Paul Tsongas

Five years ago, during the 1992 presidential primaries, Sen. Paul Tsongas told the voters of New Hampshire that he was not Santa Claus and that Bill Clinton was a “pander bear.” Tsongas died Jan. 18, and his opponent was sworn into the office of the presidency for the second time.

Tsongas beat Clinton in New Hampshire, but lost in Florida when Clinton used the same “medi-scare” tactics regarding Tsongas’ prescient warnings on Social Security. Today, Clinton proposes to reduce the increases in Medicare, and Social Security is bound for some form of privatization in order to ensure its viability.

Tsongas was a dedicated liberal who believed that integrity and conviction should be the hallmarks of a public servant. He sincerely believed that it was an honor to serve and that a politician’s first duty was to the truth, trusting in the public’s good judgment. Perhaps Clinton proved him wrong on that point.

I met Tsongas in the course of running the Concord Coalition in California, an organization founded by Tsongas and former Republican Sen. Warren Rudman, to educate the public on the dangers of runaway middle-class entitlements. Tsongas regularly flew across the country, with no compensation, to promote the growth of an organization dedicated to the highest form of public service. He had nothing to gain politically, his career was over, he was being treated for complications from cancer treatment, and still he came.

DOUGLAS WOLF

San Diego

* I was disappointed to see the important news story announcing the death of an influential [former] U.S. senator relegated to the hinterlands of The Times (Jan. 19). Tsongas was not only an important senator and presidential candidate, but inspired legions of cancer patients around the world with his courageous and tenacious battle against this disease.

RICHARD MILLER MD

Long Beach