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1 6177321947 MGM TOMT BOSTON MA 06°05 O601P EST

 
 
 
   

 
 

 

 

{JUN.12 1981
3 198;
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HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL ATTN H AMOS (
DEPT OF MICROBIOLOGY 25 SHATTUCK V_—

BOSTON MA 02115

THIS MAILGRAM IS A CONFIRMATION COPY OF THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES

6177321947 MGM TOMT BOSTON MA 244 06805 0601P EST

zIP
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON DC 20500

THE UNDERSIGNEDs MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENT!S CANCER PANEL, URGENTLY
REQUEST THAT PENDING REAPPOINTMENT OF OR VINCENT DE VITA AS DIRECTOR
OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE NOT BE UNDERMINED BY THE RECENT
HEARINGS BEFORE THE SENATE LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE,

THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE GIVEN EXTENSIVE ATTENTION AT THE HEARINGS
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF DR DE VITA'S EXTRAO
RDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS,

HIS COMMITMENT TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ARE ABOVE REPROACH, WE DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE
TO FIND AN INDIVIDUAL MORE CAPABLE OF DIRECTING THE AFFAIRS OF THE
CANCER INSTITUTE IN THESE TIMES OF GREAT STRINGENCY,

Ag MEMBERS OF VARIOUS ADVISORY BOARDS AND WORKING COMMITTEES OF THE
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE HAD
EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS AT FIRST HAND OR DE VITA'S ADMINISTRATIVE
AND SCIENTIFIC CAPABILITIES, WE ARE CONVINCED THAT HE [TS A DIRECTOR
OF EXTRAORDINARY STRENGTH AND EFFECTIVENESS,

IN HIS SHORT TENURE HE HAS MOVED SWIFTLY, INSTITUTING SWEEPING
ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROCEDURAL CHANGES AIMED AT CORRECTING THE
DEFICIENCIES HE INHERITED.

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE THRUST OF THE CANCER PROGRAM, WHICH IMPINGES
UPON THE LIVES OF SO MANY AMERICANS WE URGE THAT THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
OR DE VITA PROCEED WITH YOUR APPROVAL,

THE PANEL, OF COURSEs STANDS READY TO GIVE EVERY POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE
TO YOU AND TO THE DIRECTOR,

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
JOSHUA LEDERBERG PHD CHAIRMAN

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