Letters: Aug. 23, 1968

That's the Ticket

Sir: After listening to the acceptance speeches of Nixon and Agnew [Aug. 16], I can only comment: thank God—we have two candidates who are speaking for the forgotten middle class. May they find the strength and courage to carry out the power of their convictions and, once again, make America a proud nation.

MARY JO LAKE Norristown, Pa.

Sir: Three months ago, you stated that Maryland's Governor Spiro Agnew, after his defection from Governor Rockefeller, was receiving hints from Mr. Nixon as a possible vice-presidential running mate [May 24]. At the time, it seemed very unlikely to me, but now Governor Agnew turns out to be the number two man on the ticket. Thank you for this insight and good luck on the Demo Veep.

MIKE HOMER Portland, Ore.

Sir: What a night—watching the Republican Convention elect our next President, Hubert Humphrey.

VIRGINIA H. BERK Seattle

Sir: It's official: change G.O.P. from Grand Old Party to Going Out of Politics.

RICHARD A. CUMMINS Indianapolis

Sir: It occurs to me that Richard Nixon's choice of running mate could only mean better slogans for the fall campaign. "A Gnew Nixon," or something like that.

P. M. null

Hamilton, N.Y.

Sir: Here we are, come November, with a Humphrey-Nixon choice, a psychologist's avoidance-avoidance situation. We are the victims of a stagnant two-party system loaded with loyal party hacks transferring favors among themselves with no interest in the people's wishes or best interest. What we need is a little competition, like a fourth party called the Independents, with a ticket like Rockefeller-McCarthy, with a platform of guaranteed jobs, normalcy of foreign politics, a direct primary, a world-federalism outlook and, most of all, a general, honest, political orientation toward the best for all the people. Maybe if enough people felt the same way, we could get organized.

THEODORE W. JOHNSON Williamstown, Mass.

Sir: Nixon stood by his party in its hour of need, and now the party stands by Nixon. It's so simple. I don't understand why I'm so depressed.

DARENE H. LENNON Evanston, Ill.

Sir: I am only ten years old but my mommy let me stay up to watch the convention. She said I would learn a lot. I only went to sleep once. My daddy went to sleep three times.

The part I liked best was when the balloons went down. I also liked the part when the clowns marched around and around. I like Chet and David, but they did not get to march around. They just have to stay in their seats. I guess they can't even go to the bathroom. I am glad Mr. Nixon won, because my daddy says Nixon never wins so I think it was his turn.

BOBBY SIMONS East Orleans, Mass.

Not First but Best

Sir: Eugene McCarthy, if elected, will not be the first "dedicated President-poet" since John Quincy Adams [Aug. 9]. But by most readers' standards, he will be the best. Abraham Lincoln wrote a number of poems, much in the vein of this one, about an acquaintance "who at the age of 19 unaccountably became furiously mad":

And here's an object more of dread, Than aught the grave contains—A human-form, with reason fled, While wretched life remains.