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C. Wyatt Dickerson, Businessman and Man About Washington, Is Dead at 92 C. Wyatt Dickerson, Businessman and Man About Washington, Is Dead at 92
(2 days later)
C. Wyatt Dickerson, a dapper investor and real estate developer who, alongside his wife, Nancy Dickerson, glittered at the top of the Washington A-list from the Kennedy era to Reagan’s, died on Tuesday in Washington. He was 92.C. Wyatt Dickerson, a dapper investor and real estate developer who, alongside his wife, Nancy Dickerson, glittered at the top of the Washington A-list from the Kennedy era to Reagan’s, died on Tuesday in Washington. He was 92.
His son John Dickerson, the host of “Face the Nation” on CBS, said the death was caused by complications of esophageal cancer.His son John Dickerson, the host of “Face the Nation” on CBS, said the death was caused by complications of esophageal cancer.
During their 20-year marriage, Wyatt and Nancy Dickerson were the Gerald and Sara Murphy of the Cold War establishment: wealthy bons vivants who witnessed history over candlelight at dinner parties, inaugural balls and even 1970s discothèques.During their 20-year marriage, Wyatt and Nancy Dickerson were the Gerald and Sara Murphy of the Cold War establishment: wealthy bons vivants who witnessed history over candlelight at dinner parties, inaugural balls and even 1970s discothèques.
The couple dined privately with Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson the night after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. They held a dinner for Ronald and Nancy Reagan and their California friends during the 1981 inaugural weekend at their storied 22-acre estate, Merrywood. Overlooking the Potomac, Merrywood had belonged to Jacqueline Kennedy’s stepfather, Hugh D. Auchincloss, and it was where John Kennedy, then a senator, is said to have written his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Profiles in Courage.”The couple dined privately with Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson the night after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. They held a dinner for Ronald and Nancy Reagan and their California friends during the 1981 inaugural weekend at their storied 22-acre estate, Merrywood. Overlooking the Potomac, Merrywood had belonged to Jacqueline Kennedy’s stepfather, Hugh D. Auchincloss, and it was where John Kennedy, then a senator, is said to have written his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Profiles in Courage.”
Both Dickersons had a knack for making friends in high places: She was a glamorous network news correspondent, and he was a businessman with panache. Ms. Dickerson, who died in 1997, worked as a congressional aide early in her career and had befriended senators like Kennedy and Johnson.Both Dickersons had a knack for making friends in high places: She was a glamorous network news correspondent, and he was a businessman with panache. Ms. Dickerson, who died in 1997, worked as a congressional aide early in her career and had befriended senators like Kennedy and Johnson.
She married Mr. Dickerson in 1962, and he established himself in Washington society by snapping up Merrywood, restoring its grandeur and filling it with European antiques. He sold off some of the property to build townhouses — a complicated deal that was eased along with the help of the secretary of the interior, Stewart Udall, a friend of the couple’s.She married Mr. Dickerson in 1962, and he established himself in Washington society by snapping up Merrywood, restoring its grandeur and filling it with European antiques. He sold off some of the property to build townhouses — a complicated deal that was eased along with the help of the secretary of the interior, Stewart Udall, a friend of the couple’s.
There were lots of parties and plenty of power couples in those days, but riding around town in a chauffeured Rolls-Royce convertible, Mr. Dickerson and his elegant wife stood out. She was the celebrity, but he was a skillful co-star, charming the politicians his wife covered as well as the waiters who poured their drinks.There were lots of parties and plenty of power couples in those days, but riding around town in a chauffeured Rolls-Royce convertible, Mr. Dickerson and his elegant wife stood out. She was the celebrity, but he was a skillful co-star, charming the politicians his wife covered as well as the waiters who poured their drinks.
He turned his flair for hospitality into a sideline business. In 1973, he orchestrated the opening of the Palm Restaurant in Washington. In 1975 he was a founding member of Doubles, the private club in the Sherry-Netherland hotel in New York. And that same year, he opened the Pisces Club in Washington, which operated for nearly 20 years. In 1982, he opened the Chinoiserie restaurant on M Street in Georgetown.He turned his flair for hospitality into a sideline business. In 1973, he orchestrated the opening of the Palm Restaurant in Washington. In 1975 he was a founding member of Doubles, the private club in the Sherry-Netherland hotel in New York. And that same year, he opened the Pisces Club in Washington, which operated for nearly 20 years. In 1982, he opened the Chinoiserie restaurant on M Street in Georgetown.
Long before the Reagans came to town, Mr. Dickerson brightened Merrywood parties with a sprinkling of Hollywood, inviting stars like Jack Benny and Kirk Douglas and others he had met as a young actor in Los Angeles after World War II.Long before the Reagans came to town, Mr. Dickerson brightened Merrywood parties with a sprinkling of Hollywood, inviting stars like Jack Benny and Kirk Douglas and others he had met as a young actor in Los Angeles after World War II.
Mr. Dickerson himself had never been a star in Hollywood: He played uncredited walk-on parts in movies like “Without Reservations,” which starred John Wayne and Claudette Colbert, and “Buck Privates Come Home,” with Abbott and Costello. But he was a player. He lived with the actress Nina Foch, and ran around town with other young actors like Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Peter Lawford and Blake Edwards (who went on to a directing career).Mr. Dickerson himself had never been a star in Hollywood: He played uncredited walk-on parts in movies like “Without Reservations,” which starred John Wayne and Claudette Colbert, and “Buck Privates Come Home,” with Abbott and Costello. But he was a player. He lived with the actress Nina Foch, and ran around town with other young actors like Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Peter Lawford and Blake Edwards (who went on to a directing career).
