Surpassing rude
Sir: With his article 'The Reagan vulgarama' (24 January) Mr Nicholas von Hoffman has surpassed himself. In previous articles he has referred to the new American President, in office just ten days, as 'President Pompadour' and 'in his dotage'; He has called Mrs Reagan 'a bitch' and 'Fancy Nancy'. Taki, in your same issue, describes the tales that Mr von Hoffman is spreading about his President's wife as 'completely without foundation'. So why print Mr von Hoffman's scabrous remarks?
He observes about the vulgarama': 'Let the word go out — it is now "in" to flaunt your money.' May I quote from the commentary of Meg Greenfield, a Democratic journalist, in this week's Newsweek? The unhelpful truth', she writes, 'is that the reigning, liberalish celebrity group that has been jolted, if not actually displaced, by the new crown can probably match it mink for mink and carat for carat. The liberals' conceit that their furs come lined with social consciences will not impress the multitudes.'
'Cicero', writes Mr von Hoffman in his latest vulgarama, 'could not get it through his loquacious head that times had changed'. 'Times have changed in Washington', says Meg Greenfield. What seems to have changed in Washington is that people who appeared to be smarmy and unreliable like Carter, Mondale, McGovern, Church, Bayh and Mr von Hoffman himself have been repudiated in favour of people who might prove to be more practical, hopeful' experienced, energetic and down-to-earth' I wish Mr von Hoffman would get that through his loquacious head.
Jon Manchip White University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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