Character & Fate

Sir:

Many a thoughtful man, musing over his second Martini and the evening paper, has had the uneasy feeling that 1984 was much closer. TIME, June 14 brought the era of doublethink several decades closer in an article linking the names of McCarthy and Oppenheimer, setting forth a disturbing philosophy on the responsibilities of governments. The thinking man, and there are many such, was brought up short by such samples as this: "Freedom must always be tailored to the facts of life."

The thought must surely have occurred to others. The theory has been applied many times, and in almost every century. Hitler, pondering the map of Europe in 1939, had found it a useful and appealing concept, and so had Stalin before him . . .

WILLIAM GELKE

Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Sir:

. . . To liken Oppenheimer's defense to McCarthy's in the sense of a "higher law" is adverse to reality. In Mr. Oppenheimer you have a man continuing to associate with an individual who admittedly attempted to obtain from him our secrets for Russia, pleading political naivete in one breath and distress over international political repercussions of hydrogen development in the other. The committee that judged him was, to say the least, kind. No one, I think, would question his lack of enthusiasm by itself. To separate this issue is to me absurd. McCarthy's defense seems to me based directly on the congressional right to investigate "failure to act" by the executive. The question of motive makes comparison ridiculous. Mr. Oppenheimer's motives were entirely questionable . . . Until it becomes more obvious to me that the people have awakened to the fact that loyalty to country outweighs loyalty to friends, political parties or whatever, I shall remain in agreement with both methods and purpose of Mr. McCarthy.

ELTON J. HOPSON

Dolgeville, N.Y.

Sir:

The masterful summary of the Oppenheimer case by TIME leaves this question unanswered: What should be done with this brilliant scientist if the AEC concurs in the decision by its special board? For the fact remains that Dr. Oppenheimer is a walking repository of highly classified security information. Should we put him in a file marked "extra special top secret?" Or shall we place his brain in a box . . . and surround it by FBI guards night and day? . . .

ALLEN KLEIN

Mt. Vernon, N.Y.

Sir: Robert Oppenheimer is a typical, loyal U.S.

citizen who can't be trusted--according to the investigators ... I am prompted to quote Poet Arthur Guiterman: Providence, that watches over children, drunks and fools, With silent miracles and other esoterica, Continue to suspend the ordinary rules, And take care of the United States of America.

J. H. GRAHAM

Belleville, Ont.

Spillane, the People's Friend Sir: ". . . The Mickey Spillane gutter [TIME, June 14]." Brother! Are you prejudiced? You've just insulted one of the world's greatest citizens and one of the people's greatest friends. And when you drag him down like that, you're taking along millions and millions of other great people. I'd just like to say if the people should choose between "the Mickey Spillane gutter" and, shall we say, TIME'S haloed plaza--brother, you'd be living in deserted territory. The next time you go outside, take a look at your own gutter. It may be a little wider and deeper than you think.

ROY BUESIG

Newburgh, N.Y.

When He Sat Down To Play

Sir:

Your June 7 article on Liberace was a bit too critical ... It would seem, in this age of cowboys, comics and G-men, that a nice, pleasant soul with a few dimples and an appeal for the older generation need not be so condemned.

I am a younger "mom," but I enjoy his music . . .

YVONNE S. BURPEE

Jeffersonville, Pa.

Sir: . . . Any artist who can hold the attention and thrill 15,000 people in one evening with a piano and a smile should be asked for advice on how he does it--not criticized . . .

May I add, I'm fully grown--not a teenager . . .

MRS. HELENE JANECKO

Chicago

Sir:

... As [Radio & TV Columnist] John Crosby so aptly puts it to distinguish them from real women, the "plips" are the creatures who gossip over the back fence, drool over "confession dime novels" . . . and, last but not least, listen to Liberace ... If these "women" would not let their minds stagnate and their interests go to pot, they could put their energies to worthwhile purposes instead of simpering over hammy piano players, shopworn cinema lovers and mediocre singers ...

(MRS.) EVA JEAN GUSACK

Conshohocken, Pa.

The Bogeyman

Sir: Re Humphrey Bogart and your June 7 story: Add unprintable quotes--when someone tells Bogart ... he made the same issue of TIME as Liber ace.

JULES M. LIEBERTHAL

New York City

Sir: I have never been a particular fan of H. Bogart. I warmed a little when I heard he was going to be Queeg in The Caine Mutiny --but now ... I am a hard Bogart fan. He is the only Hollywood bum that ever told the naked truth: it is an absolute fact that everyone is drunk at 4 a.m.

