Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-05
'GoIdwoter Miscue'

SOIOWOteT MISCuG
AS one who regularly APP
plauds The Star editorials, I
feel compelled to express my
disappointment in your edi-
torial treatment Of Senator
Goldwater's San Francisco
speech. 1t seems out Of char
acter with your usual editorial
policy.
The Kennedy administra-
tons vacillation, indecisioll,
and unwillingness to make q
strong stand against Com
munist expansion not only
invites erosion Of that shrink
ing sector we call the Free
World, but viii ultimately
bring US face to face with the
choice Of war or total sur
render.
Communists are not senti-
mental. They are hard-nosed
realists. BY acting as II
America is unwilling to fight
for principle, our leaders in
vite continuous Communist
expansion and limited ag-
qresSion." Our conciliatory
efforts mean but one thing to
the Communists: weaknessl
United States irresolution
gave China to the Commu-
nists; it set the stage for
Communist invasion of Korea
and the resultant dishonor-
able partition agreement; 1t
permitted KhruShchev to
build a wall in Berlin; and
it paved the way for estab-
lishment Of q Soviet beach
head in Cuba.
Senator Goldwater is one
Of many prominent Ameri-
cans in both parties who adj
vocate firmness and consist
ency in dealing with interna-
tional communism. This re-
fleets the view of millions Of
Americans substantial ma
jority, in my opinion-who
believe this is the only course
which can preserve q SEM
blance Of liberty in the now
Free World and who believe
further that this is the course
which Is least likely to result
in catastrophe war.
Reed Larson.
So &H
Your editorial, "Goldwater
Miscue," deserves comment.
In one speech (even the
marathon type) 1t would
hardly be possible to emu
merate all the anti-American
ideas being practiced or advo-
Gated by the present admin
istration. Even your editorial
comedies the validity Of Sen
ator Goldwater's remarks on
domestic issues.
The Berlin Wall and Cuba
provide classic examples in
foreign policy. What the Sen
ator said made q lot Of sense
to many older Republicans
and Democrats alike. 1t Is
consistent with the recent
Gallup poll which found that
a majority feel the President
is not consistent with the
American ideals.
Berlin is more than so times
further away from the United
States than Cuba is but the
situation in Cuba is more
than 80 times as deplorable.
Not because of the physical
dangers but because Of the
cardinal principles being vio-
lated and the anti-American
idea that nothing can be done
about 1t.
Granted that the PreSi-
dent may not be able to do
anything about Berlin but to
many Of US q million cheers
at the wall Of shame have q
discordant ring so long as Q
worse condition exists 90
miles from our shores and
the anti-American idea OF
do nothing" is the order OF
the day.
It is highly improper for
you to jump TO the conclu-
sion that invasion is the only
alternative and ignore q
dozen other things which
could and should be done
short of invasion. II these
should fail, which is highly
unlikely. II might then be
timely to consider an inva-
sion.
Neither do we appreciate
your anti-American idea
that because Of these dam
gerous times" II is out Of
order to talk realistically
about a situation that might
get worse II we do. This Is
like the anti-American idea
the President and his BROTH
er, Bobby, are using regard
ing the race issue which says
II Congress does not give the
Negroes all they demand
they will with the help Of
the administration become
more violent.
Senator Goldwater Is no
segregationist but / don't
think he Is going 10 panic in
the face Of such threats. We
e.