Nina S. Gore Explained

Nina S. Olds
Birth Name:Nina S. Gore
Birth Date:25 July 1903
Birth Place:Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Other Names:Nina Gore
Nina Vidal
Nina Auchincloss
Nina Olds
Spouse:
    Children:Gore Vidal
    Nina Auchincloss Straight
    Thomas Gore Auchincloss
    Parents:Thomas Gore
    Nina Belle Kay

    Nina S. Olds (née Gore; July 25, 1903 – April 3, 1978) was an American actress and socialite known for her three marriages, to Eugene Vidal, Hugh D. Auchincloss, and Robert Olds, as well as her children, authors Gore Vidal and Nina Auchincloss.[1]

    Early life

    Nina S. Gore was born on July 25, 1903, to U.S. Senator Thomas Gore (1870–1949) and his wife Nina Belle Kay (1877–1963),[2] a Texas plantation owner's daughter.[3] She had a younger brother, Thomas Notley Gore (1910–1964).[4] Her father, who lost his eyesight during his youth, was said to have been an atheist[5] and had a strong misanthropic streak. Nina's son would later write that "he was a genuine populist, but he did not like people very much. He always said no to anyone who wanted government aid."[3] He was claimed to have said "If there was any race other than the human race, I'd go join it."[6] Thomas Gore died in 1949.[7]

    Life and Personality

    In 1928, Gore made her Broadway debut in Sign of the Leopard, which opened at the National Theatre.[8] [9] In 1940, Nina, an alternate delegate from Virginia to the Democratic convention announced her support of Wendell Willkie over Roosevelt.[10]

    From 1925 until 1950, she lived in Washington, D.C. She later split her time between Cuernavaca, Mexico, and Southampton, New York. In the seven years preceding her death, she lived in San Antonio, Texas.

    Nina was known as a vivacious, quixotic, and unpredictable person. Her son Gore referred to her as an alcoholic and "certifiably insane," as she likely suffered from bipolar disorder. She was candid about her sexual exploits[11] and was said to have had an affair with John Hay Whitney in the early 1930s while he was married to Liz Whitney Tippett, at the same time Liz had an affair with Nina Vidal's husband, Eugene Vidal.[12] Nina also had "a long off-and-on affair" with the actor Clark Gable.[13] She was also described thus:

    "When she enters a room you feel here comes everything fresh, healthy, and beautiful. Her skin glows warmly and her huge brown eyes are bright. An outdoor woman, she is full of indoor charm. Rides every day of her life."

    Gore was glamorous and has been described as a flighty mother with an apparent lack of maternal interest in her children. Her son, Gore Vidal, would later say about his mother, "We rarely got into a conversation. It was pointless. She didn’t see me. I wished I didn’t see her."

    In 1949, she loaned Gore $3,000 toward the purchase of Edgewater, his estate on the Hudson River.[2]

    Personal life

    In 1922, Gore married Eugene Luther Vidal, an American commercial aviation pioneer. Because her father was ill and couldn't attend, U.S. Representative William A. Rodenberg walked her down the aisle.[14] They divorced in 1935. Together, they had one child:

    In 1935,[16] Nina married Hugh Dudley Auchincloss, Jr. (1897-1976), the son of Hugh Dudley Auchincloss, Sr. (1858–1913), a merchant and financier, and Emma Brewster Jennings.[17] Hugh had previously been married to Maya Auchincloss (1899-1990), a Russian noblewoman, from 1925 to 1932. Hugh and Maya had one child, Hugh Dudley Auchincloss III (1927–2015). Together, Nina and Hugh had two children:

    Hugh and Nina S. Auchincloss divorced in 1941. Hugh remarried Janet Lee Bouvier (1907-1989), the mother of future First Lady Jacqueline Lee "Jackie" Bouvier (1929–1994) and Caroline Lee Bouvier (1933 - 2019). Hugh and Janet had two children together, Janet Jennings Auchincloss (1945–1985) and James Lee Auchincloss (born 1947).

    In June 1942, Nina remarried for the third and final time to Robert Olds (1896-1943).[26] Robert died of pneumonia on April 28, 1943, after hospitalization for constrictive pericarditis and Libman-Sacks endocarditis,[27] [28] at the age of 46, just before his son Robin Olds' graduation from West Point.[29]

    Nina died on April 3, 1978, in New York City at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital after a long illness.[30] [31]

    Descendants

    Olds was the grandmother of Hugh Auchincloss Steers (1963–1995), an artist and Burr Gore Steers (born 1965), a filmmaker.[20]

