm just not feeling sorry for her. She had freedom to pursue her interests and affairs while he was doing the same.

[@ellenh6471]

She was divorced from her first husband. Her two “fabulous “ sisters who were also trained to marry for money were divorced from first husbands. Slim Keith was on her third husband by the time she became a “swan”. It was done…but Babe was wired differently. Her confidence came from her looks, style and manners…. Otherwise she was an insecure sad woman

[@w.urlitzer1869]

money on one side, beauty on the other.

[@unaonse1115]

And this is why i like cz guest more lol

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yes, I am looking forward to making a video about her. Interesting woman. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@colleenwhalen6981]

CZ Guest was the ONLY swan who never ever confided her innermost thoughts to Truman. She had "radar" and a good BS detector and sized up Truman Capote and knew he would eventually blab and spill the beans and gossip all over town. CZ Guest was the ONLY swan NOT written about in Answered Prayers because she kept her lip zipped and never confided in Capote - good for her! She also was the ONLY swan who stayed on speaking terms with Capote - eventually she got completely fed up with his out of control alcohol drug abuse and distanced herself from him - but not because she was a Fair Weather Friend - but there is a limit to human endurance - Capote had very few friends int he last years of his life. Joanne Carson invited him to move into her home in LA during his last years, basically nobody wanted anything to do with him. Joanne Carson was never among the Swans. She was a very classy lady and earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Nutrition from UCLA - she actually worked, was active, had a LIFE and the opposite of the idle society woman socialite swans - she had good taste but Truman would make snide remarks behind her back that she was "so very middle class" - but she was a person of substance and stood by him through thick and thin

[@judithholder2537]

The Jane Austen era has never ended for some. Simple truth.

[@variousJnames]

Rich and powerful people are some of the most miserable sobs ever. They don't know joy and never have good relationships with their kids. They're not nice people. So I also believe they make their own karma.

[@jogianni100]

Truman’s short story ‘Mohave’ seemed to be Babe & Bill

[@darcymccattipus908]

Just can't see how those sisters were seen to be so good looking. All had weird jaws and chins. Bill and Babe both knew what the other wanted. I don't think she was a very nice person, appeared cold and emotionless, a very indifferent parent as well.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yes sadly. She was not a good mother as her own adult children have attested to. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@jacquelineloveselvis]

These women married for money and security rather than love.

[@elizabethhopkins7582]

Bill was a Jew. Babe was a WASP catch. Babe didn't have a lot of money. Bill was rich. It was a totally transactional marriage on both sides. Babe had style but I never thought she was beautiful. What's your source that Tru lied about her? These women were idiots if they didn't think that he would ever write about them. He will be remembered ling after everyone forgets about Babe and Bill and the rest of these people.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

I am not sure what you are referring to "Tru lied about her." He didn't lie so much as he exposed her husband infidelities which everyone knew about, but still, it hurt Babe because it was a betrayal of confincences.

[@marilynmichaels8358]

Insecure woman from another era who made a deal with the Devil.. because money was ALL to her and her famiy.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Hey always good to hear opposing views! Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@lilylittlemonster5]

Totally agree. She was a materialist. Glamorous, beautiful, intelligent, but still at the end of the day, things and status mattered more.

[@selfself8813]

He didn’t have all that much money at that time. Only a title. Grace’s family had to put up a dowry. ICKY and no money! Double Ick!

[@fairdose]

Why is this important? These people sound like a gang of shallow, narcissists or emotional co-dependants.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Must be importanty to a few thousand since that is how many views!

[@CFinch360]

Because those who don't know history are condemned to repeat it. Watch, listen, learn

[@travelseatsyellowlab]

Bill Paley and Barbara Cushing each got what they wanted and deserved in one another. Each of these people married for superficial reasons, didn't like one another, had little substance.

[@lauramcgowan3740]

Bill’s first wife was an ex wife of Hearst son .. Dorothy bagged him once he got controlling ., she had alot to give , but he was a taker

[@tchrisou812]

@8:14 is my favorite picture of her

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

She was so gorgeous. I really enjoyed going through all the photos to make this video, Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@pauladouglas9891]

So sad that women then were taught to marry well instead of being sucessful in their own right. Society was so superficial, all those charity balls were just an excuse to have a party, the charity part was just to deflect criticism. So man of these men were never satisfied with one woman and humiliated their wives.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Very true! Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@lalala2407]

Follow the money is the reason why

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

You got it. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@frankievalentine6112]

Shocking how well-cast the show is. She really looks like Naomi Watts & same for all the rest.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

I know. Everyone seems to be so well cast. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@laara1426]

10 years her senior !! Big deal. Geez get a clue. There is nothing odd about their relationship. That was standard operating procedure for the times, the wealth involved and drive to gain prestige and power. Rules, expectations, secrets, tragedies, and cover ups were part and parcel of " high society" . Capote was desparate for attention in his later years .

