Retirement of Sen. Cranston

In response to “A Fallen Giant Ends His Reign,” Dec. 29:

Patt Morrison characterized retiring Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston as a “giant” who ends his reign. I would never characterize Cranston as a “giant.” I would characterize him as an elder statesman who has served his constituency and the state of California well during the tenure of his long career, 24 years all told. Throughout his career Cranston has been pragmatic as well as a visionary. Even though there were some questions about the military planes being built at Lockheed, Cranston went to bat for the plant to save the jobs of the employees. Cranston has always fought to protect the environment, and he was always on the forefront objecting to our nation’s dispensing of millions of dollars to military despots in Central and South America.

Cranston has always been clear on his positions, and his arguments in defense of his positions have always been researched and presented in concrete terms. I have never heard the good senator flail or harangue or resort to demagoguery in his appearances on the Senate floor.

It’s unfortunate that Cranston’s career should end with the Keating affair, but there isn’t any question in my mind that the good senator is innocent. Cranston did not pocket money to be transferred to a Swiss bank account. Whatever money he received from Keating was used to register voters. If registering voters is a crime, heaven help our republic. Lincoln Savings would have fallen even if Cranston weren’t involved in the affair.

I can fully understand and appreciate why Cranston was admired by rational Republicans as well as the Democrats in his own party. The senator was first and foremost a statesman who considered the welfare of California and the nation in his deliberations as foremost.

I will miss his presence in the Senate.

S.M. ROSEN

Newbury Park