Norman Mailer
Manhattan. New York City Spring 1969 , Columbus circle Park
It was a warm and humid spring day. I decided to go downtown. (I don't remember why) but there I was.
I emerged from the Subway station and was very near the park greenery. There was a large crowd gathered and a speaker on a stage.I walked toward the left side of the stage and wanted to get a cold drink so I stopped at a Nathan's Hotdog stand and bought an ice cold can of Sprite.
As I turned to walk to the stage area A man approached me he was clearly hot and sweat dripping from his forehead.and in New York the humidity was horrid. So this guy tumbles off the stage steps comes right up to me and sees I have this unopened just purchased sprite in my hand and he says "Hey could I have a sip of that sprite?" I recoiled and said ' Go fuck yourself" He looked at me with a surprised look on his face and then turned and I suppose got his own drink. Smugly I wandered into the park as this large crowd was breaking up I soon realized i had just told Norman Mailer famous Author and mayoral candidate to "Fuck off" after he had just finished a campaign speech. Later in Life I called his agent and tried to apologize I wanted to buy him a case of Sprite. I was not able to get through to him. I was 16 years old
Just found this Video and it looks like this is the day it happened. That arch and the park in the background. 90% chance this was the day https://youtu.be/WlKxu1-MeHw