THE ROBERT W. WHITAKER ARCHIVE

NATIONAL REVIEW RESPONDS TO BOB | 2002-10-19

The following was published in the last National Review

Dear Mr. Buckley

Re a certain column of yours: The "southern states" and the "Southern states" are two totally distinct entities. The most southerly state is Hawaii. California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas border on Mexico. Three of those four are not usually included in the term "Southern" and, according to Lyndon Johnson, neither should Texas be. And, of course, Puerto Rico would be included in "the south." In fact, "southern" includes many more states that are not Southern and they total tens of millions in population.

Robert W. Whitaker

Columbia, SC

Dear Mr. Whitaker: Yes, of course, and the confusion is common.

Cordially, WFB (William F. Buckley)