She gave us a President, two senators, courage and dignity. Most of all, she exemplifies the gift of faith: faith in God, ourselves and in each other. No single word can describe the magnificent Rose Kennedy (PEOPLE, Sept. 22).
Steven M. Mappes
Indianapolis
The country is sick of the Kennedys in some publication nearly every week. Do you believe those people old enough to think and to remember will forget Chappaquiddick? And the ways Joe Kennedy made his money?
Grace G. Herberts
Western Springs, Ill.
You state the number of grandchildren as 29. Mrs. Kennedy's book says 28. I come up with 27: President Kennedy, 2; Sen. Robert Kennedy, 11; Sen. Ted Kennedy, 3; Pat Lawford, 4; Eunice Shriver, 5; and Jean Smith, 2. Please, what is the exact number?
Donna Roberts
Concord, N.Y.
Add the Smiths' adopted daughters Amanda, 8, and Kim, 2 (the latter new since Mrs. Kennedy's count), to get the correct total of 29—ED.
Midge Decter
If my "ineffectual upbringing" (a mixture of compassionate parents and growing up in the '60s) hasn't rendered me incapable of reflective consciousness, I'd swear Midge Decter was a reincarnation of the Mad Hatter.
Suwonneh Landis
Gainesville, Fla.
The youth culture of the 1960s evolved because many young people were disgusted with the base materialism and false values of the older generation. Whether we "baby-boom" kids really helped to change the system has yet to be determined. However, Midge Decter's statement that a boy who was "first in his high school class" is in bad shape because he now makes candles or opens a leather shop makes me want to dig out my weathered picket signs all over again.
Anne Graham Oscard
Los Angeles
Look around, Midge. There's a whole country full of us "baby-boom" kids who are well-adjusted, healthy, earning our own living and basically happy. We grew up in loving, disciplined homes, we do not take drugs and we have a collective appetite for life strong enough to recover from Watergate and the Houston murders.
We have also learned to be patient with people who tend to categorize us.
Paula Brooks Rowley
Washington, D.C.
Thanks to Midge Decter, someone has finally put into words the hoax perpetuated on the American parent by so-called child experts and the academic community. Our high schools are still "ass-kissers of the young." Maybe this book will wake us parents up and out of a "conspiracy of silence."
Dolly Smith
King, N.C.
People like Midge Decter create the real problem—that of hysteria. She has probably convinced another 5,000 grandparents never to stray from their homes for fear of being mugged by a candle-wielding, drug-crazed college-educated handyman.
Jim Forst
St. Louis
A more apt thesis for Ms. Decter would be "Hypocritical Parents, Confused Children," but I fear admission of one's mistakes is a virtue few parents possess, much less instill in their children.
Alfredo Criado
Los Angeles
The '60s also saw, synonymously with drugs and dropouts, the Black Power movement and the antiwar protests. Was all of this the product of children who grew up in a painless, unrealistic environment?
James R. O'Dell
Riverside, Calif.
Fanne Foxe
I am a college student about the age of Ms. Foxe's children. I can just see myself standing in the garden, joking with my mother about her affair, pregnancy, abortions, attempted suicides and attempted murder of my father. I'm afraid I would be lying on someone's couch somewhere.
David Graham
Natchez, Miss.
Fanne Foxe's strive for the almighty dollar has, I'm sure, humiliated beyond comprehension both Rep. and Mrs. Mills. She must have zero dignity and self-respect to let money play such an important role.
Ms. K. Solhaug
Minneapolis
Phil Spector
After working eight months as vice-president and general manager of the Warner-Spector label, I know your article was an accurate description. To say the least, working there was like playing handball against a blanket.
Ron Saul
Los Angeles
I thought "Oh, good, now I'll learn a little about that Phil Spector I've heard so much about since my teen years," but, the more I read and the closer I looked the sicker I got. Ever since reading your article I can't even look at a Brillo pad without running for the Alka-Seltzer.
Liz Angelis
Roslyn, N.Y.
Two clowns in one issue! Fantastic! One turkey urinates outside Al Fong's restaurant. Yippie! The other turkey makes a fortune wrecking cars. Oh wow! Come on, PEOPLE, there are folks out there really doing things, creating real art, helping others, curing disease, making peace et al. They are not that hard to find. Give us some inspiration.
Matt Davison
Gladstone, Mo.
Martina Navratilova
Congratulations, Martina! I emigrated from Czechoslovakia five years ago. Some time you'll get homesick, but there is nothing more beautiful than to live in a free country. Good luck, lots of happiness and keep on playing.
Dana Kotik Harrison
Santa Monica.
Dr. Bart Bok
I am both amused and angered by the scientists' attack on astrology. Each generation of scientists disproves a large part of the previous generation's "unalterable laws," while the methodology and the basis of astrology have remained unchanged for 3,000 years. Let's tell these pompous, unscientifically close-minded gentlemen to stop trying to restrict the free exchange of ideas, or we'll take back their Nobel Prizes!
Joyce Jillson
Astrological Reporter
KTTV Television
Los Angeles
When Sir Isaac Newton, entering Cambridge, was asked what he desired to study, he replied: "Mathematics—because I wish to test Judicial Astrology." In later years, when chided by astronomer Halley for his belief in the validity of astrological principles, he replied: "Evidently you have not looked into Astrology. I have." Dr. Bok would do well to follow Newton's advice.
Sharon Tammen
Rockford, Ill.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
