Letters, Jan. 17, 1972

Man of the Year

Sir / I commend you for naming Richard Milhous Nixon as Man of the Year [Jan. 3]. At the time of his inauguration, he was faced with troubles at home and many more abroad. Yet he has taken his stand and made for himself a well-deserved place in history. This country isn't perfect and neither is Mr. Nixon, but his undying concern and his faithful help have led me to believe that some one finally turned on the lights. Things do look brighter. This man has filled American minds with hope, replacing the despair that lived there for so long.

GLENDA M. GOODRICH Washington, D.C.

Sir / Crime is up. The economy's down.

The war goes on. Hordes of unemployed walk the street. White and black are far ther apart than ever. Our elderly find it impossible to exist. Yet TIME picks Nixon as Man of the Year.

NAT H. TOLEN Stamford, Conn.

Sir / By picking Richard Nixon, you have once again voted for planned mediocrity in Government office and many things contemptible in American life.

MICHAEL G. BALLINGER New York City

Sir / The year must be 1984. Otherwise, I know that such a perceptive and objective magazine as yours would not have named Richard Nixon its Man of the Year.

(MRS.) ISABEL J. FORD Jefferson, Mass.

Heroic Helpfulness

Sir / Your article "The New American Samaritans" [Dec. 27] helped to redeem the sadly faded images of "charity" and "doing good" from their demise at the hands of cynics, ego-trippers and radicals of both right and left.

Pondering your nine vignettes of heroic helpfulness may not lead your readers to imitation, but it may help sensitize them to see such courage and compassion all around them.

L. ALEXANDER HARPER Director for Domestic Affairs Council for Christian Social Action United Church of Christ New York City

Sir / Hurray and hallelujah for the do-gooders. That name still makes people sound like goody-goodies, but you have proved there's no sissiness about the guts that these people have and the good work that they do.

ANNE PARKER Arlington, Va.

Sir / I was interested but not surprised at the complaints of Do-Gooder Frank Ferree's neighbors about his house. If his neighbors had his spirit of brotherhood, they would take brush and ham mer in hand and help him put his "damned eyesore" in order.

MARY ANN CONNERY Coon Rapids, Minn.

Sir / Thank you for including the Perpetual Mission and Mother Waddles in your story, but I feel it is necessary to point out that Integrated Medical Services (not McKesson & Robbins) of Detroit has totally funded the clinic to date and will continue to fund it.

Although we have eight volunteer doctors, we will also have two full-time doctors and a full-time paramedical staff, furnished and paid for by Integrated Medical Services.

CHARLESZETTA WADDLES Mother Waddles Perpetual Mission Detroit According to the Prophets

Sir / Gee, fellas, it's real nice of you to give us back the right to our Jewish city of Jerusalem [Dec. 27]! We're glad you're big enough to swallow your doubts and to tell the world you think Jews are fit to govern a city that's had a Jewish majority for the last 100 years.