THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

CHICAGO 37+-+ILLINOIS

INSTITUTE OF RADIOBIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS
6200 Drexel Avenue

October 17, 199

Professor Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
College of Agriculture
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Josh:

I am writing with no particular purpose in mind except to say
hello and to offer several minor ideas. Apparently a dinner is being
planned for you on Friday after the lecture, and apparently it will be
a male only dinner. In that event, I thought it would be nice if
Esther and Jane could have dinner and see a play. If this idea
appeals to Esther, we will order tickets immediately. The sooner we
know, the better tickets we can get.

I trust you realize what famous lecturer company you are now
keeping. Robert Oppenheimer had the lecture last year. In case you
are not aware of who Slotin was, let me tell you. He was a physicist
with a background in chemistry who was on the project. He maintained
considerable interest in biological problems. As you may recall, he
and Evans, from the Biochemistry Department here, wrote several papers
together. I should know the work but it completely escapes my mind.
My vague recollection is that it had to do with C02 assimilation.
Slotin was fatally injured in an accident at Los Alamos. He was very
much liked by everyone and consequently the lectureship developed.

I think it very nice that you are giving the lecture. And only Szilard
could arrange for such a lecture to be given in two sections (which I
think is a nice idea). I will miss your first lecture and probably

the dinner, as I am geing down to give a talk at Wabash College as part
of a roundtable Luria arranged in connection with a meeting of the
Indiana Academy of Science. Spiegleman and Vertani (Dulbecco's replace-
ment) will also participate. I trust that you will bring us up to date
before the second lecture, or else promise to say nothing of interest

in the first lecture.

Please forgive my usual stiffness of style, but again I am dictating
to a secretary, and the solemnity restrains my normally ebullient per-
sonality. It will be good to see you and Esther again. As I said in the
phone call, it will be nice to have you stay with us, but should you
wish, we will get you a hotel room and our feelings will not be hurt.
Incidently, we now, as a result of visiting you, have a foam rubber
mattress.

Best regards,

batman
AN/sds Aaron