Letters, Mar. 13, 1972

Refreshing Break

Sir / In spite of myself. I felt great sympathy for the "Con Man of the Year" [Feb. 21] when I read your report that he faces a jail sentence for fraud and perjury. Not since the heyday of P.T. Barnum has one man entertained the American public so long and so well.

Even if Clifford Irving did commit fraud and perjury on the road to becoming a folk hero, he also provided us all with a refreshing break from the atrocities of Bangladesh and the bombings in Ireland. And just incidentally he helped sell a few newspapers and magazines.

Every one of us owes him something for all the fun we've had tracking trim down.

JIM CASTAGNER

Lakewood, Ohio

Sir / "The Fabulous Hoax of Clifford Irving" gets my vote as the best adventure-mystery-suspense story of the year, but I do think your naming Irving the "Con Man of the Year" is a bit premature.

Before this glorious election year is over there may be several other strong contenders for that title.

(MRS.) NANCY T. KROEGER

El Toro, Calif.

Sir / It would not be surprising to hear that McGraw-Hill and LIFE had purchased the Statue of Liberty as a promising joint investment. Perhaps, at least, the money would stay in this country.

W.M. WOOD

Grand Junction, Colo.

Sir / The amount of coverage your magazine has given the Howard Hughes-Clifford Irving intrigue is ludicrous. When the American people need information on so many important domestic and international issues, you have shortchanged them by centering attention on an insignificant account of Clifford Irving, his friends, and his exploits. You need to re-examine your priorities.

RICHARD A. COOPER

Minneapolis

Sir /1 think you overreacted in picturing Clifford Irving on your cover as "Con Man of the Year." For one thing, this man should be entitled to his day in court before he is labeled as a fraud.

JOSEPH G. CARLETON JR.

Brookline, Mass.

Sir / Of all the words,
That make the news,
The dullest of these,
Is Howard Hughes.

RAYMOND A. MAXWELL

North Cape May, N.J.

Sir/Could it be that I detect a bit of venom in your choice of Clifford Irving as "Con Man of the Year"? Come on boys, be good sports. Put yourselves on next week's cover under the title—you guessed it—"Suckers of the Year."

JAMES BURCH POWELL

Eugene, Ore.

The Farmer's Price