This post is an edited and expanded version of an email message I sent to the members of our class who attended the October 1, 2020 Yale 62 Zoom Coffee Hour. Much has changed since my email message, but the basics are the same. I have personal experience with one of the medications Donald Trump was taking for his COVID-19 illness, and I think it explains much of his post-debate behavior.

After President Trump helicoptered to Walter Reed Medical Center with a severe, possibly even life-threatening COVID-19 infection, his staff in the White House started talking about how he was behaving even more erratically than before. And the talking heads on national television started talking about how this might be due to the medications he was taking.

He seems to be much better now, and we can all be grateful for that. Truth in advertising, I am not a fan of our President, but he is the only President we have, and we can all be grateful for his apparent recovery.

To continue, the talking heads started talking about a steroid called dexamethasone which the President was taking, but they didn’t know much about it. In fact, on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 program, Gloria Borger couldn’t even pronounce dexamethasone. Now, after talking to numerous doctors, she speaks authoritatively about it. But her inability to even pronounce the name convinced me that I needed to tell my classmates about the medication, and the mental consequences of being severely ill.

I suffer from multiple myeloma, and for several months at the beginning, I was given doses of dexamethasone, albeit at doses much less than his. I can tell you that DEX, as dexamethasone is known, makes you feel much better. That is, until it wears off. From my personal experience, I can also tell you that DEX might be what made President Trump feel 20 years younger. We’ll see what happens after the effects wear off.

I have not had COVID-19, thank goodness, but CNN host Chris Cuomo has. We can be grateful to him for giving us a blow-by-blow account of his illness each night while he was ill. COVID-19 certainly affected his mind. He told us about the feverish delusions, when he would see his deceased father sitting at the edge of his bed. He told us about the mind fogs, and how he “was not pushing as much IQ as he used to.” He has said he would give up everything he has if only he could get back to the way he was before he got sick.

So now that President Trump’s lead doctor has said that he is cured, has the severity of his COVID-19 illness continued to affect his mind? I do not know, but he held a rally in the Rose Garden on Saturday afternoon, October 10. And sources within the White House say that he wants to hold a rally every day from now until the election. If he regresses later, as some COVID-19 sufferers do, he will expose many people to the disease. That is why the CDC guidance is that those who have had a severe case of COVID-19 should stay away from people for up to 20 days. I believe he should follow that guidance.

If you’d like to comment on this post, please follow this link to do so. Thank you.

9/25/20
YAA Representative Report, Fall 2020
Mackall, Sipple Complete Whiff-to-Whiff Transfer of YAA Rep Responsibilities

By Peter Sipple

[Editor’s Note by John Stewart: Whiffalot. A few weeks ago Louis “Boiler” Mackall passed the YAA representative torch to Peter “Pop” Sipple. I’m very grateful for Louis’ three years of service, which included putting me up in Guilford, as well as reports to the Class Council. On my part, there’s only a slight hesitation as the new responsibility departs from the tenors and descends to the bass-baritones, although in fact Pop is equally adept at tenorino high jinks. Stay tuned!]

Yale’s Alumni Association kicked off its fall convocation virtually on September 15, with the topic “The Arts and Humanities at Yale.” Following lead-off comments by staff members in Development and YAA Director Weili Cheng, President Peter Salovey described the state of the University in the time of Covid. With 40% of students in residence, classes go forward both in situ and remotely. … READ ON

9/25/20
Digital Performance: AMERICAN DREAMS

Communications Team member Steve Buck reports that his daughter, Leila Buck, has written a play which will be performed live online several times throughout the fall season, and it will have runs at sponsoring theaters around the country through November 15. Its opening night performance is free of charge, but it’s also, unsurprisingly, sold out.

The remarkable part of it is that you, as a member of the online audience, can participate in the play!

AMERICAN DREAMS premiered live at the Cleveland Public Theatre in 2018. This fall, the show launches as a live online theater production nationwide in a virtual tour, inviting audiences into playful, timely engagement and dialogue around immigration and what it means to become and be a citizen of this country.

