Letters, Sep. 19, 1960

(2 of 3)

First Southerner: Everyone knows that Lyndon Johnson is the South's favorite son.

Second Southerner: You didn't finish your sentence.

W. J. HARRISON

Willis, Texas

African Airlift

Sir:

How dare you practice your distortions so blatantly? In relating the African student incident you say Kennedy was motivated by his concern "about the wavering U.S. Negro vote." In every account to date it has been stressed that the Senator specified that any contribution made by the Kennedy Foundation be made without any publicity. The reason was obvious—to keep people like you from misrepresenting his intentions.

GEORGE WALKER The Bronx, N.Y.

Sir:

Bravo for your excellent coverage of the latest attempt by the Kennedy family to try and outbid the State Department. I am sure that many readers of TIME will echo Senator Hugh Scott's words concerning this matter of exposing the immature, hot-tempered, . glory-seeking actions of the junior Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

BILL STEIN

Euclid, Ohio

The Olympics

Sir:

You deserve a gold medal for the moving and entertaining cover story on Rafer Johnson and tire 1960 Summer Olympics.

I read the article with pride, admiration and a lump in my throat. It convinces me more that only in America can the often pathetic trials of a common man lead so often to a tremendous success story.

KELSEY E. COLLIE Washington, D.C.

Sir:

As one who taught for 30 years in the high school and town of Kingsburg, Calif., which Rafer Johnson has now made famous, I am overjoyed at TIME'S recognition of this remarkably fine young man. However, lest one minor incident recounted in TIME'S story leave an unfair impression of the people of Kingsburg, may I testify that any drawing of a color line is most uncharacteristic of Kingsburgers generally. There Rafer has always been accepted on terms of his worth alone—as a responsible leader in grammar and high school, as an able and dignified president of the high school student body, as a welcome guest at social affairs of home, church and school.

(MRS.) PAULINE NORDSTROM Santa Monica, Calif.

Sir:

Your article on the decathlon star, Rafer Johnson, awakens issues more pertinent and basic to our national prestige, namely, that the U.S. is existing in a dangerously competitive world and that racial prejudice and bigotry cannot be tolerated if we want to continue to exist as a competitor and, possibly, a leader.

FRED R. POWELL Beacon, N.Y.

B.A. in Sandbox?

Sir:

I wish to correct impressions concerning your story, "Mud Pies & Water Play," in the Aug. 29 issue of TIME, as it does not give a complete story of the reasons for denial of a license to Mrs. Lila K. Joralemon to operate a day nursery by the California State Department of Social Welfare.