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Department of Medical Genetics
May 10, 1957

Dr. Kenneth Thimann
Biological Laboratories
Harvard University
Cambridge 38, Mass.

Dear Kenneth:

Thank you for yours of the 7th. I am sorry if I have confused you
by the differences of emphasis in my letter to you and to Jim. I have
been hearing nasty rumors about the reasons for our not coming to Harvard,
and wanted to scotch them more than anything else, certainly before any
of them were taken seriously enough to impair the cordiality of our
future relationships. Certainly, many people might well be astonished
that I did not seize on such a magnificent opportunity unless there were
insidious reasons.

But to be plain, there are no good reasons for not cccepting your
offer —none except the positive ones of ay existing situation and pros~
pecta. If it should happen that these worked out less sell than I hoped,
I would want you to keep me in mind. I did and do want to assure younthat
these positive factors keep us here; not that negetive ones keep us anuy
from Cambridge.

Jo I reaily do not think you should hold off wny longer, in the consider.
tion of other candidates.

we have altered our travel plans slightly, and will be off to Australi.
August i ~ about Novamber 15. I will be in New York for a Harve FyLecture
December 19. I would be happy to visit Cambridge for a senin.r the vrevious
day (a wednesday) if you would have any interest in this indendndently of,
even in spite of the previous paragraph. I realize this a.y be far too exk-
ward a time. I would ask for one Madison-Bosto.. fure to facilitate “sther's
accompanying ms to Boston and N.Y. if she cin minage it then. (Siser at
aI.T. hag also asked ve about paying « visit, una it would be « pleasure
to kill two birds with one stone if you can aunige it.; I doen't think I can
get away before then.

Please don't think we haven't given Hurvard — greut deal of thought. we
do feel we know the facilities and our colleagues guite well, sc that matx
making the trip probably would have added little to the context.

I am flattered by and grateful for your persistence. ‘ith best regards.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg