He was their pet. Their court jester. Their "Tiny Terror." For years, Truman Capote occupied a seat at the most exclusive tables in the world, flanking women like Babe Paley and Slim Keith at La Côte Basque. These women weren't just wealthy; they were the "Swans," the mid-century architects of American elegance who ruled Manhattan with a flick of a cigarette and a perfectly tailored Dior suit. But the relationship between Truman Capote and the Swans wasn't just about gossip and champagne. It was a symbiotic—and eventually parasitic—dance that ended in one of the most brutal literary betrayals in history.
It’s hard to imagine now, honestly. In an era of instant social media leaks, the slow-burn explosion of La Côte Basque, 1965 feels like ancient history, but the impact was nuclear. When Esquire published that excerpt from Capote’s unfinished magnum opus, Answered Prayers, in 1975, he didn't just burn bridges. He nuked them. He took the darkest, most private secrets of the women who loved him and put them on newsstands for a few dollars a copy.
The fallout was instant. Total. Devastating.
The Women Behind the Myth: Who Were the Swans?
You can't understand the betrayal without understanding the devotion. Truman didn't just know these women; he studied them. He was obsessed with their discipline. To be a Swan required a level of aesthetic perfection that most people would find exhausting.
Babe Paley was the undisputed leader. Married to CBS founder William S. Paley, she was the woman who supposedly never had a hair out of place, even when she was dying of lung cancer. Truman loved her. He famously said she had only one fault: she was perfect. Otherwise, she was perfect. Then there was Slim Keith, the California girl who discovered Lauren Bacall and basically invented the "American Look." C.Z. Guest brought the old-money equestrian vibe, while Marella Agnelli offered the European aristocratic flair.
They let Truman into their bedrooms. They shared their frustrations about cheating husbands, their anxieties about aging, and their deepest insecurities. They thought he was safe because he was "one of them," or at least, a harmless fixture of their world. They were wrong. Capote was always a writer first and a friend second. He was "collecting" them the whole time.
Why Answered Prayers Was a Social Suicide Note
Why did he do it? That’s the question historians and biographers like Gerald Clarke have been chewing on for decades. Some say it was the booze. Others think it was a massive ego stroke—he thought he was so untouchable that they would forgive him for anything.
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The centerpiece of the scandal was the story "La Côte Basque, 1965." In it, Capote used very thin veils to describe real events. He detailed a thinly disguised Ann Woodward murdering her husband (which he called a "hit and run" in the story) and shared a revoltingly graphic anecdote about a billionaire husband—clearly Bill Paley—cheating on his wife and trying to wash the evidence off the sheets before she got home.
It was nasty stuff.
The socialites weren't just mad; they were finished with him. Overnight, the phone stopped ringing. The invitations to yachts in the Mediterranean vanished. He was "cut," a social death sentence in 1970s New York. Capote seemed genuinely shocked. He famously told friends, "What did they expect? I'm a writer, and I use everything. Did they think I was just there to entertain them?"
Actually, Truman, yeah. That’s exactly what they thought.
The Psychological Toll of the Exile
The aftermath of the rift between Truman Capote and the Swans was a long, slow decline into addiction and isolation. If you look at photos of Capote from the mid-60s—the era of the Black and White Ball—he looks triumphant. Sharp. In control. Look at him by 1980, and he’s a ghost of himself.
He lost Babe Paley, the person he claimed to love most in the world. When she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he wasn't allowed to say goodbye. He was barred from the funeral. That kind of rejection is hard to swallow when your entire identity is built on being the ultimate insider.
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Interestingly, not everyone bailed. C.Z. Guest remained somewhat loyal, but the inner sanctum was gone. Capote spent his final years in a drug-fueled haze at Studio 54 or holed up in his apartment, claiming he was finishing Answered Prayers. When he died in 1984 at the home of Joanne Carson, the book was still mostly a collection of scattered chapters and rumors. Some people think he burned the rest of the manuscript out of guilt. Others think it never existed at all.
Modern Reimagining: Feud and the Cultural Legacy
Recently, the story has seen a massive resurgence thanks to Ryan Murphy’s Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. It brought the drama to a whole new generation. But while the show adds some Hollywood flair, the reality was much grittier.
The show gets the "vibe" right—the suffocating pressure of being a socialite in the 60s—but it’s important to remember that these were real lives ruined. Ann Woodward committed suicide by taking cyanide just days before the Esquire article was released, reportedly after getting an advance copy. That’s not just "juicy gossip." That’s a body count.
What We Get Wrong About the Betrayal
- It wasn't just about one article. Capote had been leaking their secrets in interviews for years. Esquire was just the tipping point.
- The Swans weren't just victims. They used Truman too. He was their bridge to the "gritty" world of literature and celebrity. It was a transactional relationship from day one.
- He didn't hate them. That’s the tragedy. He adored them. He just couldn't resist the "perfect" story. He traded his family for his art.
The Takeaway: Lessons from the Fall of a Literary Giant
If you’re a creator, a writer, or even just someone navigating high-stakes social circles, the story of Truman Capote and the Swans is a cautionary tale about the cost of "using" people for your craft.
- Know the boundaries of trust. There is a difference between being a confidant and a reporter. If you cross that line, don't expect a seat at the table afterward.
- Authenticity vs. Performance. Capote became a caricature of himself. He played the "Swan" game so well he forgot how to be a human being to his friends.
- Art has a price. Capote wanted to be the American Proust. He achieved immortality, but he died incredibly lonely. Was it worth it? Most of his contemporaries didn't think so.
To truly understand this era, you should pick up a copy of The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin for a fictionalized look, or better yet, read Capote: A Biography by Gerald Clarke. It lays out the timeline of his descent with brutal clarity.
The story of Truman and his "girls" is a reminder that even the most beautiful people have secrets, and the person most eager to listen to them is often the one you should trust the least.
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How to Explore the History Further
If this era of New York history fascinates you, start by looking into the photography of Slim Aarons. He captured the Swans in their "natural habitat"—poolside, impeccable, and seemingly untouchable. Then, read the actual Esquire excerpt. It’s still available in various anthologies. When you read it, ask yourself: if your best friend wrote this about you, would you ever speak to them again?
The answer is usually a resounding no.
For those interested in the literary side, compare In Cold Blood with the Answered Prayers chapters. You can see the shift from a disciplined journalist to a man who had lost his grip on the narrative. It’s a masterclass in how talent can be eroded by the very lifestyle it earns you.
Don't just watch the TV shows; look at the letters. Capote’s correspondence reveals a man who was deeply lonely even when he was surrounded by the most famous people on earth. That’s the real story.
Next Steps for Deep Diving:
- Read the source material: Find the collected chapters of Answered Prayers. It’s unfinished, but the prose is still hauntingly sharp.
- Study the photography: Look up Richard Avedon’s portraits of the Swans to see the "mask" Capote was trying to peel off.
- Visit the locations: If you’re in NYC, walk past the site of the old La Côte Basque (now closed) at 60 West 55th Street to get a feel for the geography of the betrayal.