Telephone conversation with Dr. Riker - March 3, 1966.
Dr . Dennis: and I just thought I would see what I could do about being helpful with regard to this hearing in Washington and am asking for ideas.  I've already phoned down to the Clerk of the appropriate committee and am on for Tuesday.
Dr. Riker: You're going to appear Tuesday.
Dr. Dennis: Yes, and my inquiry is what your suggestions are as to how I could be most useful to fill in where there might be some gaps.
Dr. Riker: Well that's very good. I don't know what to say here, Dr. Dennis. I think Dr. Visscher is the fellow to organize this thing.  I have worked to chair this Committee and get the procurement legislation criticized and our own proposals before the Committee. I will not go down because I don't believe that we ought to have too many people.
Dr. Dennis: Do you think it's unwise for me to go? I'm not anxious to go.
Dr. Riker: I think it is, if I may say so.
Dr. Dennis: You think it's unwise.
Dr. Riker: Yes, this is not personal at all because I'm sure you would do an excellent job and, as a matter of fact, I think I could do a first-rate job in appearing before the Committee, but so can Maurice Visscher and he's going to do it for the NSMR. Now, he suggested that maybe I also testify for the NSMR. My feeling is that is silly and we're going to annoy the congressmen with this kind of thing.  One person with a good, sharp, short testimony will make a real impression and we've got good stuff.  The other thing is I could testify, of course, for the New York State Society.  Lowell Greenbaum invited me to do it, and so could you, but I think that Lowell Greenbaum as President can do it and I told him so and I would prefer, that is between him and me, I would prefer that he do it.  He does a very good job, He's done it before and he and I are today laying out the entire testimony to have it real sharp, to the point, and brief.  You see there will be people from so many organizations.  They will have at least twelve or more people from our side of the fence testifying and. I think if we're all essentially saying the same thing - No. 1, I don't think they'll all get to be heard. I think only a few will be called, in fact, if the experience is anything like the past, and, secondly, they will all be saying essentially the same thing because our front is absolutely united this time.  So I think that if you go whom would you represent?
Dr. Dennis: Well, I put down the name of the Medical School in putting myself on the list. I've still got to go clear that with the Dean, but I don't think I'd have any trouble.
Dr. Riker: I'm sure you wouldn't.  I think then that's fine and it's a matter of how many is the right number to do this, and for this reason I feel I've done my job and I'll stay out and await the result, but if you want to do it why I'd be perfectly happy to send out to you today essentially the line of testimony that we're going to take for both NSMR and N.Y. State. Would you like me to do that? Why don't I do it in any case and you make your own decision.
Dr. Dennis: Yes, I'd appreciate it if you did.
Dr. Riker: I've talked quite frankly and you've got the facts. Alright?
Dr. Dennis: Yes, I tell you what I thought I might say if I did. I've got a talk I gave someplace over at a College in Pennsylvania, I've forgotten which one now, where the pre-medical students have some sort of an organization in what research means, and I've thought that the place of research as an essential role in the training of a good doctor and that we have been crippled in the last three months since Pennsylvania put in their new bill would suffice.
Dr. Riker: I think that's a good point.
Dr.  Dennis: This is pretty well all put together and it would be very simple to do.
Dr.  Riker: I think that's fine. Why don't you go ahead and do that because that will be different from what we're going to do.
Dr. Dennis: It is different from what you're going to say.
Dr. Riker: Absolutely, and as long as it's different and it's a good point I think that it makes sense.
Dr. Dennis: Alright. I'll go to work on it.
Dr.  Riker: Alright. Then Dr. Greenbaum will meet with you on Sunday down there anyway.
Dr.  Dennis: Yes.
Dr.  Riker: 0.K. I'll tell him about your testimony.
Dr. Dennis: Alright. Thank you very much.
Dr.  Riker: Dr. Dennis thanks for calling.
C. Dennis, M.D.