Letters: Oct. 5, 1983

(11 of 12)

1972 TIME in its issue on American women made me sound like Shirley Temple!" I am not really against exploring depravity. I understand it's terrific both on-and off-screen and can be done by either sex.

ELEANOR PERRY New York City

1973 Whose voice gave Tarzan's call? I ought to know: I was there. Johnny Weissmuller can—and did—do his own Tarzan call. End of discussion?

MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN ("JANE") New York City

1974 Harry Reasoner recently took TIME to task on ABC-TV for certain instances of its obsessional and below-the-belt reporting on Watergate, which he said had betrayed the canons of both objective and ethical journalism.

It was predictable that sooner or later TIME would begin to pay the price for its editorial overinvestment in the destruction of the President. That price, as Reasoner noted, is the loss of journalistic prestige and credibility. How ironic, and how fitting, that a distinguished media colleague and certified Nixon critic like Reasoner should blow the whistle on TIME for its phobic Watergate reporting!

No President of the U.S. except Lincoln (in retrospect, now to be considered another impeachable character) has ever been more savaged by the press than Nixon. For one solid year the press has been beating on him mercilessly. And he has shown that he can take it and take it and take it, with cool and courage. But few journalists—none on TIME—have had even the sportsmanship, no less the journalistic objectivity, to report that whatever Nixon is or is not, he is one helluva gutsy fighter . . .

CLARE BOOTHE LUCE Honolulu

1975 Although I appreciate your unequivocal "No" answer to the question of my alleged presence in Dallas at the time of J.F.K.'s murder. I would like to point out that my noninvolvement rests not only on "drastic differences" between the specimen photographs, but more conclusively upon the sworn testimony of several witnesses who confirm that I was in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 22, 1963. It is a physical law that an object can occupy only one space at one time.

Correction: I am not a Watergate "burglar," but a conspirator.

HOWARD HUNT. FED. PRISON CAMP Eglin A.F.B., Fla.

1976 You quoted me and identified me as a "black leader." I consider this journalistic racism. No one refers to George Wallace as a "white Governor" or Gerald Ford as a "white President." If a label must be attached to my leadership, as a minister of the gospel I prefer "moral leader." Moral leadership, which essentially deals with ideas and values, is a universal category. Black is not.

(THE REV.) JESSE L. JACKSON Chicago

1977 Since it is really very difficult to answer personally so many letters after the Olympic Games in Montreal, let me tell you here how grateful I am to you all for your friendship. I wish you all good health, happiness and peace in the coming new year.

NADIA COMANECI Bucharest

1978 Discussion should not revolve around whether wife beating or husband beating is the more prevalent; rather, we should take a good look at the institution of marriage. Perhaps the wedding license should read WARNING: THE SURGEON GENERAL HAS DETERMINED THAT MARRIAGE IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH.

KAREN DECROW