Reagan: 'A Legacy Of Greatness'

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By Newsweek Editors

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In response to our Oct. 4 Special Report on the controversial Ronald Reagan biography, "Dutch," some readers took issue with the book's style; others criticized Reagan's diffuse role as an "actor-president." The majority, however, echoed the sentiments of one letter writer who described Reagan as "one of the greatest presidents the United States has ever had." Another wrote, "Reagan's legacy of greatness includes decency, honor and courage." And a third gave undivided praise: "The world is a freer place largely due to the unique efforts of America's 40th president."

Dutch Treat or Trick?

Thank you for the illumination provided in the excerpts from Edmund Morris's "Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan" (Special Report, Oct. 4). Few of us could resist President Reagan's charm and charisma as we experienced his extraordinary ability to communicate. But many of us have wondered what he was really like. I was deeply moved by Morris's assessment of Reagan after a 14-year probe into every area of his life: "He is the bravest and most incorrupt figure I've ever studied." Ronald Reagan is a great man who is leaving a legacy of greatness that includes decency, honor, courage and moral leadership.
Laura Ellen Truelove
Nashville, Tennessee

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Congratulations on your excellent article "The Book on Reagan," and thank you for publishing a long-due report on him. Together with Margaret Thatcher, Reagan changed the course of history.
Arthur Nogueira Campos
So Paulo, Brazil

NEWSWEEK deserves credit for drawing attention to Morris's new biography of Reagan. I find nothing "controverisal" in the narrative style that Morris chose, as long as the facts do not succumb to fiction. I hope "Dutch" will help to remind us of one of the greatest presidents the United States has ever had and one of the most inspiring statesmen of this century. I wish the Gipper could realize how much he is missed.
Karl H. Pagac
Villeneuve-Loubet, France

Your Special Report on Ronald Reagan was a joy to read. President Reagan will go down in history as the man who destroyed communism and ended the cold war. It was Reagan's vision and courage that brought freedom to the Eastern-bloc countries and respect for the United States. As a Briton, I'm proud of the memorable years of Reagan's presidency and his "special relationship" with Margaret Thatcher. Mikhail Gorbachev took notice of Reagan's call to "tear down the [Berlin] wall." Reagan took on the Soviets and won--peacefully. The world owes a great debt of honor to Reagan the Statesman who, along with Gorbachev and Thatcher, is one of the political giants of the late 20th century. As we enter the next millennium, the world is a freer place largely--if not solely--due to the unique efforts of America's 40th president.
Dominic Shelmerdine
London, England

I had the pleasure and honor of serving at the U.S. Department of Defense during the last half of Ronald Reagan's presidency. As an Army enlisted man working in the Pentagon, I felt lucky to have him as my commander in chief because every day I went to work, it was with a clear sense of duty and pride that President Reagan led our country. My respect for him lies in my belief that he is one of the most honest, committed and morally upright leaders of our modern era. My years serving as a tiny part of his administration will forever be the highlight of my professional life. I am amused by how difficult it is for people to acknowledge the most perplexing thing about his greatness: that he is simply a good man at heart, and this is what helped make him a great president.
Donato D. D'Onofrio
Old Hickory, Tennessee

I'd like to thank you for the excerpts from the new Reagan biography. Now I know which book not to buy.
Mark Schlin
Odorheiul Secuiesc, Romania

How fitting that Morris chose to use a fictional character to help him tell the story of Reagan, actor-president. Those who complain they have trouble distinguishing the hyperbole from the history in the book now understand how many of us felt in the '80s trying to relate Reagan's rhetoric to the real world. His administration traded arms for hostages and denied funding to critical social programs, and he presided over an unprecedented concentration of wealth in the pocketbooks of the rich. No amount of storytelling can cover up the legacy of cynicism, debt and lost potential that the Reagan presidency visited upon this country.

