Rebekah Harkness

Rebekah Harkness, the namesake for Taylor Swift’s song The Last Great American Dynasty, was an American philanthropist, socialite, and patron of the arts. She was known for her contributions to the world of dance and her prominent role in high society. Born in 1915, she married Standard Oil heir William Hale "Bill" Harkness in 1947, which brought her significant wealth and influence. Harkness became well known for her passionate support of ballet and the arts, and she used her wealth to make a mark on the cultural landscape, most notably by founding the Harkness Ballet in 1964. The company quickly gained renown and, under her leadership, she aimed to push the boundaries of traditional ballet with innovative, expressive performances.

Harkness was a complex and eccentric figure, known for her lavish lifestyle and intense, sometimes controversial personality. At her Rhode Island estate, Holiday House, she hosted extravagant parties that became legendary for her unusual antics—like filling a pool with champagne and pouring scotch into a fish tank. These gatherings, attended by the likes of Andy Warhol, J.D. Salinger, and Salvador Dalí, fueled neighborhood gossip. Stories from these parties include Harkness dressing as a maid to serve her own guests, cleaning her pool with Dom Perignon, and dyeing a neighbor’s cat green in retaliation.

In 1962, Harkness transformed the Holiday House into a summer camp for the Joffrey Ballet, generously supporting the company’s growth to international fame. Harkness, who also dabbled in dance and music composition, craved recognition as an artist and patron. However, she expected some things in return for this generous offering. She insisted that her ballets be set to scores she composed. One piece, Dreams of Glory, featured a simplistic storyline about a young boy aspiring to become John F. Kennedy. Dancer Lawrence Rhodes later admitted it was one of the rare occasions he felt embarrassed to perform in a ballet.

Taylor Swift’s song The Last Great American Dynasty revisits Harkness’s life, highlighting the social judgment and scandal surrounding her. Swift draws parallels between their lives, noting the scrutiny they both faced for breaking norms and embracing life on their own terms.

Her friendships with prominent artists, dancers, and musicians positioned her as a unique and influential cultural patron. However,? her struggles with alcohol and pills overshadowed her ambitions, straining family relationships and drawing harsh criticism of her artistic ventures. Despite the controversies and challenges that marked her life, Harkness’s contributions to the arts, particularly ballet, have had a lasting impact. She passed away in 1982, leaving a complicated but enduring legacy as a cultural benefactor and unconventional icon.