While watching Gov. Mitt Romney’s debate performance, I was repeatedly reminded of one of my favorite television viewing experiences of the ’80s: watching Larry Hagman’s portrayal of J.R. Ewing on “Dallas.”

As fans of that show will recall, J.R. had a signature smile to accompany his frequent hypocrisy, and it was replicated uncannily by Romney as he smiled at President Obama during the first debate.

After hearing Romney describe the debate version of his tax plan, I think he and J.R. may have more than a smile in common. As Hamlet put it so well, “one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.”(Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5)

Lois Cox

Iowa City