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

He was desparate for attention all his life for sure. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@laurelaltman6138]

So was her first husband also a "monster?" Paley was a high powered, wealthy. Influential businessman. Bigger name than she was. That's why she married him and stayed married. He was a social climber but she and her sisters took climbing to a whole new level.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

He first husband did have wealth but he was an abusive alcholic, as I understand it. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@colleenwhalen6981]

Her first husband was an incorrigable drunkard and violent - yes, I would categorize that as monstrous and who can blamer her for divorcing the jerk? LOTS of people - both men and women stay in bad marriages for all sorts of reasons - go figure. I have a friend who was single until she was 45 and married a freeloaching mooch who was the male equivalent of a gold digger. My female friend had a masters degree and a high powered executive job. Not a millioniare at all - but very comfortable upper middle class, homeowner, good pension, investment portfolio. For reasons I will NEVER understand, she fell in love and married a real creep -he had been earning minimum wage for the last 20 years and lived in a tiny dumpy studio apt with almost no belongings - he was a fork lift operator in a warehouse and only a High School diploma. WHY WHY WHY would a woman who earns an upper class income, masters degree, executive job and lots of financial assets want to marry such a marginal man? He was grumpy, argumentative, for no reason at all he would fly into violent screaming tantrums and rage as long as one hour. He treated my friend badly. At one point I took her aside in private and told her that although her crappy husband never physically beat her - his atrocious behavior towards her was definitely domestic violence. She defended him and insisted how fabulous he was. She was the major breadwinner financially and earned about 5 times more than her husband. They both had full time jobs - he had a low level clerical job pushing papers - and she worked full time as an executive. Despite they BOTH worked full time - the husband never lifted a finger to do any housework. She waited on him hand and foot and cleaned up after him - all the while extolling how fabulous he was. I lost touch with my friend - but learned on social media that her jerk of a husband quit his job at only 58 years old to "retire" - well he has no Social Security pension until 66 and it will be a pittance since he earned minimum wage most of his life. So while he is goofing off being lazy - his wife has TWO FULL TIME JOBS financially supporting him. Go figure. Techinically she is "smart" - masters degree and executive job - but those "smart" women sometimes make horrible choices about who they marry! Smart Women & Dumb Choices! Babe Paley was terrified if she divorced Bill she would wind up forgotten, friendless and lose all of her social standing. Bill would have immediately gotten married on the rebound to a woman 20 years younger than he was and he would have maintained his social standing - sexist double standards apply here. NY high society folks are horrid snobs and although she would have received alimony and child support, her standard of living would be drastically reduced. I don't think the ONLY reason she stayed with that asshole was financial. I believe she was brainwashed by her mother to put up with all sorts of abuse from a husband and just brainwashed to be a Stepford Wife - docile, meek and put up with anything rotten a husband did to her. Ultimately she was the "Perfect" socialite - but utterly miserable married to that jerk. This is just how devoted to "Perfection" that Babe was - she organized every detail of her funeral - right down to every flower arrangement, silverware, food served and the music that was played, the candle lighting, right down to the minutae details.......everyone who attended her funeral and the gathering afterward said they could FEEL Babe's presence in the room quite strongly - that aura of "Perfection" resonated at the funeral gathering - even though she had passed away. BTW - this is very quirky detail - when she was very very young, ishe sustained horrendous injuries to her face in a catastrophic car crash. Her face was almost completely crushed - but she had a wizard of a plastic surgeon who actually made her MORE BEAUTIFUL than she was before the car crash - wierd but true!

[@laurelaltman6138]

I never read about Mortimer being an alcoholic. There's a very good book about the Cushing women and their extraordinary lives. Imagine marrying a Mortimer, Paley, Astor, Roosevelt and Whitney!!! "The Sisters."

[@stevenwilliambaylessparks3730]

The ultimate trophy wife

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

True. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@LannieLord]

Tell the makers of THIS to do a series on ill-fated glam rock star Jobraith. 1973.

[@jessmargeson7458]

I'm sorry but I'm seeing the beauty in "The Fabulous Sisters".

[@deeelle6744]

Quite enjoying your videos. You speak and highlight spotlight individuals with diplomatic dignity. The ending clips of you are a discredit however. The videos are serious and well researched. You choose to end them however with laughing and smiling and a cheap green sheet.. It doesn't do you the conclusion you well deserve.

