June 17, 1954 Mr. Francis Bello Science Editor PORTUNE magazines Rockefeller Center New York a, N.Y. Dear Mr. Bello: Thank you for your letters of May 6 and June 14 and for the "small" memento sent with the latter. I have been amised to find how surprisingly many people read Fortune that I would not hava thought to be likely prospects. May I say that I thought you did a good job with the linited mterial at hand. I would not be convinced of the rigor of any conclusions from such a small sample, and have some doubts as to the representative quality of the samples, but these are not criticisms of your reportorial achievment. There are always too many possible interpretations for any factual findings that do, after long labor, achieve statistical significance to make such labors seem mich more science than art. The same cah be said of such a momamental effort as the Kinsey reports, which are still grossly inadequate from a statdstical viewpoint. But I de not think your article was in any way pretentious, and as it was fairly clear that your subjective igpressiorns were in the forefront, one can hardly erlticize them or fear any untoward misundeystandings. ' To answer ons line of your first letter, I was neither surprised nor relieved (nor disappointed) at the use you expbicitly made of our inter- view; privately, I might wonder if you did get any sort of coherent insight or impression of scientists! attitude about science. I might be disappointed if you did not find as much individuality as in other features of their personalities. If you fini yourself in these parts again, drop by for lunch or a glass of beer. . 4 jour sincerely, f / . i “ “ ; ‘ i { i vo Je 7 doshua Lederber g i ! f