Making of a Patriot

Thirty years ago I took three of my five young children to a theater in West Ashley that has long since closed to see "All the President's Men." I am sure they would have liked to see something more attuned to their age at the time, but my wife and I had followed the Watergate story from beginning to end and believed it was important in the course of American history.

The Post and Courier editorial June 3 supporting the contribution Mark Felt made to directing Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in the right direction in their investigation emphasizes that importance. I believe now, as I did then, that "Deep Throat" performed a great service to America despite his personal misgivings, inner turmoil and anguish.

Today, we continue to enjoy the freedom envisioned by our founding fathers because a free press keeps the spotlight on government and because in a time of turmoil and testing, the heartland of America always seems to produce a patriot like Mark Felt. (The Post & Courier, June 10, 2005, Letters to the Editor)
#271 (05-32)

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I love David

Yesterday, June 2, 2005, in Fenway Park, David Ortiz, in the bottom of the ninth inning against a Baltimore team leading 4-3, and with two on and two out and the count 3-2, smashed a three-run walk off home run into the centerfield seats thereby winning the game for Boston 6-4.
#270 (05-31)
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Felt is a hero

In the last 48 hours a few voices have been raised criticizing Mark Felt, former #2 man at the FBI, for his actions during the Watergate period which earned him the sobriquet "Deep Throat". The criticisms, from those who should know better, say Felt should not have gone to a reporter but to his seniors. His immediate boss, Acting FBI Director L. Patrick Gray, was throwing evidence off the bridge and into the Potomac, the Attorney General approved the breakins, the White House counsel was in on the coverups, the President was involved up to his ears, Congressional committees were not formed and investigating. Who the hell was Felt supposed to turn to?
#269 (05-30)
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Social Security Reform: Q&A
Today I looked in at www.gao.gov/new.items/d05193sp.pdf and viewed the General Accountability Office's 77-page monograph on Social Security Reform: Answers to Key Questions. Like most government writings it lacks drama, suspense and sex, but it is the ultimate source to understanding Social Security, past, present and future.
#268 (05-29)
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