Supervisors Let Egos Upstage Nixon Funeral

* I was privileged to be in attendance at the funeral for Richard Nixon. It was a remarkable experience to personally witness a milestone of such national and world prominence, and I was grateful for the opportunity.

With that in mind, I read with both amusement and disdain the very petty squabbling among the Orange County supervisors (“Vasquez’s Special Treatment at Nixon Funeral Frustrates Board,” May 3) as to who was wearing what color pin and who was admitted to what and who was not.

Perhaps our illustrious officials would prefer to remain at play in their sandbox at the next event and let others who would be more appreciative attend in their places.

JANET THOMPSON

Santa Ana

* Attending a funeral is an act of respect, not a right. Many of us stood in line to pay homage to a man and an office (President Nixon). We did this because we considered it a privilege.

Many of us in those five- and six-hour lines could have demanded some special perk but didn’t. This was a funeral, not the Rose Bowl.

The idea that our Board of Supervisors believe they can demand some special rights because they are representing the people is appalling. The people who were standing patiently in the long lines were paying their respects to President Nixon, not conniving their way through private doors. Our elected officials should re-evaluate their elitist attitudes.

JACK CALDWELL

Corona del Mar

* Orange County’s Board of Supervisors have finally reached a new low, which I thought was impossible from that bunch. It appears that some of them are upset that following the funeral of the former President, they didn’t get to go to the reception hosted by Nixon’s family. Please. Cry me a river!

Someone should tell them that it was a funeral! Whatever your opinion of his presidency (and mine was not high), the man was loved and missed by his children, grandchildren and longtime friends. He had died fairly suddenly, in front of them, a few days before. I’m sure their hearts still ached with their loss.

Where were Supervisors (Harriett M.) Wieder and (William G.) Steiner? Our exalted representatives were sneaking past “a phalanx of security personnel to gain admission to the reception.” Do the words boorish or unsophisticated come to mind?

Can you imagine if any one of us attempted to sneak past security to gain admittance to their offices when they were busy meeting with rich developers with campaign contributions? The gnatcatcher would really hit the fan!

At least Supervisor (Thomas F.) Riley had the good manners to go home. And poor Supervisor (Roger R.) Stanton--completely locked out and overlooked. He had to wait a whole half an hour for his ride. On the bright side, at least they car-pooled!

It’s too bad three out of five of our county supervisors don’t have the manners or sense to know that a funeral, even a funeral for a former President, is just that. It is a time for family and friends to grieve and to say goodby to a loved one. Would that they worked as hard solving the graffiti, homelessness, unemployment and other issues they were elected to do.

THOMAS WALTON

Laguna Niguel

* It is very difficult for me to comprehend that the Orange County supervisors could put their egos before sympathy for President Nixon’s surviving daughters and their families. It’s a shame.

HELEN HOOVER

Fullerton