European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 17, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 the stars and stripes sunday november 17, 1985 the Media and the Leon Klinghoffer family attempts to exploit a tragedy by Sara Rimer new York times s shortly after word came that the cruise ship  Lauro had been hijacked meeting of family members and friends was convened at the Manhattan Home of Leon and Marilyn Kim Hotler. Al that time the couple was two among 440 hostages. Even then Lotty h. Simon who was among the close friends a that meeting had an inkling of what might happen. I said to Lisa and Lisa your parents Are the Only ones from new Yolk City on Board " said Simon a Public relations con utlant who became the family s spokeswoman and Media adviser. I have a feeling we re going to be Lite a i Boci of a lol of Media  by Daylight incl mod and by a e in no word of the hostages came. Klinghoffer had been murder i by the hijackers and thrown overboard Tho family was at the Center of the continuing drama. The Ditcu chapter came when Marilyn Klinghoffer. Who has declined a1 interviews told her Story at a news conference at a time of deep personal tragedy the Klinghoffer family has been forced to Deal with other pressures. Overnight people who had lived in relative obscurity who had never been interviewed became the instant locus of the news Media As the most dramatic and human actors in an International event. They found they had become the objects of Competition to feature their Story in print and on film. Some other people might not have been accepted in this  said Robert Squier. A Washington based political and Media consultant. It happens thai this family is an extraordinarily attractive interesting family. This was the Way the family would have been if a great fiction writer had written the Story. Instead they re  the country a been told All about the Klinghoffer Leon a Small appliance manufacturer who had struggled lies to overcome his Humble lower East Side beginnings and then to recover from a stroke his widow Marilyn who told president Reagan How she spit in the faces of the hijackers their children Lisa a 28-year-old health administrator and Lisa 34, an artist Lisa s husband Jerry a bitter 34, and Lisa s Fiance. Paul Dworin. 33. The film and television offers have already been extended Simon declined to discuss them. This is not a commercial  she said. They Are not going to be  when Milton Gralla of Gralla publications announced the establishment of the anti terrorism Leon Klinghoffer foundation he found himself suddenly courted by the news Media. I had quite a number of offers for five figure contributors to the fund i i could deliver Marilyn for an exclusive  Gralla said. I turned them All  he said most of the offers were for radio interviews. Dworin said the family had rejected a live figure offer from people Magazine for Klinghoffer s Story. I can t see Marilyn telling her Story and then you turn the Page and there Are the latest exploits Between Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger he said. Scott Meredith a literary agent offered his observations on the most Likely vehicle for the Story of the Marilyn Klinghoffer right Tiv Ruchti a Flag during ceremony for her husband Leon. Her daughter Ilia it at my. Kling Hooters and the hijacking. He said he thought that the enormous coverage Given to the hijacking made a major Book unlikely. There will almost certainly be a television movie he said. There is one on every major event. People love to watch so called docudrama based on a True Story. They love it because it s  the Kling homers have ried to maintain their sense of privacy while also accommodating the barrage of requests from reporters and their own avowed need to lean and Marilyn Klinghofer in 1980. Share their tragedy and find some purpose in it. We understood immediately the world significance of  Simon said. It was a loss suffered on the world  Simon said she and the others had decided at the outset that the Best Way to Deal with reporters was to hold Brief news conferences As each new development occurred. And from the beginning the family entered into a close reciprocal relationship with news organizations ranging from local newspapers and television stations to the National television networks based in Manhattan. Just a few Hourt after they listened of Dan rather announce on television that All the hostages appeared to be Safe they received two Telephone Calls reporting that Klinghoffer had been shot one from a local television reporter one from a wire service reporter. Lisa Lisa and Arbittier found themselves called upon to express opinions on foreign policy. At news conferences they declined to answer such questions As what do you think of Israel should Israel give up its hostages what do you think of the Plo what is your position on How to Stop terrorism should he hijackers be put to death president and mrs. Reagan met with the entire family the White House released a photograph of mrs. Reagan embracing mrs. Klinghoffer while Reagan looked on. When mrs. Klinghoffer arrived at Newark International Airport she was greeted by sen. Alfonso m. D Amato he had been invited by the family which has repeatedly expressed gratitude for his help in opening channels Between them and the state department. Sen Daniel Patrick Moynihan whose new York office did not at first respond to the family s plea for help was not invited. Both senators and gov. Mario Cuomo and mayor Edward i. Koch sat in the Pew across from the family at in funeral serv be. The enormous  attention. Rabbi Harvey Tattelbaum said before the service meant the postponement of the real grieving