• U.S.

Letters, Dec. 10, 1973

9 minute read
TIME

A Cold Winter

Sir / In your story [Nov. 19] about King Feisal and the energy crisis, you gave a somewhat benevolent description of Feisal; but it seems his powers are not limited only to Saudi Arabia, but rather extend to every country in the world.

In the U.S., which only gets 11% of its oil from the Arabs, the cutoff decree has sent prices up, thermostats down, caused speed limits to be lowered, and prompted suggestions of gasoline rationing. This is minor compared to what could happen to Japan. Europe also is dependent on the Arabs for fuel.

It seems the King will have this power in the future, for even if the U.S. becomes self-sufficient, it is unlikely that we could support all of Europe and Japan.

It looks like a cold winter for us this year, and thanks to the King, many a cold winter to come.

THOMAS WELSHKO

Baltimore

Sir / It is obvious that the Arabs have come of age because they no longer rely on verbal barrage and senseless acts of terrorism to advance their interests.

One cannot help admiring them for realizing that as the Russians understand force, the Americans, and to some extent the West Europeans, understand when they are hit in the pocket.

J.M. MONTEY

Cherry Hill, N.J.

Sir / Of late I’ve found fascinating the antics of Western Europe in reaction to the Arab stranglehold on oil. Europe is so quick to disclaim any pro-Israel stance, even to the point of letting a partner, The Netherlands, go cold alone, and this strikes me as very telling of the European mentality and EEC maturity.

A commodity as crucial as oil should not be allowed to become the pawn when the health and welfare of the world depend upon it. One dreams of the day when an effective U.N. could be responsible for the distribution and supply of world essentials, with proper reimbursement to the nation whose boundaries encompass the needed commodity.

DAVID L.HARRIS

Quezon City, Philippines

Sir / As a result of the Arab cutoff of our oil supply, I understand more clearly now the rationale of imperialism.

WILLIAM WALLACE

Fraser, N.Y.

Sir / It is becoming rapidly apparent that there are two commodities being sold in the Middle East: oil and Israel.

RICHARD REBHUN

Los Angeles

Sir / Hail to the rulers of the world—the Arab oil kings.

MARY TOY

Boston

Back to the A Sticker

Sir / Why do those knuckleheads in Washington think that the solution to every crisis is to add another tax?

It would be grossly unfair to thousands of Americans who must use their cars for their livelihood to be taxed as much as 40¢ a gallon for gasoline.

A rationing of available gasoline is the only fair way to meet this fuel shortage. I could stand living with an A sticker again, if I must.

MARGARET T. GALLAWAY

Richmond

Sir / Why put down Farmer Dick Shuttleworth with the phrase “Rube Goldberg contraption” when writing about his generation of methane gas from his farm’s manure? He is providing power for himself, lessening pollution and, I suspect, getting some really decent fertilizer as a byproduct of his operation.

Those of us who are dependent on the Rube Goldberg contraptions of Government policy and power generation would do well to attempt to copy Dick Shuttleworth’s example of self-sufficient living.

C. RUSSELL HORNER

Waretown, N.J.

Sir / It has finally dawned on me why our President maintains the San Clemente and Key Biscayne White Houses. With the upcoming fuel shortages and the upcoming winter season, Mr. Nixon will have two warm homes to which to fly.

I just hope he doesn’t expect us to believe that Air Force One is a glider that doesn’t use fuel.

JOHN A. GILSON

Augusta, Ga.

Sir / Noting that the military is given first priority on U.S. oil, it looks to me as if the energy crisis were pretty well on its way to solution. We simply use the remaining precious supply to blow each other to smithereens and leave the planet to the aardvark and the scorpion.

IONE GIFFEN MAXWELL

Point Richmond, Calif.

Sir / I certainly hope there will be enough electricity around this winter to watch the impeachment proceedings of Richard Nixon on television.

JUDY GOTTSCHALK

Tucson, Ariz.

Debate on the President

Sir / I must commend the writer who created the editorial [Nov. 12]; she or he is a truly great,artist. It brought into account every facet of the situation except one, as I see it.

We must consider the reality. Nixon has gone through Watergate, etc., just to become President. To even consider that a maniac this fanatical about power might resign is impossible. I implore you to support impeachment.

CYNDIE MERTEN

Claremont, Calif.

Sir / I have just gone on the jury of the people against Nixon, and none of the mounting cacophonous insults to the nation listed in your editorial are responsible.

The last straw for many of us lower-middle-class citizens was in the press statement that Nixon paid an income tax of $750. This gross unfairness in our democratic society hits below the belt.

