New MIT President Praises Nixon

MIT President Jerome B. Wiesner, a former science adviser to President Kennedy, has commended President Nixon for his "dramatic actions" and "strong positive moves" on the nation's economy and in the new Sino-American relations.

Creative Movement

In a letter dated October 4 and released by the White House last week, Wiesner wrote. "With these steps you have opened up opportunities for creative movement where much less existed before. In both the economic sphere and in the search for rational international arrangements, your courageous steps will be landmarks."

Wiesner has been one of the foremost critics in scientific circles of Nixon's comprehensive anti-ballistic missile (ABM) program. He said Friday that he had written many letters to the President during the last three years and that most of them were critical of Nixon's policies.

Not All Praise

The White House, however, has seen fit to release only this most recent letter of praise along with President Nixon's letter of reply.

Nixon, in a reply dated October 29, thanked Wiesner for his "kind letter."

"I wanted you to know how deeply I appreciate your support," he wrote. "Your expression of encouragement and confidence means a great deal to me."

When asked why he thought Nixon had released his letter, Wiesner replied, "My conclusion was that it's probably been a long time since he's gotten a complimentary letter from a college president."