Letters, Jun. 27, 1977

Carter's Good Ole Boys

To the Editors:

From your article on Hamilton Jordan and Jody Powell [June 6]. President Carter's staff appears to be populated by mere "good ole boys." But Carter did not get to be President by hiring political ignoramuses. Jordan and Powell obviously have plenty of savvy—they may break the rules by failing to be stuffed shirts, but they did not break the cardinal rule by letting their man lose.

Richard H. Timberlake III Arlington, Va.

To the President's "Boys" in the lovely White House I'd like to say, as I would to my own in our humble farmhouse, "Take your feet off the furniture!"

A.M. Dilley Strattanville, Pa.

As a high school student I find myself with a new and sincere interest in politics. For this I thank Jody Powell and Hamilton Jordan, two intelligent, charming and handsome men, who have humanized the Washington scene and sparked many of us into feeling a little bit closer.

Juliette Montemurro Riverdale, N. Y.

Gosh! Shucks! Gee whiz! Jody and Ham a-settin' thar in the White House bitin' them nails and burpin' Tab while talkin' about folks who is "less eclectic philosophically" stirs the juices of us dung stampers in Wisconsin. Them is our kind of people!

John W. Comfort Hager City, Wis.

Hamilton Jordan says, "I don't think much about political philosophy any more." Further, he's not an "issue man."

Jody Powell tops that with, "I reject the idea that there is some undeniably true system of political or social ideals." This sort of nihilism from two of Carter's intimates is truly frightening. Do they, between tennis games, merely take a stab at "conceptualizing the process by which goals are met"? If this brand of inchoate populism is the result of employing new faces, then I wish godspeed for the return of the insiders.

Michael J. Sharon Bethesda, Md.

Running Forever

I am happy to see that the American people are finally awakening to the benefits and joys of running [June 6]. I am a long-distance runner, and I intend to run forever.

E.J. Pritchard Schenectady, N. Y.

It's high time that America and the world got a real look at the thousands of arm-pumping buffers and puffers who spend many lonely miles dodging cars, potholes and dogs with but one consolation: I made it!

John Sengle Jr. Mountainhome, Pa.

Joggers make me sick. There are plenty of them around here. They run past me with supercilious smirks on their red faces. What are they trying to prove? I hope they all drown in their own sweat.

I'm 100 Ibs. overweight and love it. I eat and drink what I please. To hell with the physical-fitness fanatics.

A. Wilson Encinitas, Calif.

In a society largely affected by fashions, fast foods and television, how can healthy dieting and good exercising be called a fad? Is pursuing physical health really comparable to buying CB radios and talking to plants? I think not.

Darin Smith Los Angeles

I see that jogging is now a full-blown fad. Good! If we are to judge from other fads, that means it will blow over in a few months, or at most a year or so. Like, for instance, Hula Hoops.