THE JOSIAH WILLARD GIBBS RESEARCH LABORATORIES
YALE UNIVERSITY
NEW HAVEN 11, CONNECTICUT

MAILING ADDRESS
BIOPHYSICS DEPARTMENT
BOX 2166, YALE STATION
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

June 24, 1960

Professor Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
Medical Center

Stanford University

Palo Alto, California

Dear Josh:

Many thanks for your letter of June 12, and I think I agree with
your position. We will keep you informed as to what we're doing, and I
quite understand.

I think your points are well taken but I do not believe we really
speak so very much for the Democratic National Committee as all that. We
are certainly associated with them, but we are separate from them and the
only thing that gives us influence with the press is the fact that we are
known to represent so large a section of the more liberal Democrats.

I am still convinced that this kind of political effort is neces-
sary and since one always begrudges the time spent on it, I feel that the
more effective the time is the better. I do feel that one gets more rapidly
into the influential areas this way than any others and certainly none of
us on our committee are doing anything which a vast majority of reputable
scientists would not approve of.

i was very happy that you showed my letter to Ginzgton and I am
in the process of writing back to a long letter from him which was most
useful.

I always feel good to have direct impressions from anybody in
science, particularly on something they feel deeply about. My own personal
interest in political activity is nil. I only seek to get those things done
expeditiously for science which must be done.

Once again, very best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
Gee,
Ernest C. Pollard
ECPscw

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