Re "Truth Is, We Need More Goldwaters," Commentary, Aug. 16: Pete Hamill should know that those of us who miss Barry Goldwater are large in number, represent many shades of political opinion and long for elected leaders who give citizens the respect of telling them the truth.

For us Republicans who still remember our party's environmental legacy, Goldwater is a genuine hero. Goldwater was a deeply patriotic man who understood in his bones that conservation of America's great natural heritage is truly conservative, unlike the mob of shouting pundits, crony capitalists and spin-doctoring buffoons whose twisted ideology brands protection of our air, water and land as radical.

Today's "conservatives" sit in Goldwater's shadow — right where they will always be.