The Cosmonauts

Sir:

In a time when the emphasis seems to be placed on the lead in the space race rather than on progress, an informative, unbiased article is, to say the least, refreshing. I thought your article on the Russian cosmonauts, Nikolayev and Popovich [Aug. 24], was both thorough and in keeping with the nature of reporting that we Americans claim we need.

True, we all should be informed of our position in relation to opposing forces and the foreign scene in general, but fear should not be permitted to force the accomplishments of others into a subordinate position.

BRUCE F. BRADLEY Baltimore

Sir:

There may be one more problem facing NASA when they finally do get our man on the moon: steering clear of Russian residential sections there.

THOMAS E. BARONE JR. New Orleans

Sir:

The American people must not despair because of Russian achievements. Second place is pretty good, and I'm sure we are a cinch for at least that.

GAEL HOYT Medford, Ore.

Sir:

Now is the time for the United States to show action instead of words.

We have the money to spend. We are the richest country in the world. I'm sure that Russia seldom haggles about funds.

THOMAS F. STEWART Bryantville, Mass.

Sir:

Will TIME be on hand when the cosmonauts go water-skiing with Mrs. Khrushchev?

ADDIS GUTMANN JR.

Seattle With camera, we hope.--ED.

Good Joe

Sir:

TIME'S dissection of "Hollywood grief" [Aug. 17] was a masterpiece.

By trying to bring dignity to Marilyn Monroe's funeral instead of permitting it to degenerate into a Hollywood spectacular, Joe DiMaggio should receive the gratitude of all those who honestly held her in affection and respect.

JERRY C. DAVIS Falls Church, Va.

The Byrd Tree

Sir:

Your cover story on the Byrds of Virginia [Aug. 17] interests and pleases me. Though it is centered on Senator Harry Flood Byrd, it is of interest to note that the middle name Evelyn, appearing in every generation since the second, comes from the beautiful and accomplished daughter of William Byrd II [1674-1744] of Westover, himself a royal pippin on the family apple tree.

DOROTHY L. TYLER Detroit

>-Known as "fair Evelyn" (pronounced Evelyn), Byrd's daughter was a celebrated beauty (see cut). As a young girl she went to live in England where she fell in love with the Earl of Peterborough. Her father forbade the match because the earl was Catholic. A broken-hearted Evelyn returned to Virginia where, she died at the age of 29. The name Evelyn is missing in the sixth generation (circa 1830), but has shown up in every other, impartially divided between male Byrds and lady Byrds.--ED.

Sir:

Thank goodness this country has Senator Byrd, who knows that apples grow on trees, to keep check on President Kennedy, who thinks that money grows on trees.

(MRS.) PATRICIA SKAVDAHL Richland, Wash.

Sir:

I note with interest that Harry Byrd's ancestor objected to the 13 colonies' obtaining their independence from England, which rings true in his thinking today on wanting to preserve the status quo.

R. W. TURQUETTE El Paso, Texas

Sir:

I previously envisioned Senator Byrd as a pompous know-it-all seeking to throw a monkey wrench into this Administration's or any administration's legislative hopes.

I am still opposed to his views on legislative policy, but, thanks to your enlightening article, I now respect both the man and his opinions.

HARVEY STABINSKY Brooklyn

Dry Eyes

Sir:

You state that "famed, publicity-sensitive Trial Lawyer Louis Nizer . . . brought tears even to the eyes of opposing Assistant State's Attorney James Thompson with the eloquence of his plea . . ." [Aug. 10].

He wasn't and I didn't.

JAMES R. THOMPSON Chicago

The Sister & the Family Sir:

I would like to reiterate Sister Mary Paul's statement that she protests "almost alone" against the publicizing of President Kennedy and his family. Her opinions expressed in the Nation and reported in TIME (Aug. 17) are certainly not to be taken as those of the Sisters of Mercy as a whole, nor of the administration and faculty of College Misericordia.* We especially deplore the author's accusation of the "amassing of personal power" by the President. We admire his vigorous and sometimes vehement self-dedication to the cause of justice and charity in the country of which he is chief executive. If it be true that "Mr. Kennedy has become synonymous with the U.S.," then we can be proud of the reputation that his character and personality are building for us on the world scene.

SISTER MARY CELESTINE, R.S.M.

President

College Misericordia Dallas, Pa.

Sir:

I commend Sister Mary Paul for expressing thoughts that many of us Americans have held but not voiced. We Americans know how the average family conducts itself, but people throughout the world think we live the flamboyant and ostentatious lives of the Kennedys. Ask any average woman her last day of complete relaxation from her household duties, or any full-blooded American man the number of times he plays football a week.

(MRS.) PATRICIA H. BATTAGLIA Loudonville, N.Y.

Sir:

May I please add a loud Methodist amen to Sister Mary Paul's protest against the Kennedy personality cult.

