Dr. Henry Foster

* Re “Despite Senate Defeat, Foster Sees Positives,” June 23:

Contrary to the groaning of a handful of liberal senators, the defeat of Dr. Henry Foster as surgeon general nominee illustrates the careful application of a system of checks and balances as it was intended to work.

The whole point is that his views and past experience on a number of issues, not the least of which being his support for abortion, are so divisive as to generate revulsion by a growing number or our elected representatives who clearly hold nothing against Foster as an individual.

MICHAEL J. O’HEARN

Oxnard

* Eliminating the 55 m.p.h speed limit is conservatively estimated to increase traffic deaths by 5,000 per year. Five thousand deaths divided by 100 senators equals 50 per senator, year after year after year. Foster performed 39 abortions over 38 years, approximately one per year. What price state’s rights! What hypocrisy!

LAWRENCE A. OSTER

San Diego

* Sen. Bob Dole hid behind the skirts of 43 senators who chose to block cloture on the confirmation debate regarding Foster. A true leader would have encouraged his colleagues to vote cloture and allow the vote to take place. Dole used the argument that the Democrats have done this in the past, therefore, it is OK for the Republicans to do it today. If this is a typical example of the kind of leadership that Dole has to offer, I shudder to think that he could possibly be the next President.

IRAN AUSLEY

West Hills