Co-artistic director Mark Plesent notes “AMERICAN DREAMS is a play that needs to happen now as we are approaching an election. I think that the American Experiment is failing on so many levels. AMERICAN DREAMS offers us a safe opportunity, full of humor, to experience our individual complicity in the dangers facing our nation, and also points to ways to change course, beginning with ourselves.”

The play is based on a game show format, where each participant has to fill out a form in order to be able to vote. So if there are two of you, please buy two tickets, contributing as much as you can to help others who may be out of work and not able to buy a ticket.

For exact dates and to reserve tickets, go to the show’s website, AmericanDreamsplay.com

For the Playbill article, click here.

9/21/20 UPDATED 9/22/20
Yale Corporation Board of Trustees Election Should Interest You

Maggie Thomas, Victor Ashe during the Chicago Yale Club Zoom, 9/15/20

By Roman Weil

Two different but determined Yale alums have surprised Yale. They seem certain to be on the ballot in 2021 to oppose the University’s chosen nominees for the one open position annually to serve a six-year term on the Board of Trustees. It could be quite a battle. Have fun following the skirmishes. READ ON

9/21/20
Yale Continues to Perform Well with COVID Numbers

By Yale62.org Editors

The graphic above links to a special page updated by Yale on a frequent basis. It chronicles how the campus is faring, regarding numbers of COVID-19 cases. The link is also here. From the page: “There is a 2-3 day delay between when tests occur and when data become available to include in the tables above. Counts are updated on weekdays to ensure data quality. These counts may change further as they are updated.” We hope this information is useful to you.

8/31/20
First Week of Yale Opening Goes Well, But Covid19 Risk Remains on Everyone’s Mind

By Al Chambers and Lee Bolman

Yale College’s carefully planned opening for First Years, Juniors and Seniors, with Sophomores participating only virtually from their homes, went well. The class of 2024 admitted 2,304 versus our 1,005 in 1958.

The annual Welcoming Assembly, for what used to be called Freshmen, went well but was produced… READ ON

8/31/20
Our First “Question of the Quarter”

Ten days back, we sent the following inaugural Question of the Quarter to one quarter of the class email list, requesting a response. The question was: “Please share with us how these recent months in the coronavirus pandemic have affected you. Maybe in bad ways, maybe in neutral or good ways. How has your life been affected?” Those replies we have received are here.

8/24/20
Yale Welcomes Students Back to Campus

UPDATED 8/18/20
USDOJ Files Suit Against Yale
Claims discrimination against Whites, Asian-Americans
[Ed. Note: We have a link to Yale President Salovey’s statement regarding this lawsuit – “Yale’s Steadfast Commitment to Diversity” as well as a link to the DOJ’s Justice News Release to bring you up to speed with the information. Classmates Lee Bolman and Larry Price tackle this topic for Yale62.org]

Updated 8/10/20
Happy 80th Birthday, Y62 style, in the COVID era

We have new entries, so even if you’ve viewed this feature earlier this summer, it’s worth another look!

How are we celebrating, as we venture into our ninth decade? Please let us know what YOUR plans may be, or if your birthday has already occurred, how did YOU celebrate? Please join in the fun! We will add your account to the mix that have already been received. READ ON to see what classmates have reported…

7/28/20 “White as Hell”

A letter from Jonathan and Deanne Ater (with new Editor’s Note as of 07-29-20)

Dear Family and Friends,

What is going on in Portland – and on your TV screen – needs some context. Below [on the full letter page] is a link to a long article from The Guardian which offers considerable insight into what has gone before and where we are today. … READ MORE

7/28/20 Transitions: Hitting 80, the Coronavirus and Some Practical Suggestions

By Stephen W. Buck

Steve Susman’s death from the coronavirus after he heroically survived a very serious bike accident reinforced what I wrote about my 80th birthday – it was a great celebration and it made me feel old and vulnerable … READ MORE

7/23/20 Y62 INTERVIEWS

This Y62 Interview, featuring classmate Kent Hughes interviewed by Y62 Communications Team member and classmate Steve Buck, was recorded on July 21, and sheds light on the discussion that will take place at the Y62 Virtual Coffee Hour on Thursday, August 6 at 1pm Eastern. Following some smaller group “test runs,” we’re opening up the August Coffee Hour to the whole class, based on first-come, first served response. To ensure everyone gets a chance to speak, we think we can manage about 50 classmates on the Zoom video call, so that will be the cap. To reserve your place, see the info in the email we sent you today or email us at YAM@yale62.org.

