Reagan’s Visit to Germany

Early in the Reagan presidency one became accustomed to incredible statements and equally incredible acts issuing from the nation’s highest official. Yet, in spite of constant exposure, each new experience found one somehow unprepared and unable to deal effectively with it.

This could be seen in much of the press’s handling of Reagan, culminating in its creation of “the Teflon presidency” myth, and the decision, conscious or otherwise, to simply give up trying to hold the man responsible for fear of public reprisal against any attempt to tarnish the image by printing the truth.

So it is with the most recent, and monstrous episode involving his original plans to visit a German military cemetery but not Dachau. We were blandly told that he wants to look to the future and not raise guilt feelings among his guests, and is amazed that anyone would question his sensitivity regarding the victims of past German atrocities.

The level of comprehension manifest in such babble is equivalent to that displayed in his imbecilic implication that somehow the German nation has disposed of everyone in his late 50s or older who participated in such madness.

PAUL H. RICHTER

Northridge