Susan McDougal: Common Crook or ‘Steel Magnolia’?

Ann W. O’Neill writes such a wonderful fairy tale about Susan McDougal (“Steel Magnolia,” May 9), but as to the facts:

--Prior to McDougal’s conviction for multiple felonies by 12 jurors in Little Rock, Ark., McDougal asked special prosecutor Kenneth Starr for full immunity in exchange for turning state’s evidence. Starr refused.

--The Arkansas jury concluded that McDougal was a knowing participant in an illegal scheme to steal $300,000 from the American taxpayers. She was convicted by a unanimous jury--not by Starr--of mail fraud, misapplication of funds and making false entries and statements.

It is sad that McDougal has duped so many into believing that she was a political prisoner.

Ted Joseph

Pacific Palisades

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“Can 50,000 People Be Wrong?” If they perceive McDougal as a heroine--the saintly Joan of Arkansas--the answer is emphatically yes.

John Carl Brogdon

Long Beach

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How appropriate that O’Neill should note McDougal’s reaction to a televised clip from “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Not for McDougal’s gratitude for the kindness of 50,000 strangers or any obvious resemblance between McDougal and Blanche DuBois as honeysuckle-tongued daughters of the South, but because, in stark contrast to “Streetcar’s” cowardly director, McDougal adamantly refused to name names to save a skin imperiled by penalties far more dire than the loss of a cushy Hollywood job.

Though she’s never made a movie, McDougal deserves that honorary Oscar far more than Elia Kazan ever will.

Avie Hern

Los Angeles

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I understand that personality features are often not objective, but this was painfully close to advocacy journalism. I kept waiting to hear about the pillow fight O’Neill and McDougal had during their slumber party.

Rick Rogers

Alta Loma

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In view of your recent cover photographs and features on Rodney G. King and Susan McDougal, I’d like to know when we can look forward to seeing O.J. Simpson on the front of the magazine.

Pat Doherty

Hermosa Beach