To:         President Ronald Reagan
Date:      May 3, 1988
Subject: He called on the USSR to allow the free flow of ideas
Result:   no response

Dear President Reagan,

I have a recent article that says how you called on the USSR to allow the free flow of ideas. Next to the article is a picture of you looking very smug and self-righteous about it, reflecting our national consciousness (or, at least, our national consciousness as reflected by our politicians).

I personally would like to see you look into the restrictions on the flow of ideas in our own country, documented in the enclosed materials [footnote: materials I sent associated with one of my several mail campaigns, which accomplished a lot].

Of course it's too late now, but I for one wish you had had a broader, braver scope and vision of leadership and the Presidency, in general. That you did not was partly why one vote for you was enough, in 1980.

I am a person who does not quibble over whether the glass is half-empty or half-full, to cite one of your metaphors. I am not consoled that in comparison to ours, other glasses in the world may be three-quarters empty or one-quarter full, more or less of whatever. I want a full glass.

I wrote to you a couple of years ago in my last outburst of self-expression. I observed that our society loves to say words like "reach for the stars" - until it meets a star-reacher. Then it turns out that what was actually meant were nice, safe, close-in stars that everybody can easily see. I look higher.

At that time in my life I composed my epitaph, in case I would need it: "His dreams were too big and they carried him down" [also a hit song]. But I'm still going at it, you'll be glad to know.

Sincerely, John Vehon