August 22, 1966

John W. Macy, Jr.

Chairman United States
Civil Service Commission

1900 E Street, N.W.

Washington D.C. 20415

Dear Mr. Macy:

May I impose on you for some detailed information about the
recial survey which seems to be in force with respect to
federal employment. I am particularly interested in the
criterion by which race is defined and the realities of the
freedom of affiliation of any individual human being without
subtle influences from a system intrenched in law.

I am afraid that I slipped in referring to Representative
Rankin in my column when I must have had Senator Ervin in
mind.

The dilemma that I would agree we are in is how to maintain
some enforcement against discrimination on one hand and on
the other, refrain from the crime of imposing a sense of
obligatory memborship in a disadvantaged group on the basis
of scientifically indefensible criterion. However, it is not
my intention to initiate a polemic here and I would be very
greveful for a summary of the present facts of the system.

Cordially, .
‘Joshua Lederberg, f

Professor of Genetics f

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JL/zem