Gravel returns.

• Position: Letter to the editor

Mike Gravel makes it clear that one who wishes to be influential in politics should have bright ideas, but not too many of them ("Maverick Mike Gravel," by Joe Lauria, June issue).

Gravel recognizes that we have the technology to directly elect our President and even to act on individual pieces of legislation. But when he says that Congress has the power to declare war and, implicitly, to end it, he takes a view that seems popular with the people, but not our Congress. He stands for direct, representative...