I have a problem with Morris and his callous description of Reagan's dementia. He should bear in mind that "there, but for the grace of God, go I." Families who deal with this devastating disease do not need to read descriptions of Reagan's insidious idiosyncrasies, written in such a flippant style. Anything for a buck, right?
Jo Brink
Rockledge, Florida

Press Freedom in Korea

In your article "Kim Plays Hard-Ball" you implicitly expressed concern that the government investigation of Hong Seok Hyon, publisher of the newspaper Joong-Ang Ilbo, on suspicion of tax evasion, might have been politically motivated (Asia, Oct. 4). Hong was arrested on Oct. 2 on charges of evading taxes to the equivalent of $2 million and embezzling $500,000. During the investigation, Hong admitted to the tax-evasion charges. The South Korean government and people are determined to uproot widespread corruption regardless of political-party affiliation or social status. Even though his arrest was unfortunate for Hong personally, his wrongdoing is unacceptable. The Joong-Ang Ilbo claims that the arrest of Hong was a revenge against the paper since it supported Lee Hoi-chang, the candidate of what is now the opposition Grand National Party, during the 1997 presidential election. However, Hong was arrested for his personal irregularities. It has nothing to do with the Joong-Ang Ilbo or press freedom. President Kim Dae-jung has repeatedly stressed that there should not be any political vendetta to ensure the continued growth of democracy and a market economy in parallel, and he has guaranteed the independence of this prosecution.
Oh Hong-Keun, Minister
Government Information Agency
Seoul, South Korea

Let Chavez Be Chavez

Your article on Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez presented an image of our president that even our local newspapers have failed to recognize: contrary to any leader this country has had during its democratic history, he is not orthodox and he is the people's leader ("In a League of His Own," World Affairs, Oct. 4). I didn't vote for him, nor do I share many of his views, but I do admit that he's a 180-degree turn from the leaders we've had for the past 20 years. He's trying very hard to do a good job. As they say: let a man be a man and let history judge his actions.
Juan Carlo Rodriguez
Caracas, Venezuela

As a Venezuelan, I would rather take my chances with Hugo Chavez' s state reforms than keep on living in the pseudo democracy that for the last 40 years has impoverished our country. No international organization ever complained the way they now decry Chavez for being militaristic--which he is. But Venezuela needs a strong-armed government in order to make people respect the law.
Cesar E. Whaite
Margarita Island, Venezuela

Some Venezuelans love Chavez's lies, but very few really trust him. He speaks about democracy but at the same time he forbids the opposition-controlled Congress to session.
Arnaldo Arnal
Caracas, Venezuela

Your article gives the impression that Chavez is a god or a star to the Venezuelan people. That's only 56 percent true; the remaining 44 percent do not trust him. If you don't see them it is because they are too busy working to be in front of the Congress. So please, don't make all of us Venezuelans look like a flock of sheep blindly following the leader.
Maria Eugenia Quintero
Caracas, Venezuela

During his eight months in government, Chavez has had time to prove himself. But neither politically, socially nor economically has he done so. We have more than 20 percent unemployment, we're heading for a 9 percent fall in our gross domestic product and we have a militarized society that is not able to stop crime and corruption. Chavez talks too much--that's why we lack confidence and accomplishments.
Jose Paterno
Caracas, Venezuela

Russia and the IMF

Your report on Russia's finances is right about one thing: there is no evidence that the current money-laundering scandal involves the diversions of IMF loans ("Where Did Russia's Money Go?" World Economy, Oct. 4). Your attempt to "track" what happened to IMF money is doomed to failure because it is not possible to locate the final recipients of a particular bank transaction. Thus your insinuation that the "unaccounted for" $2.9 billion has somehow been misappropriated fails to take account of all the legitimate uses of the money, not least to buy imports. You are also wrong to describe IMF lending to Russia last year as a scandal. The Fund, with the unanimous support of its 182 member countries, lent to Russia to try to reverse a growing loss of confidence in financial markets. We recognize the risk that the effort would fail--as it did--but it was a risk worth taking given the downside costs. Any reassessment should recognize that, without the hindsight we now have, the alternatives were less attractive. For all its setbacks, Russia has over the years achieved a reasonable measure of economic stability, has opened its markets to foreign trade and is currently pursuing sound macroeconomic policies. This would not have been possible without the advice and financial support of the international community.
John Odling-Smee, Director
European II Department
International Monetary Fund
Washington, D.C.

