The elite class, often referred to as the “WASP” (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) set, has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. This week, a new book titled “Flight of the WASP: The Rise, Fall, and Future of America’s Original Ruling Class” delves into the debauched lives of 15 prominent families, shining a light on their extravagant lifestyles and dark secrets.
One example highlighted in the book is the captivating tale of Whitney Tower Jr., a blue-blood heir to the Vanderbilt and Whitney fortunes. Tower’s descent into a world of debauchery began at a tender age of 17 when he experimented with cocaine at boarding school. His association with “brand-name heirs” of renowned pharmaceutical and food empires only fueled his indulgence, as he dived headfirst into a life of extravagance and drug abuse.
Whitney Tower Jr.’s reminiscences offer a glimpse into the lavish and scandalous late-night scene of 1970s New York. Rubbing shoulders with icons like John Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, Mick Jagger, and Andy Warhol, Tower found solace in harder drugs, all while reveling in his status as a Studio 54 regular. Shockingly, he even recalls shooting up at a family funeral hosted by Gloria Vanderbilt, where he had the audacity to question First Lady Nancy Reagan about her “Just Say No” campaign.
As Tower’s addiction worsened, his life began to unravel. He married a fellow scion of the oil industry, Pamela Franzheim, and together, they embarked on a honeymoon in Thailand dedicated to smoking heroin. Their marriage was doomed from the start, with Franzheim later recounting the grim details of their addiction-fueled retreat. Eventually, Franzheim managed to turn her life around, obtaining a Ph.D., while Tower spiraled further into the darkest depths of his addiction.
Tower’s story is one of tragedy and loss. Despite coming from a prestigious lineage that included the founder of the Whitney Museum, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, and the prominent Vanderbilt family, including Cornelius Vanderbilt, Tower found himself trapped in a cycle of addiction and self-destruction. He estimates undergoing rehabilitation programs on ten separate occasions and squandering a staggering $1.5 million in pursuit of his deadly habit.
Desperation led Tower to commit unthinkable acts, such as stealing family heirlooms for cash, ultimately resulting in his complete disinheritance. However, his survival instinct kicked in after suffering a heart attack at the age of 51, prompting him to seek a path to redemption. Tower remarried, got clean, and embarking on the unexpected journey of becoming a drug counselor.
Despite overcoming his addiction, Tower’s life continued to be plagued by misfortune. A devastating car accident caused a severe back injury, ultimately confining him to an assisted living community in Florida. The contrast between his lofty upbringing and his current circumstances is both striking and poignant, serving as a testament to the destructive path he chose to embark upon.
With a wry sense of humor, Tower contemplates his family’s legacy. Payne Whitney, a relative of his, has a psychiatric clinic named after him on the Upper East Side. Tower humorously remarks on the irony of having family reunions at a psychiatric clinic, emphasizing the stark contrast between his own life choices and the broader context of his high-class lineage.
“Flight of the WASP: The Rise, Fall, and Future of America’s Original Ruling Class” offers a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of the upper-class elite. Through the lens of Whitney Tower Jr.’s tumultuous journey, the book exposes the dark underbelly of opulence, addiction, and redemption, reminding us all that even the most privileged among us are not immune to the allure and dangers of excess.