STANFORD UNIVERSITY MrpicaAl CEN PER

STANFORD, CALLEBORNEA 94505

 

December 28, 1976

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SisstorD UNE ERSELY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE a a, 7 .
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Depactriene of Genetics

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Dr. M.M. Kaplan

Director-General

Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
9 Great Russell Mansions ,

60 Great Russell Street

London WC1B 3BE, England

Dear Martin,

Marguerite and I have given a lot of thought about the possibility
of making it to the 27th conference, but I have to say that when it comes
down to brass tax, it really looks as if we just cannot fit it in this
coming year. I know you have already put in a lot of effort to help make
this possible, but I hope that it might still have some use in the form
of a rain-check for a future time.

I do have one bonus for you, however, in very small recompense:
namely the name of Robert Jervis who is a professor of political science
at UCLA. He had just come out with a new book, published by Princeton
University Press, called "Perception and Misperception in International
Affairs". In my own personal opinion this is the milestone work in the
systematic application of psychological principles to political decision
making, and I believe that the book itself will be regarded as the proper
founding of this new interdiscipline. I do not mean to discredit the
enthusiasm that Gerald Frank and many psychiatrists have put into this
problem, but I have to say that I must view Jervis's effort as the most
interesting scientific synthesis by far. At minimum I strongly urge you to
read it; and of course I had in mind that he would be a most valuable
recruit for any discussions at Pugwash which fnvolve the knowledgeable and
shrewd application of behavioral science to international security problems.

With fondest good wishes,
Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

SL/rr

Dave, this is a must that I recommend to you for the same reasons as to Martin.

LY. f.P. RENNEDY. PR. LARORATORIFS FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE, PEGIC ATED PO RESEARCH IN MEN PAL REPARDAUTION

MOBPOCUL AR PLOPDOGY HEREDITY NEV ROLIOLOGY DEVELOUMENTPAR SEFDICINT,