Bono on Debt

I agree when Bono, regarding the cancellation of Third World debt, says that "facing reality" is one of the tenets ("Bono on Global Debt," World Affairs, Oct. 4). But I agree for different reasons. Canceling the debt will not solve the problem, only create a moral hazard. The problem must be tackled where the money goes: Western banks that accept it from Third World perpetrators. As long as the money has a safe place to go, no good idea and initiatives are good enough.
Robert Martin
Cobham, England

Diana the Diva

I was disappointed with your portrayal of Diana Ross regarding the recent incident at Heathrow airport ("Flying With La Diva Loca," Newsmakers, Oct. 4). If having your breast touched is not a big deal, then why did the guard charge her with assault? If this had happened to my mother, I would have been just as indignant as Ross, and would probably still be in jail.
Roberto Olivera Lugo
Pleinfeld, Germany

Europe's Food Fight

Only blind conservationists can resist the wonderful new technology of creating pest-resisting crops and meats that don't foul after a day or two ("The Big Food Fight," Europe, Sept. 13). Our future 20-billion-people planet relies on wonders of progress like that. Germans who can buy eggs from a dairy farmer are lucky; but only one out of 50 can afford those prices. I'm worried about neither French farmer Jose Bove, who started the turmoil against McDonald's, nor the future of McDonald's. Bove will either get yet another French farm subsidy or continue to sell his Roquefort to Americans who can afford to pay any price; and McDonald's will, due to the demand, open many more restaurants in France.

Roll Up Your Sleeves, Kids

Since Americans no longer see much of the diseases that vaccines can prevent, some people don't see the need for vaccination ("Are Shots Necessary?" Society & the Arts, Sept. 20). Indeed, because the United States now has the highest rate of immunization of our children in history, we have the lowest rates of diseases prevented by vaccines. But these diseases have not been eliminated. Every year chickenpox kills about 50 previously healthy children in the United States, pertussis causes whooping cough in about 6,000 children, rubella (German measles) causes four to six cases of permanent birth defects and the hepatitis B virus kills about 5,000 people. If we are divided on the need for vaccination, the incidence of these devastating diseases will only increase. On the other hand, if we continue to vaccinate our children at a high rate, there is every reason to believe that we can completely and finally eliminate the permanent disability and death caused by many of these diseases.

Your article "Are Shots Necessary?" is irresponsible. The point of the article should have been the one hidden in the middle of the fourth paragraph: "The doctors' bottom line is that the benefits far outweigh the risks." The article's emphasis on the dangers of vaccines, while skimming over their enormous proven benefits, may lead some parents to not have their children vaccinated and thus put children at unnecessary risk for disease.
Colston Young
Sevan, Armenia

I was happy to see an article on the problems that may be involved with immunizations of children. My parents had the courage in the 1950s not to vaccinate their children. I, too, as I held my perfectly healthy newborn in my arms, wondered how I could possibly shoot her full of disease. This gave me the strength to say "no" to the pressure from doctors and the giant drug companies.
Carolyn Sturm
Frankfurt, Germany

Germany's Shopping Hours

As an American living in Germany, I found the portrayal of Germans in your article "The Freedom to Shop" to be unfair (World Affairs, Aug. 16). The article focused on the poor, "plodding" Germans who have not been "liberated" from the laws of the government and allowed to shop on Sundays. However, we Americans should be commending the Germans for preserving a day of rest made sacred long before we had ever heard of oversize shopping centers and the never-ending urge to "shop-'til-you-drop." For me, watching people of all ages stroll through a peaceful city center on Sundays is proof that these "plodding" Germans are not controlled by insatiable shopping needs, but rather are set on enjoying a day of rest--something money can't buy.
Julie Barthel
Wurzburg, Germany

Testing Works: True or False?

Kudos for showing how dangerous the new standardized tests are ("America's Exam Anxiety," Society & the Arts, Sept. 6). As a former English teacher who quit rather than "teach for the tests," I applaud students who refuse to take these exams.
Jennifer A. Ellis
Winter Haven, Florida

Your report on education failed to capture the rare, yet valuable role played by indigenous educational methods that foster creativity ("The Big Test"). An example is Shanti Niketan in India, founded by Nobel winning poet-philosopher Rabindranath Tagore, that has helped to mold the likes of Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen and generations of artists. Such institutions have successfully modified three factors to foster creativity: changing the physical environment (by holding classes in tranquil surroundings outside the confines of four walls), modifying the educational environment (by combining arts with sciences) and promoting the psychological background for creativity (by reducing emphasis on grades, and demoting the importance of competition).
Saroj Jayasinghe
Galle, Sri Lanka

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