Letter from Saul Downes (New York, N.Y.) to Chic Hecht (Washington, D.C.), January 14, 1986

201 (PAST 79TH STREET NEW YORK, N. Y. 10021 (212) 249-1897 January 1^,1986 Senator Chic Hecht Washington,DC. 20013-7069 Dear Senator Hecht, I received your piece on the National Jewish Coalition, dated Tuesday. I don't know who the National Jewish Coalition is, what sort of Coalition it claims, perhaps on the order of a Moral Majority, which I and others find neither too moral and certainly not a majority. I do note your conservative base, Nevada, which has no taxes of any import, is based on a gambling economy, and preserves a right-to-work law, and that you succeeded the infamous Senator Howard Cannon. What you have done in your Tuesday letter is to foster the Big Lie. You say that the Soviet 'thireat is opposed by liberal Demo-crats in the House of Representatives. You said they voted against aid to Israel, and make such other assertions that one would have to take all you say with little credence. I don't know if your forte is foreign affairs, or the extension of the cold war, or the increase of our military war machinery, but whatever it is, it does not lead to peace in the world or aid to Jews anywhere. Jews tend to vote liberal. They still were one of the few groups who supported Mondale. They still believe in aiding the under-class. Even most of the Republicans within this group consider themselves moderate. You obviously are an exception, and whoever the National Jewish Coalition is an exception. They sound to me as an extension to Ariel Sharon, and his policies do no good for Israel of the Middle East. They are self defeating and I be-lieve the policies of the 'Coalition' are also self defeating. Most sincerely,