Letters: Aug. 15, 1969

The Kennedy Tragedy

Sir: The Edward Kennedy tragedy [Aug. 1] shows in a symbolic way much of what is wrong with the liberal politician today. While looking all over the land for peoples to be saved—blacks, Puerto Ricans, the poor, Mexicans, Eskimos—Mr. Kennedy and his associates, when confronted with the opportunity of saving a single but real human life, failed miserably to take any action. They were paralyzed by "grief, fear, doubt, exhaustion, panic, confusion and shock."

RAFAEL CARAPELLA San Francisco

Sir: Now that the Kennedy bubble has burst, has it been just a bubble? Was it a highly organized spectacular, glistening and eye-catching enough to serve as a short cut to high office but lacking in maturity and substance? The people of the U.S. would do well to place the fortunes of our country in the hands of those who have won their spurs each step of the way.

J. R. RINKER

Augusta, Ga.

Sir: At last someone ventured to express the unanswered questions crucial to the character of a possible presidential candidate. Perhaps the electorate of Massachusetts can disregard the negligence and irresponsibility of Kennedy's contestable behavior but, with your unrestrained query, can the nation?

MRS. MICHAEL SELLS Madison, Wis.

Sir: The disclosure regarding McNamara plus the usual touch-up boys—Sorensen and brother-in-law Smith—should help eradicate the illusions most housefraus entertain about the Kennedy myths . . . and their spontaneous eloquence.

MRS. J. BIRLING Philadelphia

Sir: That no comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of Mary Jo Kopechne's death has been made is alarming. That Kennedy is permitted to avoid investigation via a guilty plea to a relatively minor offense and then to generate sympathy with unverified emotional answers to his own selected questions is a discredit to this nation's legal and political systems.

G. PATRICK MARTIN Indialantic, Fla.

Sir: Senator Kennedy has related what happened—he admitted that his conduct after the accident was indefensible. He pleaded guilty in court. He went to the people he represents and asked their help in deciding whether or not to resign. His constituents have advised him that they wish him to continue as their Senator. The matter should be closed. The only unanswered questions are those that are either by their nature unanswerable or by their implication unworthy of consideration.

WILLIAM J. COWAN West Lynn, Mass.

Sir: I ask you to consider what would happen to a private citizen who, heading "out to the dunes" after a party with a girl in his car, drove off the road and killed the girl—then crept quietly away from the scene without saying anything to anyone, leaving car and corpse to be discovered the next day without his assistance. The laws covering a situation like this are stringent—nay, merciless. Such a private citizen would pay a very stiff price indeed for his irresponsible behavior. Yet it seems that Edward Kennedy intends to pay no price at all.