Stone Tries to End Mini-Cold War Over Nixon Film

Director Oliver Stone tried to broker a detente Thursday with Nixon loyalists who have been lambasting him for weeks.

But supporters of the 37th president refused to consider granting Stone, or his film “Nixon,” any pardons.

In a one-page letter to John H. Taylor, director of the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda, Stone suggested ways to “bridge the gap that exists between our views, both of the movie and of history.”

Along with the Nixon family, Taylor has decried Stone’s revisionist version of the Nixon presidency, particularly Stone’s theory that Nixon took part in a plot to assassinate Fidel Castro.

“While I disagree with your interpretation of the film,” Stone wrote, “and believe it is a balanced and empathetic portrait, I understand the feelings you have about it.”

To end the mini-Cold War set off by the film, Stone suggested the library join him in two projects: a symposium about the film, to be held at the library, and a joint legal assault on reams of still-secret documents relating to the Nixon White House.

“I respect your great loyalty to President Nixon,” Stone wrote, “and hope that my friends and family will be as loyal to me, in good times and in bad, as you have been to him.

“But Mr. Nixon belongs not only to his friends and family; he belongs to history, and in a democratic society that means that all of us have the right to offer our opinions and interpretations about the life of a man whose actions, for better and worse, changed our country and the world.”

Fewer than 45 minutes after receiving Stone’s letter, Taylor faxed a one-page reply, spurning both of Stone’s invitations.

Of the symposium, Taylor wrote:

“For now, there seem to be plenty of opportunities for all sides to air their views.”

Of the joint effort to win release of classified documents, Taylor wrote:

“The late president’s estate, of which I am a co-executor, is as hopeful as you that the litigation over those materials can be brought to an end.”

But Taylor added that the library would press the issue on its own.

“I am sure you will understand,” Taylor wrote, “when I say that while we appreciate your offer of assistance, at this advanced moment in the process there is nothing constructive that you can do since you are not a direct party to any of the matters.”

Stone was not available for comment Thursday. But Stephen Rivers, a spokesman for the director, said the library’s response amounted to “a polite brushoff.”

Rivers said Taylor repeatedly has misrepresented the film’s contents and attacked its director, and Stone’s letter represented a sincere effort to find common ground.

Rivers took particular issue with recent remarks Taylor made about the film being fantasy and the library representing reality.

“With all due respect to Mr. Taylor,” Rivers said, “if you liked Orwell, you’ll love the library. It’s a very Soviet-style version of history. A lot of blank pages.”

In response, Taylor contended Stone and his associates are not seeking anything more than a bit of free publicity.

“It is not the least bit surprising,” Taylor said, “that both Mr. Stone and the Walt Disney Co. are taking steps to make sure there is further attention paid to what is a commercial enterprise.”

But Rivers insisted publicity had nothing to do with Stone’s letter.

“When you have a major studio like Disney putting this amount of money into advertising and promoting the film,” Rivers said, “that’s the bottom line in terms of what gets people into the theater.”