Patti Davis

* Even though their daughter, Patti, has made a lifelong career of bashing her parents, President and Mrs. Reagan have refrained from any public rebuttal of her outrageous claims. President and Mrs. Reagan have tried continuously to resolve Patti’s problems privately as a family matter, yet every effort to reach out to her has been rejected.

I cannot understand why The Times gives such high visibility to the outrageous charges of such a deeply disturbed woman (Feb. 15). I see little news value in covering a subculture educational program she conducted which could only draw 25 attendees. Furthermore, I can’t begin to think that Patti’s latest attempt as an author could be deemed newsworthy since few, if any, pages of her lewd book could be printed in The Times.

Why is it that just two weeks ago, when Margaret Thatcher led thousands of people in a highly visible tribute to President Reagan and his service to the world, The Times did not even report it? Yet, when his emotionally disturbed daughter again repeats her mean-spirited charges against her parents you devote a front-page Metro article to it?

FREDERICK J. RYAN JR.

Chief of Staff for Ronald Reagan

Los Angeles

* So pleased to see yet another rapacious offspring cashing in on her parents’ good name and fortune by dragging it through the mud. After all, if Patti Davis were not the daughter of former President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, who would buy her books and pay to listen to her speak, and what newspaper would devote an entire cover page, plus, to the coverage of Davis’ seminar?

Frankly, I am surprised that with Davis’ liberal approach toward politics she is not adhering to Clinton’s policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” I have two succinct words for Davis: private life--get one!

BETH PENDLETON

Anaheim