HARRY WU WRITES

I am Harry Wu, the person who appeared in your magazine Nov. 17 in the article “Harry’s War,” by Sarah Henry. I have some comments about it, and I wish your serious consideration of this matter.

On Page 16, Henry wrote: “For much of the hearing, the only senator in attendance is Republican Chairman Jesse Helms . . .” She didn’t tell the truth. She was there, and she saw and heard from Democratic Sen. Charles Robb also at the hearing.

On Page 36, Henry quoted Ramon Myers of the Hoover Institution: “. . . we have a worldwide reputation of being anti-Communist, but we do our work in a very fair, objective way.” Myers continues: “. . . I regret, frankly, that he was ever at Hoover.” I wrote to the director of the Hoover Institution, Dr. John Raisian, of this matter, wanting to know if Mr. Myers’ comment represents the institution or only himself. The answer from Dr. Raisian on Dec. 11, 1996, is clear: “This is his personal opinion. No, the Hoover Institution is happy to have you here as a research fellow. Your research work is very important.” I think Ms. Henry understands that her writing gave the people the impression that Mr. Myers spoke for the Hoover Institution.

Harry Wu

Milpitas

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Henry’s response: Harry Wu correctly notes that I attended the congressional hearing. Sen. Robb attended the proceedings for a brief time early on; Helms listened to the entire testimony. It seems a small point, but I stand by my statement that “for much of the hearing,” Helms was the only senator there.

As for Wu’s other statement, Ramon Myers was not identified as the head of the Hoover Institution. He is, as the article says, the curator of the institution’s East Asian collection. What I did do--as Wu himself does in his own writings--is point out that Myers gave Wu his initial break at the think tank. In interviewing Myers, it became clear that he was disappointed in Wu’s approach to his work. Myers’ change of heart was interesting and newsworthy enough, I thought, to warrant inclusion in the article.