Elia Kazan

I spoke without fear of contradiction. I simply did not suffer self-doubt.

I knew the exuberance of playing before an admiring audience and hearing my secret voice.

For years after I resigned, I was still faithful to their way of thinking. But not in the American Communists.

Although I write to entertain, and try to keep my work free of didacticism, I do have a rather passionate belief in our need to be connected to - and to learn from - history.

We played in Texas about a year ago, at Emo's, the famous country and western club in Austin. And I figured, well, if I'm finally gonna die onstage, that's where it's going to be!

Well, I actually wrote her a letter a couple of days ago congratulating her. The tone I tried to convey in the letter is, look, you are a part of a great American historical process.