Hillary Clinton

Who does Matthew Miller think he is to suggest that Hillary Clinton should somehow be disqualified from running for office by virtue of being a wife (Commentary, July 7)?

Last time I heard the only qualification for running for office was that the person be a citizen and of a certain age.

Purely in her functions as wife and first lady, Mrs. Clinton has amply demonstrated sterling qualities of loyalty, courage in the face of fire and the ability to manage a very public and a grueling schedule, while still remaining a warm and nurturing human being. Most of this is familiar territory to any good wife and it would be a vast improvement in the public weal were politicians to follow the same example.

Mrs. Clinton is also a lawyer, activist, graduate of Yale University Law School and the prime mover of myriad significant citizen movements. Her husband would be the first to acknowledge the considerable help she has given him in his job by virtue of all her formidable qualifications.

KOH SIOK TIAN WILSON

Los Angeles

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Hillary Clinton’s candidacy for U.S. senator from New York has understandably caused much interest and speculation. While many compare her sudden and ambitious move to the Empire State to Robert Kennedy’s successful bid in 1964, I am delighted that Miller reminded us that Mrs. Clinton faces similar obstacles that Pete Dawkins faced in his unsuccessful 1988 U.S. Senate bid in New Jersey.

We need not look that far. In 1964, another nationally known figure, JFK press secretary Pierre Salinger, moved to California, won the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. Senate in a hotly contested primary over Alan Cranston and lost to Republican George Murphy in the November general election, despite the largest Democratic presidential electoral landslide in U.S. history.

PETER M. SMALL

Whittier

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Michael Ramirez’s including “liberalism” as part of Hillary Clinton’s political baggage says it all (July 7). Liberalism is not baggage. It represents much that is treasured about this country, from Social Security to Head Start. Reactionaries will never understand that.

JOHN COLENBACK

West Hollywood

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For many years I have had the deepest respect and admiration for Hillary Rodham Clinton. I have been truly impressed by her commitment to social justice, her worldwide involvement in improving the quality of life for children and her unwavering commitment to universal health care coverage.

I don’t think Hillary should run for the Senate in New York. Her incomparable talents and abilities would be better directed in a global, worldwide direction. She can do anything she wants at this point. Her personal power goes way beyond a political dogfight, which will be costly and very dirty.

How better to create a global village than to work in a global way? Mrs. Clinton would make a great senator but I beg her to think of what she could do with her worldwide presence for women, children and improving the quality of life of disenfranchised peoples everywhere.

CECILLE M. GORDON

Los Angeles