Letters: Sep. 27, 1968

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Views of Agnew

Sir: God bless Zero Agnew [Sept. 20]. It's time we opened up our high public offices to all Americans—not just the talented few.

JOHN WILLARD Cambridge, Mass.

Sir: Aw, come on! Surely a man who served as president of the Lock Raven P.T.A. can't be all bad.

(MRS.) JOAN B. STRUTT Baltimore

Sir: Your article on Agnew was probably the most viciously biased, prejudiced and uncalled-for attack on an American citizen. TIME has long been known to be off the beam of American thinking, and you have done it again.

PETE ELLIS Matthews, N.C.

Sir: I cannot remember ever having read a more objective and fairer story on any subject. While Muskie comes off with banners flying, you let Humphrey, Nixon and Agnew take it on their chins for their shortcomings, but you do not neglect to also point out the good points that these men enjoy. Whoever loses the election, it will not be your fault.

MORRIS YEAGER Philadelphia

Comment by McCarthy

Sir: I have just read the article "The Government in Exile" in the convention issue [Sept. 6]. Taken altogether, it was a good report, although it contains a number of minor errors of fact. There is, however, one statement in it to which I must object most vigorously and for which I must request a correction. I never called Jesse Unruh or anyone else a "son of a bitch." Moreover, Jesse Unruh did not double-cross me at any time at the convention. He honored every commitment that he made to me and was completely open and honest at all times.

EUGENE J. MCCARTHY United States Senate Washington, D.C.

Viet Nam Debate

Sir: The excellent coverage that TIME gave to the debate on Viet Nam at the Democratic Convention contributed greatly to the public understanding of this historic debate. The war in Viet Nam is a most vital issue facing the American public, and this debate and its coverage gave the American people the opportunity to hear both sides of this issue and it is hoped that by such debates national policies may be altered.

CONGRESSMAN PHILLIP BURTON Washington, D.C.

The Chicago Argument

Sir: TIME says that Chicago police did not "distinguish between radical leaders, yippies, McCarthy partisans, and other disaffected youths." Do you imply that in the dark, amid yelling, bottle throwing and insults, while faced with thousands of milling people, the police could sort out the four groups and could then apply the appropriate kinds of restraint? You must be dreaming. You say that no one "could have known which windows [thrown objects] came from." No trick at all when you ask hotelmen to spot for you, as the police did. You are also casual about thrown objects that start from the fifteenth floor; they strike hard, and it is homicidal to throw them.

WARREN SNYDER Chicago

Sir: As a Chicagoan, I would like to apologize to all the news media for the difficulties they encountered covering the Democratic National Convention. As an American, I want to thank them.

GARY G. CHICHESTER Chicago