Doonesbury Cartoons on Frank Sinatra

The Times has received 221 letters commenting on its decision not to print all of Garry Trudeau’s Doon e sbury strips on Frank Sinatra; 206 criticized The Times’ decision and/or praised Trudeau; 15 criticized Trudeau and/or praised Sinatra.

I am immensely disappointed by your decision not to publish the Doonesbury series on Frank Sinatra.

The Doonesbury series does not reveal anything that is not already on the record. So why should Sinatra be protected? After all, he was awarded--and he accepted--the Medal of Freedom by the President of the United States, which certainly makes his style of life a matter of interest to all of us. Perhaps we can learn from his example how to win such an honor our way.

CLARK A. KUCHEMAN

Claremont

Editor’s Note: The Times risks lawsuits again and again because taking the risk is often the only way to get important information to its readers. Most of the Sinatra panels were withheld, not because of fear of litigation but because the newspaper was strongly advised by its lawyers that they would have substantial problems defending in court any libel suit that might have been filed.