August 30, 1955

Dr. Abraham Wyite

Associate Dean

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
New York 61, N.Y.

Dear Dr. White:

Thank you for your letter of the 18th. I can assure you I have given the
matter the most careful thought. I am sorry to have to conclude that I am
not yet ready to assume the very heavy administrative dutdes that would surely
be connected with the chairmanship of a new department of medical microbiology.
A number of well-informed people have advised me that under the optimal circum
stances of a well established department of that size, these duties are an al-
most fatal distraction to research. It takes little perception to see that
these would be redoubled during the first years of developing the department,
its finencial resources, its staff, ite educational program and place in the
college, and its research. I recognize the scope of the opportunity and the
challenge, and am gratified that you would consider the possibility that I was
qualified to meet it, but I hope to defer leaving the life of active research
for at least a few years longer.

I am also uncertain whether researchgand administrative abilities are neces—
sarily correlated. Perhaps a solution wfll someday be found to this problem
that can conserve to the practise of science competent individdhds whose careers
are now almost inexorably impelled to administrative routine,

Under the circumstances, since you are looking for the chairman that I am
not yet ready to be, it would be wasting your time and money for me to make
a special trip. Please be sure of my symp&&thetic interest and best wishes for
the success of your college. I hope we will have some chance to meet informally
sometime so that I can reiterate them in person,