As a registered nurse, I paid several thousand dollars more in taxes than the President! He uses our taxes to reline his silken palaces, while I worry that our meager savings will not see us through life without having to ask for the help of church or public charities.

MARYS. SEASE, R.N.

Waynesboro, Pa.

Sir / Whoa! Hold it, TIME, and all you howling hotheads lusting for the President’s scalp. Your righteous indignation is blinding you to the political realities of the national and world situation.

There seems to be a naive belief that just anybody handy could step into the presidency, and everything would be hunky-dory. Do not kid yourself. I would rather see a seasoned veteran with dented and dusty armor in charge during these times of crisis than a well-intentioned but inexperienced Mr. Clean, untutored in the intricacies of the world’s most demanding job.

JEROME S. MILLER

Grand Rapids

Sir / The most interesting thing to me about TIME’S poll on Nixon and Watergate [Nov. 19] was not how many people wanted him to stay in office or how many wanted him to resign. Rather it was the significant trend in American attitudes toward politics and corruption: 56% said he violated a promise; 68%, he knew of the coverup: a mere 10% would deny him the privilege to continue in office. Does this not tell us something about what the American people are willing to settle for in their leaders? Perhaps we have finally discovered who is to blame for Watergate.

BENJAMIN C. RIGGS JR.

Orange Park. Fla.

Sir / If Nixon’s jury is the people, as you claim, then what happened to the female population? At the most, only three or four of the twelve people on the cover could possibly be women, and I doubt that even they are. For your information, women were given the vote a few years back.

NANCY WILKOWSKE

Gainesville, Fla.

Inner Glow in Oregon

Sirs / Oregon’s outdoor lighting ban is not as “desolate” and “dreary” as your writer imagined [Nov. 19]. I assure you it is quite pleasant to be out at night without the glaring light of advertisements and uselessly lit “cityscapes.” One is compensated by an inner glow of satisfaction, brought about by the knowledge that we are preparing for an ecological future.

Are the poisonous cities of the East proud of their wasteful glare, which, as far as I can see, serves only to illuminate the haze of their decay?

GERALD MACKIE

Eugene, Ore.

Preference for Pretty Girls

Sir / My attention has been drawn to your People section [Nov. 19].

I am surprised at the combination of ignorance and impertinence that such a distinguished artist as Martha Graham displays in assessing my “notions of the purpose of dance.” I have never met the lady, and we never had any discussions about my notions or anything else. I would not presume to guess Miss Graham’s notions about opera; in fact, I am unaware that she ever came.

But I do readily admit that in dance I prefer pretty girls to old ladies.

SIR RUDOLF BING

New York City

The Brightest and the Best

Sir / The observation in “Awaiting a Stable Marriage” [Nov. 19] that Princess Anne’s Mark Phillips is not too bright is most interesting.

Considering that he got the “best catch” in England, a huge increase in yearly income, very likely a title, became a worldwide celebrity overnight, and will be able to start housekeeping in a five-bedroom house at Sandhurst says a great deal for his lack of intelligence.

BRUCE STOCK

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Man of the Year

Sir / Man of the Year? Senator Sam Ervin. He has done his careful best to preserve the American system in the face of almost overwhelming lawlessness.

DAN G. KENT

Dallas

Sir / I hereby nominate Richard Nixon for TIME’S Man of the Year.

Those individuals previously recognized managed to influence world events in profound ways, whether for good or evil. Nixon did both in one year.

MICHAEL M. DUDEK

Olyphant, Pa.

Sir / Let me be among the first to nominate Henry Kissinger as Man of the Year. I am sure he will be one of the rare individuals who will be given this honor for two consecutive years.

BEHRAM D. IRANI

Teheran

Sir / For Woman of the Year I nominate Julie Nixon Eisenhower. Her courage, integrity, charm and poise overshadow all who are involved in Watergate or the Senate hearings.

MARY TURNER

Tempe, Ariz.

Sir / Why not, at this dirty tricks’ point in time, distinguish the incorruptible and always operative Ralph Nader as TIME’S Man of the Year? Would it not be a priceless gift from TIME to begin the new year with an image of decency before us?

ANN LIPÓVAC

Chicago

Sir / I nominate for Man of the Year the watchdog of the public trust, Jack Anderson. He deserves to be recognized for insisting upon honesty in Government and public service.

WILLIAM G. GIST

Bloomington, Ind.

Sir / For obvious reasons, I nominate Robert Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post for Men of the Year.

CLAUDE E. DAWSON

San Francisco

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