Newt Gingrich

* The Times reported that Newt Gingrich characterized the “Establishment press” as the “mortal enemy” of Republican reformers in Congress (March 8).

That’s funny, I always thought that a free press was the best guarantor of the civil liberties and rights of a free people living under a representational democracy. As a former professor of history, Gingrich must be aware that the enemies of the press, and those who seek to control it, have invariably turned out to be dictators and authoritarian tyrants.

Gingrich is also reported as saying that the editorial boards of some newspapers harbor “socialists.” Horrors! And here I was, sleeping peacefully at night, secure in the mistaken belief that Sen. Joe McCarthy had rid our great nation of those rascals way back in the ‘50s! I guess I’ve got some catching up to do.

MICHAEL R. THOMAN

Los Angeles

* Speaker Gingrich castigated opponents of his party’s proposed cuts in social services saying that those critics believe “if you don’t give every child a Ferrari you’re cheating them.” Probably most social service recipients could be bought off by a book deal with Harper Collins.

ALLAN MANINGS

Malibu

* You are amazing in your arrogance! Your lambasting of Newt Gingrich is the absolute case in point (“Nuclear Newt,” editorial, March 9). I ask you, how many Democrats (especially Clinton) have you ever “examined” closely? Especially their policies? Remember (former Democratic Speaker) Tom Foley?

RICHARD HODULIK

Burbank