New views on the week's top talkers: Second Look

Readers on the death of journalism giant Ben Bradlee and the gas tax. Letters edited for clarity and grammar.

Remembering Ben Bradlee

Our country has lost a giant.

Ben Bradlee, executive editor of "The Washington Post" who died Tuesday at the age of 93, was a giant of journalism, the free press and the First Amendment. He knew the role of a newspaper in a democracy. From the Pentagon Papers through Watergate, he stood for truth and conquered corruption. He said of President Richard Nixon during a "60 Minutes" interview that he knew at the time that he was lying, he just didn't know how badly. It is largely thanks to him that the American people learned the truth about Watergate — the most serious abuse of power in American history. God bless Bradlee, a giant in protecting our freedoms.

Ken Abraham; Dover, Del.

Highway maintenance

The Opposing view, "Send gas tax money to states," suggests that funding national infrastructure projects at a state level is a viable option for maintaining our interstate highway system (Monday). Localization would harm small cities and rural areas, creating a disjointed system of "have" and "have not" states. The interstate highway system was established to ensure unity as a nation. All practical options must be explored in order to adequately maintain interstate highways. Giving states control of funding national projects is unreasonable.

Jeff Loveng, CEO/Chairman; America's Infrastructure Alliance; Washington, D.C.