KEITH TYE

Floydada, Texas

Sir:

I wish to take issue on a point ... I, as a moviegoer, was categorically included as a "tasteless slob" . . . My taste, be I allowed such, runs neither to reading what is written by tactless writers nor to paying any heed to critics, even in TIME. We "tasteless slobs" are perhaps much better off to leave the criticizing to the critics and just go on enjoying as best we can in our clumsy manner the things that we think are beautiful, be they Bogart's talent, Louis Armstrong's or Lana Turner's . . .

GIB LANGLEY

(An irate slob)

Junction City, Kans.

Sir:

That Humphrey Bogart is also a pretty rugged individual off the screen is borne out by the manner in which he recently sailed his ocean-racing yawl Santana to victory in the rough, threeday, 265-mile Channel Islands' race. Out of 15 boats to start, only seven finished. During 14 soaking, wet, day & night hours, the Santana beat into gale seas and winds up to 50 m.p.h. Most of this time the "old man" was either at the wheel or on deck. As members of his crew, our hats are off to him.

LARRY DUDLEY

BOB DORRIS

JOHN FREIBURG

JIFF RICHARDS

JOHN SWOPE

Los Angeles

Class Dismissed Sir: Re TIME'S June 7 report on Adlai Stevenson's speech at Meridian, Miss.: In my classes in freshman English, I have urged my students to read TIME for the excellent writing and crisp, detailed presentation. I have also taught them the difference between a simile and a metaphor. I will be forced to change my approach to them if you insist on calling a mixed simile--"as confused as a blind dog in a meathouse ... as many wings as a boardinghouse chicken"--a mixed metaphor . . .

WILLIAM L. MAIER

Rochester, N.Y.

McCarthy & the Army (Contd.) Sir: . . . The hearings are one of the great milestones in our democratic way of life--equal to the Magna Carta of England. I hope that they may help resolve the minds of the American public as to which methods of government this country will pursue: methods of intimidation ... as against the due processes of law as provided for in our Constitution . . . Our country has fallen far into materialism, humanism, opportunism, expediency, and power seeking. Let's hope that these hearings may reveal and illuminate a safe and sound future avenue for it.

(THE REV.) GERALD L. CLAUDIUS

Trinity Episcopal Church

Logansport, Ind.

Sir: I wonder if the Democratic Party councils know in what poor light they cast themselves when they attempt to gloss over the vital aspects of the McCarthy-Army hearings and make it appear that the status of G. David Schine is the issue. That at least doubtful security risks were allowed, through negligence, ignorance or hesitancy, to continue in top secret jobs stands out in the collective American mind, whether it favors the Senator from Wisconsin or not . . .

A. T. WILLIAMSON

Darien, Conn.

Sir:

I offer without prejudice this concise edition of The Principles of Success, by that great political scientist of the Renaissance, Niccolo Maccarthyavelli:

> Select carefully a deadly sin which strikes fear and hatred in the hearts of your countrymen.

>Proclaim yourself frequently and vociferously as the only rightful adversary of this sin.

> Burrow superficially through records of public servants who may be vulnerable to the sin, and cultivate acquaintances with malcontents who are their associates.

> Proclaim highly tenuous, circumstantial evidence as incontrovertible proof of guilt . . .

OSCAR SNOW JR.

Philadelphia

Sir:

. . . Granted [McCarthy's] tactics are not diplomatic or tactful, I think sugary Secretary Stevens could take a few lessons from the Senator on anti-Communism . . .

MRS. KATHY JACOBY Pompano Beach, Fla.

Sir:

.. . You should refrain from your unflattering adjectives of the people you disagree with. I could give you a few for Mr. Stevens with his hedging on Peress and Mr.Welch playing to the audience for laughs . . .

BETTY BOSCH Columbus, Ohio

Sir:

In a lifetime of legal practice, the early part of which included a reasonable amount of trial work in the courts, I frequently fretted and fumed at the rules of evidence which would prevent the introduction of some proof tending to establish a fact. But after . . . the testimony ... in the Army-McCarthy hearings, with its self-serving declarations, opinions, conclusions, arguments, hearsay, open incriminations and recriminations, all under the guise of testimony or crossexamination, I will never again complain about the legal rules of evidence as enforced in our courts.

VINCENT YARDUM Rye, N.Y.

Man of the Year

Sir: Early nomination for Man of the Year: Joseph N. Welch--lawyer, gentleman, Republican, champion of decency and fair play, admired by 26 million Democrats and the Lord only knows how many million Republicans.

WILLIAM HABIF

The Bronx, N.Y.

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