Kovic, Stone Talk

I attended Ron Kovic and Oliver Stone’s appearance at UC Irvine on Feb. 7. I had seen “Born on the Fourth of July” in January.

Your reporter’s account of the evening correctly stated that they spoke to a highly appreciative audience. He neglected to mention, however, that Mr. Kovic spoke in glittering generalities throughout the evening.

Further, no mention was made of Mr. Kovic’s continual straying from the panel questions. For example, the professor of political science pointed out that the movie makes its anti-war statement from a purely personal standpoint and asked both gentlemen to provide a political analysis.

Mr. Stone related his answer to events in Cambodia and the aftermath of the American withdrawal from Vietnam. Mr. Kovic neglected the question.

Mr. Kovic is considering political office. However, to date his accomplishments appear limited to service in Vietnam and the depiction of his life in a book and movie, items dependent on the talents of other individuals for their execution.

LAURA C. CURRAN

Placentia