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 WASHINGTON (AP) - The stars of Hollywood and Washington came out Tuesday to pay their respects to Jack Valenti, a man at home in the power structures of both cities.
Five days after his death at 85, friends and family members honored Valenti at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, just a few blocks from the White House where he served as assistant to President Lyndon Johnson. Later, as chief of the Motion Picture Association of America, Valenti was a passionate film industry lobbyist, deflecting criticism of Hollywood and fiercely combating threats to the industry such as film piracy.
Actor Kirk Douglas recalled for his fellow mourners a time he spent with Valenti after a long, frustrating wait for a Washington meeting. Valenti told him to abandon his post and come over to the White House.
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