editorial

On the off chance that Walter Jenkins' wife was acquainted with his sexual proclivities and that she understood and maybe even approved them, and that he was not one of those very sick homosexuals who hide behind women's skirts-there still may be a few observations left to make about this man's needlessly bungling behavior that appear to have escaped the numerous superficial and inexperienced commentators on the matter.

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The nationwide "witch-hunt" against homosexuals in government jobs, in positions of security, as public school teachers, or in jobs requiring state licenses, must now, to all objective and intelligent men and women, look quite absurd. We are encouraged in this point of view by the acceptance of J. Edgar Hoover, long-time believer that all homosexuals were security risks per se, that Jenkins, who has admitted to "sex deviation," has in no way "compromised the security or interests of the United States in any manner. In the report to the President, Jenkins told the FBI that no attempt had ever been made to compromise or blackmail him. The President himself, who we find it difficult to believe did not know about Jenkins, must have concluded that here was a homosexual who could be trusted like anyone else. Hoover, in his report, also said that Jenkins told the FBI "he would lay down his life before he would disclose any information that would damage the best interests of the United States." Hoover after careful investigation apparently found no evidence that this was not true, and like the President, came to believe that Jenkins was a homosexual who would never betray a national secret-that he was, in fact, a quiet, conscientious man whose dedication to duty was amply recorded.

Excellent reasoning. ONE has been saying for years that homosexuals are neither more nor less security risks than are heterosexuals, and we are glad that for any reason at all J. Edgar Hoover is now of our opinion. Others agree too, and are saying so. In a letter to President Johnson, the American Mental Health Foundation asserted, "The private life and inclinations of a citizen, government employee or not, does not necessarily have any bearing

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