Aristocratic Democrats

Carolyn See should stick to writing novels, if that is what she is good at. Her “Casting for an Aristocrat Democrat: Only a Blueblood Can Cure the Party’s Chronic Anemia” (Editorial Page, Jan. 7) declares Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy as “the two great Democratic Presidents of this century.”

Hasn’t she heard of Harry Truman--the opposite of her ideal Democratic presidential candidate?

The “greatness” of Kennedy’s tragically brief presidency is arguable, much less so that of Truman’s.

I may have it all wrong--Ms. See’s essay could be a tongue-in-cheek exercise. But even on that level it’s still a clunker. Another possibility--Ms. See has been looking at too many of Conrad’s political cartoons.

I’m a lifelong Democrat and voted for President Kennedy.

IRVING ORNEST

Los Angeles