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. News: Vespa. Mary. Jackie & Gore Launch a Gossipy Novel—and Make a Name for Nina Straight. 7 March 2016. People Magazine. May 11, 1981.
    2. News: Straight. N. A.. A Letter from Gore Vidal: N.A. Straight Reflects on the Life and Lessons of Her Half-Brother. 2 December 2016. Vanity Fair. February 6, 2013.
    3. [Bill Kauffman|Kauffman, Bill]
    4. News: Mrs. Thomas P. Gore, 85, Oklahoma Senator's Widow. 8 December 2016. The New York Times. 9 May 1963.
    5. Web site: Real Time with Bill Maher Episode #149 April 10, 2009 . www.veoh.com .
    6. Vidal, Gore, Point to Point Navigation: A Memoir, 1964 to 2006 (New York: Doubleday, 2006), 19
    7. News: Times. Special To The New York. EX-SENATOR GORE OF OKLAHOMA DIES; One of First Two to Represent State Served 19 Years Blind Since Childhood. 8 December 2016. The New York Times. 17 March 1949.
    8. News: NINA GORE IN STAGE DEBUT.; Daughter of Former Senator to Appear in "Sign of the Leopard.". 8 December 2016. The New York Times. December 10, 1928. 24.
    9. News: General Robert Olds Marries. The New York Times. 7 June 1942. 6.
    10. News: HANES, HERE, PLANS FOR WILLKIE DRIVE; Organizer of Democratic Group in Republican Campaign Confers With Root 'TAKE A WALK' IS REVIVED Definite Moves to Be Delayed Ten Days--Smith, Raskob Reportedly Weigh Stand. 8 December 2016. The New York Times. July 24, 1940.
    11. News: Kloman. Harry. THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO GORE VIDAL No one inside his famous circle is too sacred for words, except the writer himself.. 2 December 2016. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 29, 1995.
    12. Book: Kaplan, Fred. Fred Kaplan (biographer)

      . Gore Vidal, A Biography. Fred Kaplan (biographer). 1999. Doubleday. New York. 0-385-47703-1. 61. registration.

    13. Vidal, Gore. Point to Point Navigation, New York: Doubleday, 2006, p. 135.
    14. News: MISS NINA GORE MARRIES.; Former Senator's Daughter Weds Lieut. Eugene L. Vidal.. 2 December 2016. The New York Times. January 12, 1922.
    15. News: McGrath. Charles. Gore Vidal, Elegant Writer, Dies at 86. 13 October 2017. The New York Times. 1 August 2012.
    16. Book: Pottker. Jan. Janet and Jackie: The Story of a Mother and Her Daughter, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. August 27, 2013. St. Martin's Press. New York. 9781466852303. 334. 2 December 2016. en.
    17. News: Times. Special To The New York. HUGH AUCHNINCLOSS MARRIES IN CAPITAL; Takes Mrs. Nina Gore Vidal, Daughter of Senator Gore, as Bride in Home Wedding. QUIET CEREMONY IS HELD Rev. Joseph R. Sizoo Officiates -- Chauncey Parker Best Man -- Couple to Live in McLean, Va.. 8 December 2016. The New York Times. 9 October 1935.
    18. News: Cheshire. Maxine. Potpourri. 14 March 2016. The Tuscaloosa News. February 24, 1972.
    19. News: The New York Times Staff. Miss Nina Gore Auchincloss Wed to Newton Ivan Steers Jr.. 5 March 2016. The New York Times. June 9, 1957.
    20. News: Barnes. Bart. REPUBLICAN NEWTON I. STEERS JR. DIES. 4 March 2016. The Washington Post. February 12, 1993.
    21. News: Times. Special To The New York. Michael Straight, of Arts Fund, Will Marry Mrs. Nina Auchincloss Steers. 8 December 2016. The New York Times. 26 April 1974.
    22. News: Mrs. Steers Wed to Michael Straight. 3 February 2016. The New York Times. May 2, 1974.
    23. News: Lehmann-Haupt. Christopher. Michael Straight, Who Wrote of Connection to Spy Ring, Is Dead at 87. 3 February 2016. The New York Times. January 5, 2004.
    24. News: Diana Lippert Is a Bride at St. James Debutante of 1958 Married to Thomas Gore Auchincloss. 8 December 2016. The New York Times. 20 November 1960.
    25. News: McTernan. John. As America Has Done to Israel. 30. 8 December 2016. Whitaker House. 4 March 2008. 9781603741286. en.
    26. News: GEN. ROBERT OLDS WEDS; Army Air Officer Marries Mrs. Nina Gore Auchincloss. 8 December 2016. The New York Times. 7 June 1942.
    27. Book: Zamzow, Major (USAF) S. L. . Ambassador of American Airpower: Major General Robert Olds . 2008 . . Maxwell Air Force Base . https://web.archive.org/web/20210323041410/https://www.afresearch.org/skins/rims/q_mod_be0e99f3-fc56-4ccb-8dfe-670c0822a153/q_act_downloadpaper/q_obj_e01c5779-0a3b-4ea3-999e-a35a94fd5600/display.aspx?rs=enginespage . dead . March 23, 2021 . 85.
    28. Fogerty, Ronald P. (editor, 1953), USAF Historical Study 91: Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers, 1917-1952, Vol II: "L-Z".
    29. Book: Anderson, Lars . 2004 . The All-Americans . St. Martin's Press . New York . 0-312-30887-6 . 187.
    30. News: Times. Special To The New York. Deaths. 2 December 2016. The New York Times. 7 April 1978.
    31. News: Nina Gore Olds, 74, Socialite, Kin to U.S. Senator, Novelist. 2 December 2016. The Washington Post. 6 April 1978.

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