[@ilanamillion8942]

It may seem that Babe had it all - wealth, beautiful clothes and objects surrounding her. However, in nearly all the photos of her, she isn't smiling. I wouldnt have wamted life, to be honest.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

That's a good observation. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@mariadelcarmenrouco8014]

Adoro las historias d la alta sociedad son geniales

[@didemarchi]

what a shitty friend he was

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

I'd say so. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@mariannebonner2280]

Are we supposed to feel sorry for this woman!? Sure.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Compassion for women in abuse situations is a good thing.

[@teresaferrer4748]

What's the mystery concerning the brief marriage of Jeffrey and Paula Paley. What did she do? To be banished far away to Puerto Rico

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

I see you posted this on another of my video. I seriously have no clue who you are referencing and have no idea how it relates to Babe Paley.

[@pearlfeather9326]

That man just used her.....typical

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

She married him for his money and security. She was an acquisition for him. He was a luxary for her and the lifestyle he could give her.

[@brober]

Beautiful people aren't.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

What did I miss? not sure what you are referring to.

[@brober]

Go figure🙄@@fabulouswomeninhistory

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

@@fabulouswomeninhistory I think the comment means beautiful people aren’t really beautiful. It’s that society assumes all sorts of positive attributes surround someone simply because they have a beautiful appearance.

[@willbusn5683]

Capote was sick man.l don't know how this beautifull nice women had him for friend.l coudnt stand his voice and. look.

[@linniem5982]

Babe couldn't leave Bill because she was a career housewife, with no money of her own. She set herself up.

[@d.l.l.6578]

Why did she marry him? Why did she stay??? 🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑

[@michelez715]

That's easy - money and status.

[@tiaremaui]

Because he provided a fantastic lifestyle.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

That's what the video is about! Hope you watch it till the end to get the full unstanding!😎

[@lauralintonmacfarlane5264]

Money and zero drive to be touched

[@thall8095]

It is said Babe was not close to her kids.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yes her daughter said that she wasn't a great mom. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@irshgrl500]

Gosh, so many wonderful comments. Although I just don't agree, in general with the comments about Truman. By the time time he was involved with these women, he was a mess. He'd let himself really go to hell, morally & in many other ways. His drinking & drugs were out of control. The turning point was when he wrote "In Cold Blood". He truly sacrificed his morals for a best seller. That in itself says a lot about him. But seriously he wasn't the vile insect he was portrayed to be.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Always good to hear other sides of the topic. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@Job-y8o]

She used him. He used her.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yep. transactional marriage. Thanks for joining the conversation!

[@richiekock8835]

Haha, this vid reads like a list of unscrupulous horrid people, aka social climbers. Imagine a room filled with these people that use each other for a living. Oh wait. The ball of the century for the who is who amongst the creme de la creme of the most horrid ones, organized by arguable the most horrid one of all.

[@jmarie9997]

She wanted money, he wanted a society hostess.

[@stephaniehand503]

great

[@K98876]

Why live in fear she had enough money to go it alone it’s not worth staying

[@AlphonsodeBarbo]

What's wrong with 'contractual'???

[@TradeWynn65]

Materialism, status seeking and social climbing is exhausting when all you have to do is develop your self.

[@marylou3995]

What a sad life.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

So true.

[@sarasmith99]

Who would want to "climb" that society?! Then, you have to worry about being backstabbed at any moment. Yuck!

[@traceyestes]

Truman was a writer. Unless you're a writer, you'll never understand the art of storytelling. He had a rough childhood. Nobody is perfect and everyone is far too judgemental.

[@altaischurale7324]

Why?...... Money

[@biff5856]

Why? He certainly wasn't a street cleaner. Rich and powerful. That's it. Too bad poor girl tough life. Yeah tough

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

Bill was a Jew and still wasnt allowed in the clubs she could join and walk in without a care.

[@Mrrossj01]

Money.

[@mailmanron46]

Is it true Babe had painful false teeth?

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Yes, she didf have false teeth. She was in an auto accident in early adulthood (maybe late teens) and had to have her jaw reconstructed and false teeth.

[@linniem5982]

Yes, false teeth.

[@Karen-e1f]

Competition and gambling and drinking. A rich and poor life.

[@sageryan5819]

The series has turned to garbage. Woke nonsense. And script obviously young generation. The ‘f’ word was not used that often even in that crowd. That is not a comment regarding your channel. The series is proving disappointing.

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

[@donnasherwood283]

money

[@johannamurphy9607]

I fine her nice looking , but not soooo beauitful !

[@cristianmanuelbohadacastro4907]

Babe y la mamá de Truman en la serie son muy monas 🙈🙉🙊💛💙❤️

[@fabulouswomeninhistory]

Google translated what you say here as: Babe and Truman's mom in the series are very cute. - Not sure if that is what you meant but glad for your comment!

[@cristianmanuelbohadacastro4907]

@@fabulouswomeninhistory si así es encanto 💛💙❤️