Bush Order Limits Release of Reagan Papers

Re “All the Presidents’ Words Hushed,” Opinion, Nov. 25: I would say it is very clear that President Bush has neither history nor a “better understanding of presidential reasoning” in mind when he “hinders the opening of 68,000 pages of confidential Reagan communications with his advisors.”

Ronald Reagan himself has been all but canonized by the Republican Party as such an exemplary president, so what’s to worry about? Plenty!

Pat Ostrye

Monrovia

Robert Dallek tries to convince us that the 1978 Presidential Records Act is essential to aid White House decision-making. Yet every example given to illustrate a president’s consideration of prior presidential performance occurred before the passage of this law. They did not need it then, and we do not need it now. Bush’s order merely hinders the opening of the records, it does not prohibit it.

Dallek speculates on several possible ulterior motives for the president’s order but presents no evidence to suggest that the stated objective, “to guard against revelations destructive to national security,” is not genuine. In light of current events, this order makes sense.

Doug Flaugh

Lawndale

In restricting access to potentially embarrassing documents of the administration his father served as vice president, Bush has done a great disservice to history and to the U.S. but has provided a valuable lesson: Americans must not let name recognition, memories of bygone eras or assumed knowledge of what “the job is really like” tempt them into electing family dynasties to our highest offices, because family reputation versus the public welfare is one conflict of interest we cannot afford.

David S. Moskowitz

Venice