Vendetta Congress?
Sir:
I am sorry for the brilliant, devoted, courageous Lewis Strauss, whose 40 years of public service the U.S. Senate has rewarded with humiliation and defeat [June 29]. But I am sorrier for the U.S. Have the once honorable members of this once august body nothing better to do than bicker and quibble over the appointments of proven statesmen?
WILL DAVISON New York City
Sir:
Let it go, then, as an epitaph for this 86th "Vendetta" Congress that at a time when foreign nations, both infant and aged, sought for some cynosure, this Congress was noted for the elevation of personal grudges, the exemplification of the unworthy argumentum ad hominem, far above any rational, sensitive investigation.
PAUL BRENNAN Washington, D.C.
Sir':
While we face the most perilous times in world history, we have the classic spectacle of the U.S. Senate's taking time at public expense to carry on a sickening personal vendetta against a man of proven ability whom the President has appointed to a Cabinet position.
MARY VAN T. WHITEHEAD San Antonio
Sir:
The story of the Strauss vote in the issue for June 29 may do an injustice to Senator Margaret Chase Smith, for which I may be responsible. The TIME reporter asked me why I thought she might vote against Admiral Strauss, and I told him it was by the questions she asked me as to the committee hearings.
She did not come to my office or ask me about these on the floor. I went to her office and discussed the nomination with her. I judged from the questions she asked that there were a number of points which she would carefully examine, and knowing what I felt the answers to those points would be, I concluded that her conscience might lead her to cast a vote against Admiral Strauss.
At no time did Senator Smith tell me of her intentions, and actually, the "worn tally sheet" shows that only a few hours before the vote, I listed Senator Smith as one of those likely to vote for confirmation.
CLINTON P. ANDERSON Washington, D.C.
Kook Coup?
Sir:
Many thanks for the June 22 article on "The New Girls in Hollywood." A delightful bit of writing! Shirley MacLaine is the best thing Hollywood has displayed in many a moon.
RALPH H. LATIMER New York City
Sir:
When a reputable national magazine wastes five pages on such a topic [as Shirley], it is no wonder that we are breeding so many kooks.
CHARLES A. CATALANO
Bethpage, N.Y.
Sir:
Your cover bears a striking resemblance to Mad magazine's Alfred E. Neuman.
BARBARA BERNSTEIN
Flushing, N.Y.
Sir:
While looking at the cover picture, I wondered where I had seen this charming face before. And all of a sudden, I knew: it reminded me of the face of Regelindis, a statue in the famous Cathedral of Naumburg Saale, now in East Germany, made by an unknown sculptor 700 years ago. Isn't it all there?
(MRS.) INGEBORG C. SHULER Okmulgee, Okla. Sir:
Women, let's comb our hair and leave the "shaggy dogs" to Walt Disney.
MRS. LEO A. FRATELLA Paramount, Calif. Sir:
The Shirley MacLaine story was of particular interest to me because I, Mary Day, happened to have given this very talented girl her dance training from the age of eleven to 17 at the Washington School of the Ballet.
MARY DAY Washington, D.C.
Verdict Reviewed
Sir:
Re your June 22 article on the much-publicized Florida rape trial, you expound upon the fairness of the jury's "guilty" verdict. But the recommendation for mercy, because "there was no evidence of brutality," has the sour flavor of Dixie justice. It is my contention that brutality is inherent in rape. It is ironical that at the time of that trial no fewer than four Negroes were awaiting execution for rape.
THOMAS MONNIG Dayton
Sir:
It is refreshing to read that justice can be done when there is a will to do so, and when you Americans are brave enough to enforce it.
News like that will draw us Asians closer to you, rather than having to read about Americans like your bigoted Arkansas Governor Faubus.
SYED MAHMOOD Rangoon, Burma
The Status War
Sir:
I was most surprised to read in the June 8 issue of TIME under a heading, "The Status War," the comments which you attributed to me, in particular one remark which concerned Her Majesty the Queen and which has been widely interpreted as my own view. The exact opposite is the case. It is my view that whoever Was capable of such a remark must be at the best a super inverted snob, and as such a crashing bore.
JOCELYN STEVENS
Editor
Queen Magazine London
From the Soapsuds to the Sublime
Sir:
I was most interested in your June 22 account of the Lyttleton-Bondi theory of our expanding universe, for I too have spent many dishpan-and-ironing hours contemplating the fleeing galaxies.
In my "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?"* moods, it sometimes seems to me that the whole thing hinges on our concept of size. Perhaps this universe that our tiny minds comprehend is but a cigar ash flicked from a vast, cosmic pant leg by some creature who idly hopes the sparks (our mighty suns) will cool in the eternity before it hits the rug.
PHYLLIS J. DAVENPORT
Arlington, Va.
The See Lion
Sir:
Your accurate verbal harpooning of the famous Broadway "see" lion [June 15] should elicit some of the choicest Winchello-quent spewing! We can hardly wait.
JOHN D. O'KEEFE Hamden, Conn.
Sir:
It's obvious that Winchell still amazes you. America's alltime favorite columnist.
FRANK MORRISSEY
Boston
The Ordeal of Pastor McNeill
Sir:
Regarding the June 22 article, "Pastor's Ordeal": it is quite encouraging, challenging and inspiring to find in the Rev. Robert B. McNeill a modern-day Stephen who must
Psalms 8:4. preach Christ even while almost literally receiving a form of stoning from those who would thwart the teachings of Jesus to fit their own bigotry and prejudice.
( THE REV. ) RICHARD PARKER YAPLE
First Christian Church Brunswick, Mo.
Sir:
I was very shocked to read Commissioner King's remark: ". . . The voice of the pulpit should be the voice of the congregation." This quotation is definitely not Presbyterian in meaning, and certainly it is not true to Reformed theology and to prophetic tradition. The Presbyterian Church has always zealously guarded the minister's own prerogative to preach as the Holy Spirit, not man, gives him guidance.
WILLIAM E. THOMPSON
Union Theological Seminary Richmond
Doubled Up
Sir:
Re your June 22 story [on Simmons' new bed]: Are the Simmons people serious? A bed that wakes you up in a sitting position? I sleep on my stomach.
BILL FARLEY
New York City
P: Roll over.--ED.
Running a Railroad
Sir:
You claim, to be a newsmagazine, but your June 22 article disparaging the commuter service on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad revealed your magazine for what it is: merely an entertaining collection of witticism, distortion, and onesided reporting tailored to please those lazy-minded individuals who haven't got the guts to think for themselves.
Why don't you print the rather devastating news that a privately owned and operated corporation is being unabashedly asked by the public and the Government to operate at a loss?
GEORGE J. CARR JR.
San Antonio
Sir:
May I suggest that U.S. railroaders ask the operators of Japan's National Railways the secret to successful management.
GEORGE S. WOOD JR. Alexandria, Va.
A Stroll in the Parks
Sir:
As a former Londoner (now an inhabitant of staid Switzerland), I couldn't sympathize more with the Billy Grahams' embarrassment after strolling through London's parks [June 22]--the sights to be seen are uninhibited and revolting.
(MRS.) B. BISCHOFBERGER Erlenbach, Switzerland
Sir:
Many a time have I strolled through Loh-don's beautiful parks, yet cannot confirm Preacher Graham's observations.
H. A. LINDEMANN Zurich, Switzerland
Sir:
There is no need for Billy to travel so far to learn about the "facts of life." If he were to spend one or two moonlit evenings spying on those who park along the lovers' lanes in his own Bible-belt state, he could collect enough material for several sermons on "sin."
A. K. DAWSON
New York City
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