NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
2iOt CONSTITUTION AVENUE
WASHINGTON,D C 20418

February 19, 1980

Dr. Patrick J. Haggerty
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Rockefeller University

1230 York Avenue

New York, New York 10021

Dear Pat:

I have carefully read the draft paper on the Roles of
Trustees. I find it well and carefully done. Were I to
offer any comment at all, it would be to the effect that
neither the external world nor the University are static.
One additional role of the trustee is to be observant of
changes and trends, to stand ready to evaluate whether
we are responsible for yesterday's "excellence," today's
or tomorrow's. Is there a flow that assures the quality
of the future? The University should always be "tooling up"
to some degree. Are we doing so for the most promising
purpose or are we more like generals "preparing for the
last war''?

With kindest regards,

Sincerely yours,

?

Philip Handler L

President