Dear Ann Landers,
"To those who protest against nuclear war, I can only say I'm with you. Like my predecessors, it is now my responsibility to do my ut-most to prevent such a war. No one feels more than I the need for peace." It is indeed my highest priority to deter and prevent such a war, for its consequences would be disastrous for mankind. That is why I've called for negotiations leading to major arms re-ductions, not limitations that only codify high levels. Under the so- called limitations of SALT II the Soviet Union and the United States could substantially add to their nuclear arsenals. I have instead called for the reduction of the most destabilizing strategic elements, the ballistic missile warheads, by one-third in the first phase of negotiations on strategic arms reduction. In the area of intermediate-range nuclear forces, I have also proposed the elimina-tion of the most threatening systems, the land-based missiles. During the last decade, the United States restrained its deployment of new nuclear forces while the Soviet Union enormously increased its forces. We, therefore, now face a serious imbalance, which decreases the credibility of our deterrent. That is why we must modernize our own forces both to reduce the dangerous imbalance and to make clear to the Soviet leaders that they should join us in negotiating the kind of substantial, equal and verifi-able reductions in nuclear arms the world demands. Ann, we have tried many times since World War II to persuade the Russians to join us in reducing or even eliminating nuclear weapons, with little success. Perhaps, instead of sending copies to me, your read-ers should send copies of your May 17 column to President Brezhnev. Sincerely, -Ronald Reagan

Dear President Reagan,
Like you, I feel that President Brezhnev should see my column of May 17. Perhaps something in it might strike a responsive chord and get a dialogue going between the Soviet Union and the United States. I have asked our mutual friend, Dr. Armand Hammer, chairman of Occidental Petroleum, to see that my column of May 17 is delivered to President Brezhnev, his close personal friend. He has agreed to do so. If I hear from Brezhnev, Mr. President, I'll call you. If you hear from him, please call me. It would make my day. Sincerely, -Ann Landers Unfortunately, I never heard from President Brezhnev. Some of my younger readers may not remember how the American public revered Walter Cronkite when he anchored the CBS Evening News. He was the Voice of America-everyone's favorite uncle. It was unheard of to criticize Walter Cronkite. You can imagine the uproar when I printed this: