Knowing Sen. Smith

Referring to the Dec. 9-10, Maine Weekend review by John Ripley of Patricia Ward Wallace’s biography of Margaret Chase Smith; I heartily concur with his appraisal of the book being sadly wanting of a true account of Sen. Smith.

Obviously the author lacked a thorough knowledge of Sen. Smith. I had the pleasure and honor of working on her first campign for Congress and many campaigns after. My wife and I had a long relationship with Sen. Smith and never during that time did any of the uncomplimentary remarks in the book ever appear. Here was a senator who braved the war in the South Pacific to visit the armed forces and took an interest in seeing that the enlisted personnel were well taken care of. I wonder if the author is possessed of the same qualities?

In this day and age it seems that most anything will be alleged in an attempt to sell a book. Joshua Treat III Belfast