The world, and especially our country, has been given an overdose of Kennedys.

I hope the next President will be a Republican bachelor who is also an only child.

SAM SHARP Dallas

Hand-Tailored Interns

Sir:

As an organization which has been in the business of placing political interns in Washington and elsewhere for a decade, we were delighted to read "Interns in Government" [Aug. 17]. To round out the research, only two points need be added: that large numbers of the interns come from west of the Hudson, and that a distinction ought to be drawn between "political"' and "administrative" internships.

Not many interns can expect the political glamour and responsibility of "handling secret dispatches for the Somali Republic's new Ambassador to the U.S." They should, however, expect assignments which will test their mettle and give them some insight into the political process. Our organization hand-tailors each internship for its political value to student and employer alike. If the student can't be put to fruitful and educational work, he's encouraged to spend the summer at home.

BERNARD C. HENNESSY Director

National Center for Education in Politics New York City

Princess Who?

Sir:

Why do members of the news media continue to refer to Lee Radziwill as princess? This claim to royalty was recently specifically denied by the British authorities. Is there a prince who is perhaps a pretender to something? If she truly is a princess, fine, but if not, why the insistence on the title? Is this another publicity bit to further enhance the dynasty? If there is some foundation to the use of the title, would you please let me know what it is.

WARREN M. SCOTT JR.

Houston

>Lee's husband, Stanislas Radziwill, is a descendant of Polish kings. However, as a naturalized British subject, he is not entitled to hold a foreign title without a royal license, which has not been granted to him. The Radziwills, nevertheless, continue to call themselves Prince and Princess.--ED.

San Diego Sound & Fury

Sir:

TIME Magazine has always in the past, in my consideration, been a fair and impartial review of situations existent in our country and throughout the world.

However, as mayor of the city of San Diego, I must protest as erroneous and non-factual your August 17th issue report headlined "Bust Town?"

Through the years we have accomplished more than the average community in providing employment, housing and industry for our people. We are proud of the great U.S. naval facilities here, and acknowledge their service to our economy. We are proud of achievements in the various fields of aviation and space, and of the talented engineers and scientists whose interests bring them here. We are proud of our accomplishments in the educational field and soon will have a large major campus of the University of California located here. We are proud of our civic cooperation that has made possible the location of the Jonas Salk Institute for Biological Research here. We have earned our niche in this world.

True, we are in the center of a recession that plagues our entire nation. However, its effect on the city has not been such that warrants your condemnation.

CHARLES C. BAIL Mayor San Diego

Sir:

Ignore hot denials from our ostrich-type city officials. San Diego is a '62 bust.

JOHN H. COLWELL

Sales Manager Palette Enterprises Inc. San Diego

Sir:

We have lived in San Diego all our lives, and we want to tell you that we are glad someone has finally noticed the bad economic situation in San Diego. My husband has been out of work for three months. He worked for Convair for more than eleven years and was laid off along with thousands of others. He knows no other trade. He has looked everywhere. Soon he will be forced to look for work out of town or state. We do not want to leave San Diego; we have our home, and our children are enrolled in school. We hope your article may help bring work to San Diego.

(MRS.) WANDA MARCHESE San Diego

Sir:

You only scratched the surface: city officials do nothing but cover up for one another. This town is in real trouble. Look at all the empty stores on every main street. The growing pains that they mention are from growing broke.

GERALD DUNN

Sales Manager House of Hardtops

San Diego

Sir:

Your factual reporting of the business slump in San Diego is typically denied by the city fathers, whose blind optimism creates the poor business climate.

I am one of the numerous small-business owners who are liquidating stock and going out of business.

EVE H. LOWERY San Diego

Good Companions

Sir:

I appreciate the excellent article on the St. Louis metropolitan police department [Aug. 24]. I regret the oversight in not crediting the outstanding service and cooperation of the other police board members: Russell L. Dearmont, Alphonse G. Eberle, Kenneth Teasdale and Raymond R. Tucker.* Without their counsel and support, no such record would have been possible.

President

Board of Police Commissioners St. Louis Police Department St. Louis

Souvenirs

Sir:

Will you please thank all the ladies and gentlemen who did the wonderful cover story of "Dutch" Kindelberger some years back [June 29, 1953]. It is one of my most treasured souvenirs of the wonderful man I had the privilege of spending 18 years with. Also thank you for the notice in Milestones [Aug. 3]. It told more in a few words of what he was and stood for than the many things that have been written of him.

HELEN LOUISE KINDELBERGER Palm Springs, Calif.

* Sister Mary Paul's order and school. Dearmont, 71, is executive consultant and former chairman of the board of Missouri Pacific Railroad. Eberle. 73, is an attorney and former dean of St. Louis University Law School. Teasdale, 67, is also an attorney and a former president of the Missouri Bar Association, and Tucker, 65, is mayor of St. Louis and an ex-officio member of the police board.

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