The cover of the Liberty magazine (November 1932) reproduced in The Observer [Fall 2000] illustrates, oh so subtly, the media bias in a presidential election.

The young lady voter on the cover is presented pictorially, debating a choice between Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt. It takes only a brief inspection of the two faces (Hoover and Roosevelt) to realize that one face is smiling and the other is dour, almost grim. Any doubt whom the magazine editors influenced their readers to vote for? You will need to inspect the photograph for the correct answer.

As an aside, I recall as a five-year-old boy that Herbert Hoover had a kindly, grandfather-type visage. I was disappointed that my parents voted against him. Yes, I was at the polls with them in Waterbury [Conn.] that day.

Jack Herrie '64

AmeriCorps*Vista has asked that we help locate alumni who have served with their VISTA National Service program. Excerpts from the letter are reprinted below.

I am writing to request your assistance in locating Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) alumni members who served with the National Service program after attending your academic institution. Last spring, Occidental College piloted this initiative by posting a small announcement in their alumni publication….

The president's office at Occidental agreed to collect the information and send it to us. If more convenient, you may direct them to our office (202) 606-5000 ext. 2365 or <vista35@americorps.org>

If you have any questions, you may contact Michael Wagner, Alumni Associate for AmeriCorps*VISTA at (202) 606-5000 ext. 316 or me directly at ext. 236 [at the same number].

Matt Dunne
Corporation for National Service
Director, AmeriCorps*VISTA

I want to compliment David Isgur for his response [Fall 2000 Observer] to Lisa Lyons's attack on his Bethsaida article for having, in her opinion, one "anti-Semitic" sentence. Mr. Isgur not only elaborated on his sentence but also clarified that he was clearly hustled. However, he saw the humor in the fact that he allowed himself to be hustled. Hopefully, Ms. Lyons sees the humor and is now mollified.

Peter Brock '65

Jennifer Carlin, daughter of Bruce J. Handwerker '62, who died of cancer on June 30, 1982, has asked us to provide members of her father's class with information about him.

My father was a member of the United States Peace Corps shortly after graduating from college. He was in Vietnam and in parts of Africa teaching English and basic survival skills. He met my mother in 1965, and they were wed in 1969 after he finished his Peace Corps and Marine Reserve duties.

My father and mother moved to Los Angeles, where he pursued a career in law enforcement with the Los Angeles Police Department. Although he was not a police officer, he did very important work as a statistician.

He became a father in 1971, when he and my mother adopted my sister, Sharon. I was born two years later in 1973. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1977, and after a valiant fight, he died on June 30, 1982. He was a wonderful father to me and my older sister, Sharon. He would be a grandfather now, and he is very much missed.

My father made an important contribution to the world with his work with the Peace Corps and to his family.

Jennifer L. Carlin
jenncar@microsoft.com