DY, Peekared. poo

THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY

1230 YORK AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10021

June 27, 1979

 

JOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT

Mr. David Packard

Chairman of the Board
Hewlett-Packard Company
1501 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

Dear Mr. Packard:

You were most kind to see me last year, when I
was coping with the options of coming here, and again
after I had been here for some months. I was very
sorry to learn you would not be able to engage us more
intimately by a personal visit on any of several oc-
casions.

I realize, of course, the enormous demands on your
time and patience, and that I may already have exploited
your courtesy by my previous visits. However, the same
considerations of public service, unqualified excellence
and proud independence that led me to move here from Palo
Alto, and which are confirmed by my experience, coincide
precisely with what I believe to be your own central
motifs.

Institutions like this university are rare: and they
will vanish altogether unless people like yourself make
special exertions to match your principles and insight.

I do not relish pressing this on your attention if you
are reluctant. However, the issue is too important to be
set aside over petty etiquette; and you did not categori-
cally dismiss my previous overtures, allowing that simple
grace and courtesy on your part may have been a factor.

I will be in Palo Alto for intermittent weeks during
July and August. In the hope that it was scheduling that
impeded a rapprochement with us in New York, I will take
a small initiative in calling your office for an appoint-
Mr. David Packard
June 27, 1979

-2-

ment at your convenience; if that is possible. Unless
you have resolutely determined otherwise, I am confident
that you will be as impressed by our enterprise, as I
have been, once you have the opportunity to learn more
about us in detail.

Yours sincerety,

Af
Jgshua Lederberg

bec: RWN
DO routing