Article Doesn’t Display Putnam’s Full Views

To the editors:

On March 16, The Crimson ran a story on Weatherhead University Professor Samuel Huntington and his forthcoming book on Latino immigrants (News, “Critics Claim Huntington Is Xenophobic”). In preparing the story, the Crimson reporter had asked my views both about the book and about Huntington personally. I explained why I strongly disagreed with Huntington’s argument, but added that in personal terms Huntington is a decent and honorable man. The Crimson’s editing of this exchange included only the second half of my quotation, leaving the clear, but utterly false impression with many of your readers that I endorsed Huntington’s views. On the contrary, as I emphasized to the reporter, I welcome the recent wave of Latino immigration. Indeed, three of my own grandchildren are Latino immigrants (since my daughter married a Costa Rican). I believe that Latino immigrants, including my grandchildren, will make a great contribution to America.

ROBERT D. PUTNAM

March 18, 2004

The writer is Malkin professor of public policy.