2¢43TB2y TeQuem ‘Bufpuuetd AyyTuey Inoqe prom © ATprzeH “Ss “g

February 5, 1969

Mr. John W. Gardner, Chairman
The Urban Coalition

1819 H Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20006

Dear Mr. Gardner:

Thank you for your letter of January 31, inviting me to join your
task force of health, and to attend its first meeting on February 13.

I'm sorry that it will not be possible for me to attend this meet-
ing. However, I am eager to contribute in any way that I can, and if
br. Silver thinks it is feasible, I will be glad to react by mail or
by phone to the papers you are preparing.

May I mention at the outset one item of comment of the draft
memorandum dated January 22. Public education about elementary aspects
of nutrition and of hygiene is an indispensible part of any program for
health improvement. I would like to see much more energetic use of the
mass media, especially television, for this purpose and am aware of only
sporadic efforts along these linee at the present time. I also believe
that specifically supplemented foods should be developed and distributed
through school lunch and in pdace of routine commodity distribution.

The document as a whole has a stridently paternalistic tone, and while
some of this is inevitable, I suggest that much more emphasis be placed
on helping people help themselves.

waAMyy-9 Lf

Sincerely yours,

Josuah Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

JL/jn