John Glenn

Re “Glenn Expected to Get OK for Return to Space,” Jan. 16: OK, now I get it. I could never understand Sen. John Glenn’s behavior during Fred Thompson’s Senate investigation of campaign finance abuses. Glenn was obviously more interested in obstructing the investigation rather than getting to the bottom of illegal foreign campaign contributions.

Apparently, he sold his soul for a ride on the Discovery.

Glenn should have been launched into orbit a long time ago.

GREGG McCONNELL

Newbury Park

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After years of being an avid supporter of NASA, I am deeply disappointed in the idea of sending Sen. Glenn back into space. Sentimentality is great, but at the present cost of sending men into space, such choices need to be judiciously monitored. The funds are sparse enough for legitimate research, much less to give the aging senator the junket of a lifetime. This smacks of a publicity stunt, the bolstering of an aging ego, and political payback.

It is sad to see someone who had so much of the “right stuff” make such a wrong move. I can only hope that Sen. Glenn and/or NASA will reconsider this request. This is only one more way in which politicians demonstrate that they are in their positions to serve themselves rather than the public.

SUSAN CAMERON

San Clemente

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What an interesting juxtaposition on your front page. Separate stories about Glenn and Charles Keating. The two former partners (of the Keating Five) going separate ways. Both federally funded. One to outer space and the other to inner space. It’s a shame they’re being separated.

HAROLD E. BOUCHER

West Hills

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Sending Glenn into space again is just fine--providing he pays his own way.

C. CHESTER BRISCO

Tustin