BBC America aired a documentary about Neil Armstrong last night. This enigmatic man has been described since childhood as being quiet, private, reclusive. He became interested in flight when he was 9-10 years old, and childhood friends say he had a lot of model planes.

He got a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, then flew 78 missions during the Korean war. He then went to Houston to work for NASA, and tested flight modules for moon landings. On July 20, 1969, he became the first man to step foot on the moon. Worldwide media frenzy followed. He was hounded for autographs and interviews. A fellow astronaut recalled hearing Armstrong being advised by Charles Lindbergh on how to deal with fame.

Armstrong retreated to Ohio to teach, then took an advisory post with NASA. For such a private person, constantly in the spotlight, he became even more reclusive, aloof and reserved. He couldn't really trust anyone. Even his barber made a deal with a broker to gather up Armstrong's hair trimmings, which they sold. (How despicable.)

The documentary came across as cold and sterile as Armstrong's persona. There were no photos of his parents, not a word about girlfriends, wives, children, nothing personal. His life surely hasn't been lived in such a vacuum as to exclude personal contacts. This unsatisfactory documentary ended with the reporter saying "His greatest gift gift to us could be his silence." (What??)

susil