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Exposé: The Rock Talks Part I
He’s been described
as a girl’s best friend, socialite, movie star, tough guy and
the subject of over 600 books. He has been known to hang around
royalty from Queen Elizabeth to as far back as Henry the VIII. His
list of friends past and present are the who’s who of not only
Hollywood (Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Julia Roberts, to name
a few) but to professional athletes like Ruth, DiMaggio, Jeter and
Chamberlain. His movie credits include, The Pink Panther, Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes, Diamonds are Forever, Marathon Man and hundreds
more.
He’s been described
as the silent type but insiders have told this reporter that he
loves to talk to women. We’ve finally been able to corral Mr.
Diamond in this once in a lifetime exclusive interview where he
talks with such clarity and honesty, this reporter had to dry his
eyes more than once.
Reporter: Mr. Diamond
thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to talk to me
today.
Mr. Diamond: Please
call me "Ice." My friends call me "Ice."
Reporter: Thank
you, "Ice" it is. Tell me "Ice," what was your
first big break?
Mr. Diamond: Break
is probably a poor choice of words but I dig where you’re coming
from. But never the less let’s call them opportunities. Without
question there isn’t a success story that would happen without
people who stuck their neck out for you. Friends that support and
believe in you, like Agnes, Charles the VIII, Mary of Burgundy,
Duke of Burgundy, Oppenheimer, DeBeers, Gerald and so many others,
too many to name in this interview.
Reporter: "Ice,"
I’m familiar with a few of the people and organizations you
mentioned perhaps you could give our listeners a run down of how
these select few deserve a name mentioned.
Mr. Diamond: I’d
be glad to. Agnes Sorel was literally the first person ever to believe
in me. In the 15th century when she hung around Charles the VIII
she became the first woman to wear diamonds in public. I had been
a shut in till then. I wasn’t very good with people, a little
shy.
Reporter: Shy? You?
"Ice" I don’t believe it!
Mr. Diamond: Yes
it’s true. Agnes believed in me enough to push me out my nest
into the public’s eye.
Reporter: What about
Mary of Burgundy, daughter of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.
What’s your connection here?
Mr. Diamond: Agnes
taught me to believe in myself and face the world and not be afraid
to be me. Mary, oh sweet Mary taught me about love. How nothing
in this world matters if you have love. She was the first person
to wear a diamond engagement ring.
Reporter: And Oppenheimer,
DeBeers and Gerald. I’m assuming you’re referring to Gerald
M. Lauck past president of N.W. Ayer Advertising agency in New York?
Mr. Diamond: Of
course I am but let’s start with Oppenheimer, chairman and
CEO of DeBeers. Oppie, even though not my first agent he was my
best.
He represented me like my father. He knows everybody and put me
in the right circles. It was through Oppie’s effort in 1939
that lead to the introduction to Gerald Lauck. It was Oppie and
G that hatched the plan to introduce me to movie stars and literally
put me in the movies.
Reporter: Were you
nervous?
Mr. Diamond: Maybe
a little but when Marilyn Monroe sang, "Diamonds are a Girl’s
Best Friend" any butterflies I had went away.
Reporter: How do
you account for the fact that in the 1920’s less than 10% of
women in the U.S. wore diamonds to the almost 70% today?
Mr. Diamond: Because
they didn’t know me, not the real me. Before Oppie and G started
their publicity campaign people thought I was aloof. I guess I deserved
that since I only hung out with royalty but I wanted the world to
know that there was something more to me. That I had something to
offer everybody.
Reporter: And what
is that?
Mr. Diamond: That
if something grown from carbon can make something of himself then
the dream is alive in all of us. Nothing is impossible. We are capable
of grand things. If a rock can make it, so can you.
Reporter: Nice message.
Stay tuned for part
two of the exclusive interview with "Ice," Mr. Diamond.
by Fred Cuellar,
author of the best-selling book "How to Buy a Diamond." More questions?
Ask the Diamond Guy®
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