Hillary Clinton

* A Jan. 6 article about Hillary Clinton’s move to a new house in New York quoted a woman who said she would like to see Hillary live up to her “commitment” to “finish her term as first lady.” The first lady spent her first two years in the White House being upbraided by those who insisted she was not elected to a “term” of office.

Her “commitment” is apparently to her marriage and certainly she has displayed character in living up to that. Her role as first lady, although an important model and bully pulpit position, even like a “co-president,” as many have called Mrs. Clinton, is chiefly ceremonial. She has served in this unpaid and often unappreciated position with distinction for seven years and deserves to move on to her Senate campaign, which is her right in our democracy--and may she prevail as a senator as well.

JANE W. PRETTYMAN

Santa Barbara