After you’ve watched the interview, you’re most welcome to post comments here.

7/23/20 Pandemic Reading, Anyone?

Class Secretary John Stewart examines a list of literary contributions. READ ON to see his recommendations.

7/17/20 Y62 INTERVIEWS

In this Y62 Interview recorded earlier this month, Y62 Communications Team members Dick Riseling and Chris Snow chat about Dick’s agricultural life on his Catskills mountains farm. He sees magical possibilities for the future of farming, if we can only envision, embrace and support it.

After you’ve watched the interview, you’re most welcome to post comments here.

7/17/20 COVID and Confusion

By William Stork

Bill brings us another installment concerning the flood of events in Hong Kong. READ ON

BREAKING NEWS 7/02/20
Yale Announces Plan for Fall Semester

On Wednesday, July 1, President Peter Salovey and Provost Scott Strobel announced the fall semester news in a message to the Yale community. We asked classmate Lee Bolman for his reaction. “On a quick look: moving classes online is the right thing. Bringing back ~60% of students is risky. The extensive testing regime may help, though CDC says there’s not evidence that such a program reduces infection beyond what you can achieve with social distancing. How will the quarantine requirements for students from high-risk areas be enforced? Almost inevitably, there will be mini-spikes of Covid-19 in the undergraduate population, and the hope is that they can be identified and controlled quickly. As the university acknowledges, the program is intrusive in many ways, and how well undergraduates will comply with the social distancing and travel restrictions is an open question. Interesting times, for sure.” For Lee’s recent essay on “Yale, COVID and What About Fall 2020?” please READ ON

BREAKING NEWS 7/02/20
“Whether” Report: Hong Kong. July 1, 2020

By William Stork

There is a chill in the air this summer in Hong Kong. “Whether” Hong Kong can or will proceed and function as once it had is the subject of some intense debate, scrutiny, pressure and concern… READ MORE

6/22/20
Yale, COVID and What About Fall 2020?

A. Whitney Griswold, Yale Art Gallery Collections

By Lee Bolman

A. Whitney Griswold, Yale’s president from 1950 to 1963, held opinions that were fairly conventional at the time, but seem retrograde today. He said that immigrants to the US did not understand liberal education… READ ON…

6/01/20 Y62 INTERVIEWS

In this Y62 Interview from Sunday, May 31, classmate Sam Waterston invited us all to a star-studded, no-cost, online gala scheduled for Monday, June 1, at The Public Theater. However, in response to the deaths of George Lloyd and others, the WE ARE ONE PUBLIC gala was postponed to a yet-to-be-determined date. Here, Sam speaks with Y62 Communications Team member Dick Riseling about his history with The Public Theater, as well as his longtime ongoing activism on behalf of the environment. It will be online and ‘live’ sometime in the near future, we hope, once its reschedule is possible. We will do our best to keep you informed on its rescheduling.

After you’ve watched the interview, you’re most welcome to post comments here.

5/31/20
It is Time for Watchful Waiting by All, and Not for Protests

By William Stork

Despite much in the media right on 26 May calling for world leaders to confront China on what has happened with respect to Hong Kong this – IMHO – is perhaps ill-advised, and I speak as a long-time resident of the HKSAR.

First off, the news then was not quite correct. Last Friday’s proposed legislation READ MORE

5/18/20
The Yale Blue Green Initiative

By Dick Riseling
Y62 Communications Team member

I’m eager to tell all of my Yale ’62 classmates about the Yale Blue Green Initiative that’s gathering strength and is worthy of classmate support. It is a Yale alumni organization already operating out of the Yale School of Forestry and Environment… READ MORE

The Listing of Front Page Stories for the Past Year Continues Here…