The Record Hackensack, New Jersey Wednesday, September 22, 1965 - Page 49
Rooked
Editor, The Record:
The news that Bobby Fischer, at age 22 a chess prodigy, had been denied a visa by the State Department to go to Cuba and compete in the international grand masters' tournament now in progress there must have come as singularly cheering news to marines patiently munching their dried eggs in the cruddy foxholes of Vietnam. What a smashing victory for our side, boys, in the global struggle against the global specter of you-know-what!
I would like to know whether these anti-Communist experts ever really consider the facts at all; or do they just go muddling through, intent on a messianic crusade? Are they aware that only one person born in the United States, Paul Morphy, was ever able to claim the world title in chess, that this was more than 100 years ago, and that the claim was not complete because there was no international organization at the time so that Staunton, the English champion, was able to avoid meeting him?
In his infinite knowledge and wisdom, Big Brother must know that Bobby Fischer has developed into one of the strongest players in the world and is making mighty convincing moves in the direction of that title.
… How Big Brother must have rocked with laughter as he saw Fischer, shortly after being denied the visa, turned down by the telephone company, which quoted him a price far beyond his ability to pay! What certainly must have been one of its deadest and least profitable lines (due to the whole political situation between the United States and Havana) now suddenly became very costly.
As we know, there is a total monopoly on brains in the Pentagon and all Communists are stupid dolts. Sure! That's why the Cuban government, which obviously had been slyly following the whole comedy of errors right from the beginning, suddenly stepped in with a low bow and offered to teletype all the moves of Fischer's opponents to New York City.
What new ingenious plans are our theoreticians on Pennsylvania Avenue concocting now? Oh, sure; if Fischer wins now and later knocks off Tigran Petrosian, the present Soviet title-holder, they are sure to say that actually they were rooting for Fischer right along.
…Let the men who are still capable at this late date of using their heads and reasoning for themselves congratulate Bobby Fischer, who worries not about propaganda victories but victories over the chessboard. That, as far as he is concerned, is where they really count.
PETER DUNCAN
301 11th Avenue Paterson, Sept. 19, 1965.
