To the Editor:

Normally, obituaries do not inspire the kind of exchanges between readers and authors that book reviews sometimes do. But Professor Ranlet's tendentious letter requires a response.

Stand Columbia, the recent history of the university by Robert McCaughey (not known as one of those tenured radicals who allegedly dominate history departments nowadays), speaks of the "inexcusable violence" inflicted by the police on students, faculty, and bystanders (on April 30, 1968) and notes that Shenton incurred "a bloody head wound."

That night, in fact, my wife and I found him on campus, brought him back to our apartment, dressed his head wound and bruises on his arm as well as we could, and took him to the local hospital, where he required many stitches. His head was bandaged and his arm was put in a sling. If Professor Ranlet does not consider this a severe injury, I can only compliment him on his fortitude.

—Eric Foner 
Columbia University