Lyndon's Convention

Sir: God help my country, my children and me if Lyndon Johnson is elected President. He is the biggest threat to come along since Franklin Roosevelt.

JOAN NAYLOR Oklahoma City

Sir: After watching the oldtimers at the conventions, I've decided to wait until Bobby Kennedy is available in 1972.

EUGENE MCDONALD New York City

Sir: The sight of Mississippi delegates withdrawing from the Democratic Convention is worthy of a salute to the Democratic Party from a lifelong white American Republican like myself. Now if we could entice Mississippi to secede from the Union . . .

MARY C. SUNDBLOM Kansas City, Mo.

Sir: Imagine the vitriolic attacks upon the Republican Party by "sensation-seeking columnists and commentators" had the Republicans refused to seat the New York delegation without a signed pledge from Senators Keating and Javits to support the national ticket. Perhaps the actions of the Democrats in Atlantic City will show conclusively which party seeks a monolithic structure and which party offers diversity of opinion.

DAVID L. RICHARDSON Burlington, Iowa

Sir: It would appear prophetic, though not surprising, that the party so dominated by the so-called "liberal elements" of this nation (the most vociferous and militant proponents of condemning and abolishing all loyalty oaths to local school boards, city, state and federal authority) should demand a loyalty oath from fellow Democrats to the party.

JOSEPH A. CHESANEK Rockville, Md.

Sir: Now we know why President Johnson walks with his hands folded behind him. He has his fingers crossed. And for a good reason. Even though the Democrats' platform promises everything but green stamps, the memorials drew the most applause at the convention.

CHARLOTTE THOMPSON Miami

Sir: As one who came of age four years ago in an atmosphere of some political hope and sensibility, I am appalled at the recent proceedings of both conventions. No thinking person can take the Republicans seriously after the San Francisco debacle, and in Atlantic City the Democrats responded by fighting regression with regression.

JANICE SCHRAMM Northridge, Calif.

You're Welcome

Sir: You referred to the reception for Governor Connally "at Atlantic City's aging Haddon Hall" [Sept. 4]. Having stayed at this fine hotel, I merely wish to say that although it may have come of age, it has certainly done so gracefully. I have not been in a hotel in recent years with employees as well-mannered or with as efficient service as at Haddon Hall.

J. W. FULBRIGHT U.S. Senate Washington, D.C.

Sir: Thanks so much for your dignified article on Atlantic City. Your glorification of the hot-dog and salt-water-taffy aspect of our resort was dear to the hearts of our residents who are spending millions for new hotels, motels, and new shops. Perhaps your staff and some of the convention delegates were so busy with the honky-tonk that you neglected to partake of the other sports we offer our other vacationers, such as fishing, boating, surfing, horse racing, golfing or trapshooting. Thank you so much.

MURRAY RAPHEL President

Atlantic City Retail Merchants Association Atlantic City

The Peddler's Episcopal Grandson

Sir: You quote Barry Goldwater as saying that regular church attendance is not necessary [Aug. 28]. Yet he disagrees with the Suprerne Court's decision on prayers in public schools. This is the advocate of individual as opposed to governmental action?

LINDEN M. MALKI Highland, Calif.

Sir: As for Goldwater's religion, I feel that the Jewish people made a good trade. We lost Barry Goldwater, but we gained Elizabeth Taylor.

LARRY GARDEN Brooklyn

Sir: Please refer Mr. and Mrs. Barry Goldwater to the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. Properly instructed, thevvowed to "worship God every Sunday in His Church." And, from what I read in the press, Lady Bird, Lynda Bird and Luci Baines might also take note of the same instruction.

W. BENNETT PHILLEY Skokie, Ill.

Barry's Boys

Sir: I may be only a delinquent kid who is not worth a darn, but I wish to enter a protest anyway against G.O.P. National Chairman Dean Burch's thoughtless slander against us kids [Aug. 28]. It seems a great shame that all kids are berated for the misdeeds of a few.

CHRISTI RAY Los Gatos, Calif.

Sir: If the Republican Party cannot have faith in "kids," where are the young Republicans coming from? And since when did the problem of delinquency become either a Republican or Democratic problem? It is a problem of the home.

JUANITA P. GANTZER Warrenville, Ill.

Lady Bird Watchers

Sir: For the likes of me, to whom Jackie Kennedy worship is just one more instance of mass subliminal brainwashing, your Aug. 28th cover story on the down-to-earth charms of Lady Bird Johnson was like a freshening wind through Texas loblolly pine. I can think of no happier new casts for the much-abused American-woman image here and abroad than the zest, common sense and candor of this new First Lady.

(MRS.) CATHLEEN BURNS ELMER Boston

Sir: Oh, if only I could be a "flawless mediocrity" like Lady Bird! To make all the money she's made, to look the way she does at 51, to do the kind of job she's doing, to be so adored by her husband and family--that would be enough.

