British cabinet minister & Cold War sex scandal figure John Profumo dies

LONDON (AP) - Former British cabinet minister John Profumo, the central figure in a Cold War scandal involving prostitutes, government secrets and a Russian spy, has died at age 91. Profumo, who spent more than 40 years redeeming himself with charity work for London's poor, was Britain's secretary of state for war when his involvement with Christine Keeler became public in 1963. It also came out she had been seeing a Soviet naval attache and intelligence agent at the same time as Profumo.

The affair shook the government of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan to its foundations, made a celebrity out of a call girl, and transfixed newspaper readers and television viewers around the world.

Profumo died late Thursday night, surrounded by his family at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, said its spokesman, Mark Purcell. The former minister had been admitted there two days earlier after suffering a stroke.

Profumo, whose promising political career ended when he was only 48, spent the rest of his life trying to redeem himself with charity work for London's poor. He won widespread respect and an honour from the Queen who promoted him to Commander of the Order of British Empire for his charily work in 1975.



Queen Elizabeth II and John Profumo

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2006/03/10/1481695-ap.html

...check out the UK film "Scandal" (1989). Great depiction of swingin' 60's London meets/vs the Cold War; excellent cast (John Hurt, Joanne Whalley, Bridget Fonda, Ian McKellen); great soundtrack with 60's smokin' ska & Dusty Springfield, etc...

Great Brit film, really captures the era...

...and yes, I thought it was a great film too.

:toast: