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Sir: Various Democratic officials at the convention repeatedly stressed the great necessity of keeping control of the awesome American nuclear arsenal in the hands of the President. With this proposition I fully agree, unless, of course, the "temporary Republican spokesman" is elected President, in which case I would feel much safer with the control of our nuclear weapons in the hands of our military field commanders.
JOHN RICHARD STIPKALA Cleveland
The Other Choice
Sir: In Goldwater's "reasonable" speech [Sept. 11], he condemns Johnson's Administration for allowing violence in the streets. He goes on to say that "they" are restrained only by the plea to wait until after the election to ignite violence again. It would be the height of naivete not to realize that he is referring to Negroes, and if this isn't appealing to the white backlash, I'll eat my last issue of TIME.
(MRS.) JOYCE ZANKMAN Havertown, Pa.
Sir: I wonder how States'-Righter Barry Goldwater would curb the lawlessness and civil disobedience in cities that are supposed to be locally administered.
JANET L. SCHMIEDING Hazelwood, Mo.
Sir: The press keeps saying that the only way Senator Goldwater can win is through the backlash issue. Well, I'm voting for him because he's honest.
JOHN J. BAKER Philadelphia
Sir: It should not surprise the American public that Barry Goldwater is for God, Mother and country, and against sick jokes, off-color drama and pornography. The pity is that he does not realize that he himself is the author of the sickest joke of the year—asking us to make William Miller Vice President.
JAMES A. WILDE Princeton, N.J.
Sir: Senator Goldwater is a direct lineal descendant of the great Puritan preacher Roger Williams, who founded the colony of Rhode Island. There are remarkable parallels in the careers of the two men. though three centuries separate them. Individual freedom is the primary concern of both their lives. Williams wrote The Bloody Tenent of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience (1644), and Goldwater wrote The Conscience of a Conservative (1960). Williams led the fight against religious regimentation in his day, just as Goldwater leads the struggle against government regimentation in our times. Both were special friends to the American Indians and to their fellow citizens outside powerful pressure groups.
PEGGY MORRIS Glendale, Calif.
Who's Supporting Who
Sir: You referred to the political survey we conducted for the National Broadcasting Co., saying that President Johnson is favored by "86% of the Negroes, 97% of the Jews." This should read "86% of the Jews, 97% of the Negroes."
BURNS W. ROPER Elmo Roper & Associates New York City
Who's Not Supporting Who