STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305 © (415) 321-1200

 

 

STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Department of Genetics
Professor Joshua Lederberg

SEP 14 172

Thank you for the material on the "ransom tax".
As you know, Levich's statements have been very widely
broadcast.

Dear Alex:

Perhaps you will also have noted the actions by the
NAS which (entre nous) I am glad to have taken a part
in instigating-- specifically the formula of an infor-
mational which is probably the only one that could get
a sufficient consensus.

I have to caution that the "ransom" is a very clever
move, in the light of the exasperation of many quarters
in this country about the abnegation of educational
debts. Fictitious "bankruptcies" may put an end to im-
portant programs of educational loans to students; and
there is the extreme example of the suits against
McCullough and Joy. Revulsion about the ransom may work
to liberalize opinion here about "loans"; but I thotight
I should caution you about headon attacks on the principl
of a government's interest in the cost of education.

The present case is so patently discriminatory it
should hardly need such nicety; but it ig important that -
it be stressed that the ransom is a thinly veiled
measure directed ad hoc against a particular class.

 

It is of course important to raise a fuss, particularl
of a kind that will open up communications within the
Soviet Union, where often the right hand knoweth kot
what the left hand does. .

Yours,

Lt. Josepx P. KENNEDY, JR. LABORATORIES FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE
dedicated to the study of mental retardation

Molecular Biology Heredity Neurobiology Developmental Medicine