Stone’s Nixon Film

After seeing Oliver Stone’s “Nixon” twice, I agree with Edwin Yoder (Commentary, Jan. 7) that Stone and Anthony Hopkins brilliantly capture the essence of Richard Nixon. I also agree that the former president was irreparably hurt by childhood traumas of sibling deaths and (perhaps) psychologically abusive parents.

However, I must take exception to Stone’s contention that Nixon was an unloved child. There is much evidence that Hannah and Frank Nixon loved their children with the same intensity that most of us feel for our own offspring-- perhaps even more.

LINDA MELE JOHNSON

Long Beach

* Let’s stop all this nauseating revisionism about Nixon. Yoder may feel the man was “one of us,” but this should be a cause for alarm and shame, not rejoicing.

It’s time to stop the denial, look at cold, hard truth and bury Nixon once and for all. The politician who promised a secret end to the war in Vietnam and then continued it deserves contempt. Watergate wasn’t just an incident but the culmination of a career filled with deceit, treachery and paranoia. He poisoned our political system with a cynical stench that will last for generations. The real “tragedy” is that the country elected him twice and that some people still can’t face what a bad man he was.

DAN O’NEILL

Los Angeles

* So Nixon Library members cry “character assassination” at Stone’s movie. Imagine! The president who lied, attempted to obstruct justice and betrayed all those who voted for him; not to mention changing forever the American public’s view of politicians and politics. He didn’t need Stone’s movie to assassinate his character. He did it himself.

CAROL MARSHALL