Friday, Apr. 01, 1966

The D.O.V.E. from U.N.C.L.E.

As if it wasn't bad enough to have actors running for office, Lyndon Johnson has now discovered that they want to run the war in Viet Nam as well.

"The Hollywood community is very much against it," announced U.N.C.L.E. Star Robert Vaughn on an unsecret mission to Washington last week. As filmdom's new spokesman, Vaughn opts for direct negotiations with the Viet Cong, reports that he is getting almost as many speech invitations as fan letters these days. He explained that he became worried about Viet Nam several months ago, and made an intensive study of all the documents, books and articles he could find on the subject. "I can talk for six hours about the mistakes we have made," he says. "We have absolutely no reason to be in Viet Nam--legal, political or moral."

In Washington, Vaughn, whose real name is Napoleon Solo, checked in with a few doves. He lunched with Idaho's Democratic Senator Frank Church, had a lengthy skull session with Wayne Morse, whose "grasp of the legalities of the situation is amazing," spent the weekend at Hickory Hill as a house guest of the Bobby Kennedys, with whom he played touch political football.

Isn't it risky for a star to be so outspoken about political and military affairs? Pshaw, says Vaughn. "I've had nothing but encouragement from my friends in the industry, from the studio, even the network."

This could be a trend. Maybe imperceptibly, Napoleon and his sidekick Illya Kuriyakin will dump U.N.C.L.E., join with Thrush, and come up with a new show, I Defect. Hard to believe?

Would you believe Maxwell Smart?

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