Bob Dole

* The Republican Party has announced that Bob Dole is its candidate to run against President Clinton this fall. The California primaries are not until March 26. My father always said, “If voting were so important they wouldn’t let you do it.” Gee .J.J.

DON MANN

Malibu

* Re “Dole Can Undo the Trashing of America,” Column Right, March 14: Cal Thomas asks what force invaded and occupied America while Bob Dole was away at war, destroying what the heroes of the ‘40s fought to preserve--denying any responsibility for the behavior of the baby boomers.

Mr. Thomas, the invasion occurred after the war, when the troops flooded home and began having children by the millions. Whether one accepts the “hereditary” or the “environment” argument, responsibility for the behavior of baby boomers falls directly on their parents--Dole’s generation.

Thomas asks, “What were they (Dole’s generation) given by their parents that contributed to . . . bravery and honor?” He should instead be asking what the children of Dole’s generation were given, or not given, by their parents which contributed to the trashing of Dole’s ideals.

MICHAEL A. LeBUTT

Irvine

* Is Sen. Dole too old to be president? If he was elected president, he would be between 73 and 77 while serving in the White House. The job of president is very demanding and requires unlimited energy.

Being in great health myself and 10 years younger than Dole, I do not believe that anyone in his mid- to late-70s has the physical energy, the ability to quickly grasp new concepts or the the mental capacity needed to be president in today’s world.

OLIVER F. WILLIAMS