60 Minutes

Elizabeth and Richard were interviewed by their friend Charles Collingwood “about their careers, their children, their offscreen shenanigans, and her million dollar diamond” for the American newsmagazine program 60 Minutes.

The 69.42 carat Taylor-Burton diamond glitters on Elizabeth’s finger throughout the conversation (“That’s to keep me cool,” she says), which took place on the patio of her mother Sara Taylor’s Bel-Air, California home in March 1970. They were on the eve of celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary and the famous Burton banter was in fine form. Asked about their famous quarrels, Elizabeth says: “No, I must say, we enjoy fighting. I think that fighting with somebody you love, and are really sure of, and if you’re really sure of yourself, in your love, I think having a fight, an out and out outrageous, ridiculous fight, is one of the greatest exercises in marital togetherness.” The key, Richard says, is that “You do not attack the weak points”.

Elizabeth says that she believes that her children “are on [the] right track.” She’s indignant, however, over the way her seventeen year old son, Michael, has been treated over his long hair and clothes. (Later, Collingwood points out the peace and love necklaces the Burtons are wearing. “It seems to work because we haven’t quarreled for at least forty-eight hours,” Richard jokes. “Ha ha,” Elizabeth laughs, “Stick around.”) Recently, Richard says, Michael was barred from entering London’s Dorchester hotel until they learned that he is the son of Elizabeth Taylor. It reminded her of when, a few years earlier, she was considering buying a co-op apartment in New York. Elizabeth, a convert to Judaism, was told they were willing to make an exception for her because of who she is. “You can take your building and you know where to put it,” she told them.