JUNE B. VENDEL Minneapolis

Sir: Your customary cleverness, truthfulness, yet suave inoffensiveness were certainly qualities not evident in your article concerning Lady Bird Johnson. The subtle but savage criticism (especially the criticism of her physical appearance) was totally lacking in good judgment and respect. Although I greatly prefer the Kennedy style to the Johnson style, one must admit that, in her own way, Lady Bird has done a rather remarkable job.

JANE HADLEY Kansas City, Mo.

Sir: Get your scalpel out for Mrs. Goldwater next time.

JULIA WHITE Saginaw, Mich.

Sir: I did not know Bird until she was an upperclassman at the University of Texas. But she is one of the very, very few people I know who has never said an unkind, "catty" remark about anyone. She has no claws. She is a wonderful person, a constant friend, a most considerate and generous casual friend to many. Your article about her offended me deeply, as I am sure it will many of her friends when they read it.

(MRS.) JANET WOFFORD INGRAM Gilmer, Texas

Sir: I have known Lady Bird since she was a baby. I was bookkeeper for her father for 20 years. He had from 125 to 150 tenants on his farms, both white and colored. I have never known him to evict anyone and never known him to refuse to furnish them with groceries, clothing and doctors when needed. I have known him to help people when he knew that he would never be paid. The ridiculous statements made about Mr. Taylor in your magazine could not have come from anyone who knew this charitable man.

JACK MOORE Karnack, Texas

> They did, indeed. TIME correspondents interviewed more than 20 friends of Mrs. Johnson. Among them were several whose memories of Lady Bird and her parents cover more than half a century.--ED.

Sir: Our President is to be congratulated on his choice of a lady and your editors for a story that proves that the entire adult female population of the U.S. is not made up of movie queens and selfcentered women.

ALMA A. JORDAN Richmond

Sir: The fine photograph you printed of my mother in your last number can scarcely compensate for the ridiculous rubbish contributed by your commentator on the subject of her attending Cabinet meetings. Within two months of my father's inauguration, my mother suffered a brain hemorrhage which rendered her unconscious for four or five days and from the effects of which she never fully recovered. For the next two years she had, most unwillingly, to accept the role of invalid. During the whole period of my father's presidency I doubt whether she visited the executive offices half a dozen times.

I think she would like best to be remembered as the person who selected the site for the planting of the Japanese cherry trees in Washington.

HELEN TAFT MANNING Pointe au Pic, Que.

> The "ridiculous rubbish" about Helen Taft came from the official program of the Democratic National Convention.--ED.

Priestly Celibacy

Sir: I have been a Catholic priest for 16 years, and feel that Pierre Hermand's argument that celibacy dehumanizes and cuts priests off from the world they are supposed to serve [Aug. 28] is simply not true of all of us. The more intense, our priestly life, the more human we become, since our whole life is dedicated to the service of mankind. At no time have I felt separated from the human race. On the contrary, I long to get away for a few days from the doorbell, phone, sick calls, meetings, etc.--and if I had been allowed to marry. I would doubtlessly crave moments away from a sweet, adorable wife and crazy mixed-up kids.

(THE REV.) WILLIAM MITCHELL Phoenix

The Big Bridges

Sir: Your article about bridges [Aug. 28] expressed my own feelings for them. They are more awe-inspiring than rockets to the moon. I have an almost reverent regard for the minds that conceive those beautiful, unbelievable bridges.

(MRS.) AGNES HODDES Lexington, Mass.

Sir: Your "Golden Age of Bridges" omitted that milestone, the Mackinac Bridge. "Mighty Mac" is the outstanding contribution to bridge history in the period between the Golden Gate Bridge and the yet to be completed Verrazano-Narrows structure. Completed in 1957, Mackinac far exceeds the Golden Gate in its lean across the Straits of Mackinac. Its total superstructure length is more than 3 1/2 miles. Its suspension section between cable anchors stretches 8,614 ft., more than 1,000 ft. longer than the comparable dimension of the Verrazano Bridge. Only Mackinac's 3,800-ft. main span is shorter than those of Golden Gate and Verrazano.

PAUL D. SMITH Cleveland

Sir: I wish that those superengineers who weave those fabulous cables to support tremendous bridges would design a simple three-wire clothes line that will not sag.

MRS. V. O. FRITZE San Antonio, Texas

Unsporty Entertainment?

Sir: All of us concerned with the integrity of sports are disturbed over the CBS purchase of the Yankees precisely because of the kind of thinking revealed by that TV executive who said, "I can't see the difference between Mickey Mantle and Jackie Gleason. They're both entertainers" [Aug. 21]. If Mantle's new owners ever persuade him that he is being paid just to entertain, baseball can settle gently into its coffin. It is worth noting that some of these same executives a few years ago were unable to distinguish the difference between a Gleason show and a TV quiz contest.

RICHARD L. GAINES Lawrenceville, N.J.

Sir: I heartily favor purchase of the Yankees by CBS. Perhaps professional entertainers can bring new life to what has become an exceedingly dull sport.

JOHN M. ERVING JR. Gulfport, Fla.

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