To the Editor:

While visiting a friend in Bridgeport, I happened across a letter in “The Post” by Terry Alan Burstein on August 14. I would like to answer some of Mr. Burstein’s comments concerning Richard Nixon.

First of all, the death penalty, contrary to Mr. Burstein’s belief, has been imposed on a number of political dissenters. Government representatives killed four youths at Kent State University over three years ago, and since then, similar events have occurred. Why were these students killed? Because they were voicing their distaste for Nixon’s doctrines both in foreign affairs and at home.

Unfortunately, there are other parallels, which can be drawn between Nixon today and Hitler’s Germany in the early thirties. Slowly, Nixon has been attempting to usurp powers which ‘belong’ to other branches of government.

One obvious example occurred when our troops entered both Cambodia and Laos. According to our Constitution, only Congress has the power to authorize an invasion of a foreign land. Not only did Nixon not get congressional approval, he never even consulted Congress.

The Senate Watergate hearings have disclosed even more Nixon antics. John Ehrlichman arrogantly stated that the White House can break the law any time it feels national security is at stake. When men put themselves above the law and get away with it, we are all in trouble. (Isn’t this what most dictators do?)

I should mention that although many claim that Nixon was just unfortunate in his choice of certain aides, it must be noted that H. R. Haldeman, for example, became the second most powerful man in the country although he had been charged in California in 1962 for election irregularities while working for Richard Nixon. The President was well aware of the caliber of men he chose to run the country.

The parallels exist! I just hope and pray that the citizens of the United States see the light before Richard Nixon plunges us into darkness.

Steve Feldstein
Akron, Ohio