Claude Wyatt Dickerson Jr. was born on Aug. 25, 1924, and grew up in Roanoke, Va., the son of a druggist and a schoolteacher. He developed a taste for the finer things at a young age. When a friend teased him about his attire, he went to work in a clothing store, acquiring a sense of style that stayed with him even through the era of safari jackets and leisure suits.Claude Wyatt Dickerson Jr. was born on Aug. 25, 1924, and grew up in Roanoke, Va., the son of a druggist and a schoolteacher. He developed a taste for the finer things at a young age. When a friend teased him about his attire, he went to work in a clothing store, acquiring a sense of style that stayed with him even through the era of safari jackets and leisure suits.
A football scholarship got him to Duke University in 1942, but with World War II underway, he enlisted in the Navy. Though he was given a medical discharge in 1944, he never finished college, and headed to Hollywood to pursue a movie career.A football scholarship got him to Duke University in 1942, but with World War II underway, he enlisted in the Navy. Though he was given a medical discharge in 1944, he never finished college, and headed to Hollywood to pursue a movie career.
After his father died, he moved back to Roanoke in 1948 and married a high school classmate, Ruth Fowler Johnston. An advertising job took him to New York, where he entered the banking world.After his father died, he moved back to Roanoke in 1948 and married a high school classmate, Ruth Fowler Johnston. An advertising job took him to New York, where he entered the banking world.
He returned to Virginia in the 1950s and in Leesburg founded Pilot Financial, an investment business catering to Pan Am pilots who were profiting from the air travel boom. As the business made him wealthy he bought property and made other, eclectic investments, including the purchase of Cherry Smash, a soft drink company, and an interest in the Connecticut Telephone and Electric Company.He returned to Virginia in the 1950s and in Leesburg founded Pilot Financial, an investment business catering to Pan Am pilots who were profiting from the air travel boom. As the business made him wealthy he bought property and made other, eclectic investments, including the purchase of Cherry Smash, a soft drink company, and an interest in the Connecticut Telephone and Electric Company.
His first wife died of cancer in 1960, leaving him with three school-age daughters. He met his second wife through friends eager to marry her off. Ms. Dickerson was Nancy Hanschman then, the first woman to be made a network news correspondent, and defiantly single at the age of 34.His first wife died of cancer in 1960, leaving him with three school-age daughters. He met his second wife through friends eager to marry her off. Ms. Dickerson was Nancy Hanschman then, the first woman to be made a network news correspondent, and defiantly single at the age of 34.
Mr. Dickerson moved quickly after their first date, arranging for her to stay at the Savoy while in London and sending a Bentley to pick her up at Heathrow. He followed up a few days later and wooed her in museum galleries and with hard-to-score theater tickets.Mr. Dickerson moved quickly after their first date, arranging for her to stay at the Savoy while in London and sending a Bentley to pick her up at Heathrow. He followed up a few days later and wooed her in museum galleries and with hard-to-score theater tickets.
When they married in 1962, Lyndon Johnson, then vice president, was one of the hosts of a party in their honor. (The Dickersons returned the favor in 1968, giving a goodbye party at the Whisky a Go Go in Washington for the college-bound first daughter Lynda Bird Johnson and her date, the actor George Hamilton.) When they married in 1962, Lyndon Johnson, then vice president, was one of the hosts of a party in their honor. (The Dickersons returned the favor in 1966, giving a goodbye party at the Whisky a Go Go in Washington for the first daughter Lynda Bird Johnson, who was returning to college, and her date, the actor George Hamilton.)
Ms. Dickerson’s network career ebbed after President Johnson chose not to seek re-election, but the couple’s social whirl held strong through the Nixon administration and beyond. The party ended when they divorced in 1983. They sold Merrywood soon after.Ms. Dickerson’s network career ebbed after President Johnson chose not to seek re-election, but the couple’s social whirl held strong through the Nixon administration and beyond. The party ended when they divorced in 1983. They sold Merrywood soon after.
Mr. Dickerson’s business endeavors were marked by highs, like the Merrywood coup, and equally splashy lows, including a partnership with Tongsun Park, a Korean lobbyist who was at the center of a 1976 Washington bribery scandal.Mr. Dickerson’s business endeavors were marked by highs, like the Merrywood coup, and equally splashy lows, including a partnership with Tongsun Park, a Korean lobbyist who was at the center of a 1976 Washington bribery scandal.
Some good did come from the deal: After his divorce, he took up with Tandy Dickinson, a socialite who had been Mr. Park’s girlfriend in the 1970s. She and Mr. Dickerson married in 1994.Some good did come from the deal: After his divorce, he took up with Tandy Dickinson, a socialite who had been Mr. Park’s girlfriend in the 1970s. She and Mr. Dickerson married in 1994.
In addition to his wife and his son John, he is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Sinclair, Ann Dickerson Pillion and Jane Dickerson; another son, Michael; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.In addition to his wife and his son John, he is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Sinclair, Ann Dickerson Pillion and Jane Dickerson; another son, Michael; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
“He made everyone feel like they were the center of the party, no matter how insignificant they were,” John Dickerson wrote in an email. “This isn’t to say that he didn’t admire the famous and the powerful. He was just gracious. A few days before he died he was still offering us a seat in his hospital room, apologizing for not being able to offer us anything nicer.”“He made everyone feel like they were the center of the party, no matter how insignificant they were,” John Dickerson wrote in an email. “This isn’t to say that he didn’t admire the famous and the powerful. He was just gracious. A few days before he died he was still offering us a seat in his hospital room, apologizing for not being able to offer us anything nicer.”