Kelley’s Book on Nancy Reagan

Neal Gabler’s commentary “Gossipmongers: Enemies of the Governing Class” (Opinion, April 14) is an exercise in creating the Big Lie by revealing a little truth. Gabler states that Russia does not have the massive gossip apparatus that we in America have “largely because Russia does not have the sort of fluid social dynamics out of which a gossip industry springs and by which it is nourished.”

This is the sort of context dropping and hidden evasion that is responsible for the social disintegration of America. The reason Russia hasn’t developed a “gossip industry” is because for 75 years the state has controlled the press. A Kitty Kelley in Russia would quickly be in prison. The enemy of the governing class is a free press with the truth, not gossip.

HUGH THOMAS

Granada Hills