Kenneth Starr

Abner J. Mikva’s article on independent counsel Kenneth Starr’s pillorying of Bruce Lindsey (Commentary, Aug. 16) articulates well what I have believed all along, that Starr represents the spirit of “Tail Gunner” Joe McCarthy, intent upon filthying as many reputations as possible, and doing so without bothering with sufficient corroborative evidence.

J.S. KLEINSASSER

Bakersfield

* Starr has proven that he will ruin any reputation and spend any amount of taxpayer money in an effort to smear President and Mrs. Clinton. His treatment of Lindsey has been reprehensible and the fact that anyone connected to the president at any time is subject to undue scrutiny is frightening. What evidence has been uncovered to warrant such a misuse of power?

DOROTHY CHAPMAN

San Clemente

* You might have pointed out, in identifying Judge Mikva, that he dissented from the decision of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that overturned the Iran-Contra conviction of Adm. John Poindexter, expressing concern that the decision in the Poindexter case was tantamount to advising defendants, for the future, “all they need to evade responsibility is a well-timed case of amnesia.”

We cannot know for certain if the major service rendered by Mikva to the Clinton administration was less the counsel he gave at the White House--and more that observation in his Poindexter dissent.

DAVID R. ZUKERMAN

Bronx, N.Y.

* We should all applaud the Republican Party for sending Bill Clinton a bill that ensures welfare would end after five years. I know they presented the bill out of compassion and concern for the poor and minorities. They should pass a bill to end Whitewater after five years, too. Otherwise they’re going to start looking exactly like the hypocrites they are.

DOUGLAS HALL