May 1, 1972

Sargent Shriver

The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation
1701 K Street, Northwest, Suite 205
Washington, D. C. 20006

Dear Sarge:

Thank you for your letter of April 1 (only just received), with
its news of the Kennedy Institute. I have also been in touch with
Andre Hellegers during the past several months in connection with our
inconclusive plans to share Karl Popper as a visiting professor.

My concerns about sectarian specificity would be no less for a
program centered at Yeshiva University. In the long run it will, of
course, be the breadth of vision of the individual minds that matters
~ not the stereotype of Catholic or Jewish.

I will try to think of such minds to recommend to you. I do not
know if I can (or woold focus on trying to) identify Jewish ethicians;
but I will try to characterize independent thinkers.

Two of the most prominent are Nicholas Rescher (University of
Pittsburgh) and George Henrik von Wright (Helsiuhi). If nothing else,
I would urge that you recruit them for the Board of the Georgetown—
Kennedy project.

We are still working on a puxposal from Stanford. One early fruit
of our discussions will be the course, to be listed in the Human Biology
program for 1972-3 indicated in the a tachment. But Professor Schwartz
has too many other claims on his ting) the futere Philosophy Department
to be able to release him for this offering as a regular matter, .
and we will be seeking financial support to recruit another professor
in this area.

A note of encouragement from you, which does net have to carry
any explicit commitments for fundingaat this time, would be very helpful
in my negotiations with the Philosophy Department and the University.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

JL: nf

Enclosures

CAIN HS