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December 31, 1986

JOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT

Major General Philip K. Russell
U.S. Army Medical Research and
Development Command

Fort Detrick, Building 521
Frederick, Maryland 21701-5012

Dear General Russell:

Thank you for your letter and for the Cpportunity to dis-
cuss problems of sutual interest. I reaily do stand ready to
help in any way possible.

After further consideration I still think I would settle on
Ivan Bennett as your best bet to chair an advisory group on BW
defense research. No one in civilian life, barring a few ex-Fort
Detrick alumni, exceed his overall grasp Of the scientific, mili-
tary and political issues, all of which must be well in hand. A
number of other scientists surely could be very helpful; although
some of these are situated where they might be loath to have a
visible affiliation with military research. Ivan would be very
skillful in smoothing over any of these obstacles that may arise
On particular issues. I will be more than ready myself to as-
sist in any way; and as Ivan and I work together very smoothly
that would be all the easier.

Our talk together alerted me to the grave difficulties that
arise from the organizational separation of BW detection from
defense. Very little is shared between the means needed to
characterize viruses and bacteria on the one hand, vs. chemical
agents on the other. I realize the political problems of re-
acranging turfs but I wonder if you would not consider making
a swap: namely giving toxins over to the Materiel Command in ex-
change for untrammeled jurisdiction over every aspect of BW de-
fense, including detection. This reduced the political problems
that also flow from having BW related activities (which by treaty
are constrained to defense) run in the same house as CW with its

active offensive program. Yes, one might make some similar re-
mark about toxins; but these at least belong scientifically along
with chemicals. (If there is some way to rearrange turfs without

a Swap so much the better.) I am not going to open my mouth about
this until I learn much more about it.
ae IVAN LOY
_P. AT BOLOcY.

Major General Philip K. Russell
December 31, 1986

-2-

Please let me know if there is anything else you would
like me to do about suggesting or approaching advisors or in
any other way.

I notice that you were on the liaison committee for the
recent vaccine development report of the Institute of Medicine.
If you met with the committee you will also know Purnell Choppin.
He would be a prime candidate but I know that as Vice President
and Scientific Director of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
he has shed just about all of his outside commitments. Sam Katz
is a very able fellow but I don't think he has any deeper or
more modern scientific perspective than Ivan Bennett would bring
to the table. Maurice Hilleman is someone, need hardly be said,
of vast experience but I would put him roughly next to Ted Wood-
ward.

One other scientist that ought to be approached is Dan
Nathans at Johns Hopkins for whom I do have enormous regard. I
don't know what his views would be about serving on your commit-
tee; and on the whole I think it would be just as prudent to ask
him to be a consultant and have Ivan chair it.

Yours sincerely,

Joshiva Lederberg

‘ERIDGE

    

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