Uniquely Newman

To the Editors:

I have been looking through history for equals to Paul Newman [Dec. 6] in looks, personality, charisma and intelligence. Hardly anyone comes to mind.

Elsie Cassajaw Isle of Palms, S.C.

Paul Newman's performances demonstrate a depth and understanding of the characters he plays. He is a gifted actor.

Ted Troup St. Albans, N. Y.

Ah... those eyes!

Jan Tyrrell Keyser Phoenix

If we have to have an actor for President, I'd rather it were Paul Newman.

Judy Tunkle New York City

My pleasure at reading your feature on Paul Newman was exceeded only by the jarring sensation I felt when my 15-year-old daughter glanced at the cover and asked, "Who's Newman?"

Mitchell Lynch Boston

After reading the mush about Paul Newman, one longs for an earthy assessment of him. A little humor or ribbing of Newman, the liberal who lives in an East Side Manhattan apartment, a country place in Connecticut and a home in Beverly Hills could have washed down that goo. Your story reminded me of Zelda Fitzgerald's remark to Ernest Hemingway upon seeing Al Jolson, "Don't you think he's greater than Jesus?"

Edward H. Callahan Elmira, N. Y.

Congratulations on your article about my husband. However, I would like to take exception to your description of our daughter's performance at Madison Square Garden as "mediocre." A roomful of ribbons and trophies attests to the fact that she is a fine horseback rider and competitor. To dismiss her ride at the Garden as mediocre is insensitive as well as inaccurate. Might I suggest the word unsuccessful?

Joanne Woodward Newman New York City

Parking the MX

The proposed MX system [Dec. 6] is militarily impractical, economically stupid and morally indefensible.

Mark Bird Henderson, Nev.

The MX Dense Pack plan makes sense now. But the Soviets can figure out a technology to beat the system.

Martin Freund New York City

On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese pilots found the American planes at Pearl Harbor parked wingtip to wingtip. The high brass had ordered this arrangement because it was easier to protect the aircraft from sabotage. Today we would call it Dense Packed.

Robert D. Wilson, M.D. Corvallis, Ore.

The MX missile is a tragedy if we never use it and a greater tragedy if we do. Less rhetoric and more conciliatory gestures by our President can save both the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Roy S. Koch Goshen, Ind.

Throughout history the military has created massive and invariably useless systems of defense, including walled cities and the Maginot Line. These protective schemes have always fallen to a determined enemy who had a better idea.

Joseph Bulba Bloomfield, Conn.

If the U.S. wants to spend so much money on the MX, it should be put where it will be most effective, in Alaska. Installing the missiles close to the Soviet Union would give us more bargaining power and the advantage of faster deployment.

Richard Herold Key West, Fla.

Nakasone's Challenges

Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone [Dec. 6] is staunchly pro-American. Nevertheless, the U.S. will be disappointed if it expects Nakasone to respond quickly and fully to U.S. requests for increased Japanese military power and eased Japanese import restrictions. Rigid budget limitations make it difficult to step up defense spending, and stubborn farmers will resist more beef and citrus imports.

Michio Arai Fujisawa, Japan

Nakasone is not only an opportunist but a stooge for former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, as shown by his appointment of seven members of the Tanaka faction to his Cabinet posts. I wish Tanaka would retire and write his memoirs, as your President Nixon did.

Takmotsu Nishiyama Kumamoto, Japan

Man of the Year

This year's Man of the Year should be the unemployed of America.

Laura Brown Kennesaw, Ga.

E.T. and Steven Spielberg, who gave us hope and happiness.

Resa Mollis Bacsik Murray, Ky.

British Director Trevor Nunn, for bringing Nicholas Nickleby and Cats to America.

Patrick Kowalczyk New Monmouth, N.J.

Brazil's President Joao Figueiredo, for bringing his country a long way toward democracy.

Norwood and Dulce Warwick Brasilia

Pakistan's President Zia ul-Haq, whose accomplishments outshine those of any other world leader in '82.

Farooq Hassan Karachi

Tip O'Neill, for the comeback of the year.

Steve Shemin Bensalem, Pa.

Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn, for entertaining audiences for more than 50 years and still going strong.

Marshall M. Scott Milwaukee

The children of war, Paul, Nimrod, Kim Seng and Pham, who proved there is hope for man.

Scott Morrill Northglenn, Colo.

Trying Harder

"The Myth of the Black Executive" [Dec. 6] is an accurate appraisal of today's employment conditions for blacks. As a black in advertising, I must work twice as hard to prove myself and not be thin-skinned when exposed to racism. These extra burdens do not make my job impossible, just more difficult.

Paul E. Martin Boerum Hill, N. Y.

Your story illustrates the tragedy of affirmative action. As long as identifiable racial and ethnic groups are given extra assistance, the suspicion will exist that minority employees who make it have not done so on their own. They will be considered less qualified than people who were not given similar help. Ironically, the black executive is relegated to second-class status by the programs that seek to elevate him.

C. Edward Fletcher III Cambridge, Mass.

I sympathize with the plight of the black executives and with the problems of the black journalists [Nov. 29]. As a Japanese American living in a predominantly white community, I have had to work harder to come in first. The positive side of this drive for recognition is that one discovers a vast pool of potential that would never be tapped if not for the inherent discriminatory nature of our fellow humans.

Florence Y. Mason Radcliff, Ky.

Fishy Figures

I read the reply [Dec. 6] of New Jersey's treasurer, Kenneth Biederman, to your article "Living Beyond Their Means" [Nov. 8] with amazement. Governor Kean, who was elected on a campaign promise not to raise the sales tax, now wants to increase the tax from 5% to 6%. If this state had a budget surplus at the end of fiscal 1982, as Biederman claims, why do we need increased taxes?

Robert Sinderbrand, M.D. Egg Harbor, N.J.

In his letter to the editor, George Fischer, executive Cabinet secretary, office of the Governor of Kentucky, claims Kentucky finds itself with a $42 million surplus. On Dec. 1, in the Louisville Times, Fischer is cited as saying there will be an "extremely serious" shortfall of $75 million this fiscal year. This is an example of why horse racing and politics are so closely knit here. We play both with careless abandon.

Albert L. Russell Louisville

Offensive Slang

I am shocked to see a letter steeped in prejudice printed in your magazine [Nov. 29]. The slang expressions, "brown-baggers" and "two-baggers," referring to ugly women, reflect a typical male attitude. Men say such things not knowing how much they are hurting women. Do we have names for ugly men? No, they are just unattractive.

Robin F. Smith, Lieutenant

U.S. Army Quartermaster School

Fort Lee, Va.

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