Nixon Actions Unforgivable

Re: “Forgive and Forget?” (July 17): Maybe the passage of years has softened his memory for some, but not I. To this very day, I am torn by the memory of my mother, weeping in helpless and frustrated anger as her friend, her proudly admired and infinitely respected friend, Helen Gahagan Douglas, drowned in the tide of lies that flowed so indifferently from Nixon’s wicked lips, punctuated by those shifting, constantly closing eyes. That destroyer of lives and careers who could, in latter years, so blandly and uncaringly excuse his inexcusable actions on his “youth” is a memory better kept alive as we remain on guard.

Since reading of Ronald Reagan’s high regard for Nixon and his methods (“Reagan Praises Nixon Record After Meeting,” July 18), I can’t help remembering that foolish actor’s own unremorseful, unhesitating willingness to lie and destroy innocent lives during the reign of the Republican “Commie” hunters. It bears a sickening resemblance to Nixon. Reagan, whose own crooked policies and general ineptness has led to the damage to our country as results of the HUD scandal, the Iran-Contra scandal, the savings and loan scandal and, to quote the great communicator himself, “and so forth.”

In view of these alarming similarities between the men, one does rather tend to think of the pot calling the kettle sterling. Sterling kept polished and shining by all the help in the White House. But, look again, folks--look close. That’s not really sterling you see--that’s just cheap, tarnished, pretentious plated metal and it’s wearing off in lots of spots. Better to pay your money to Disneyland. At least there you know that what you see is what you get.

BUNTY JUSTIN

Balboa Island