A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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September 17, 1985, the President was asked about the issue of AIDS in schools. Instead of affirming the conclusions reached by the nation's top scientists, the President undermined th The President stated that he was glad not to be faced with the decision of whether or not to s a child to school with a child who had AIDS. He added: I can understand the problem of the parents. It is true that some medical sources hav said that this cannot be communicated in any way other than the ones we already knc and which would not involve a child being in the school. And yet, medicine has not come forth unequivocally and said, "This we know for a fact, that it is safe." And un they do, I think we just have to do the best we can with this problem. I can understan both sides of it.'° The President's failure to support the science on AIDS transmission exacerbated fear prejudice, and discrimination against children with AIDS. After the press conference, one pediatrician told the Los Angeles Times that he expected parents to "quote the President and 'Gee, even the President doesn't come out and support the medical experts -- how can he ex us to send our children to school?'" The expert added, "Given the current information and th circumstances, he could have been much more definite.""! Questions for Mr. Roberts It is important for the Senate and the public to understand Judge Roberts's role in thi deplorable chapter in the history of public health in the United States. Judge Roberts should " Id. '© Close to Home, Washington Post (Sept. 22, 1985). Senator Arlen Specter Senator Patrick Leahy
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Jan. 11, 2103 - Did morning CNN and Soledad O'Brien on CNN and further discussed the flu situation. Much, much press interest. As expected, Bill Hall (HHS Press office) wrote a note to Courtney Billet, Greg Folkers and John Burklow saying that from now on the CDC should handle press on the flu and I should only do local media and national media only when they want to talk about research associated with flu like universal flu vaccine. This has shades of Jenny Backus. Almost certainly a result of a complaint from CDC. We (NIH/NIAID) are trying not to clash with them, but this is really insulting and we will have to see how this plays out and how we should push back on this.
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2001-01-06 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
Jan. 6 - 22, 2001 - Clearly, it is unclear what is going on with the White House and my nomination. Secretary Thompson keeps pushing the President to appoint me and the President defers to Clay Johnson, Director of White House Personnel, who has actually never interviewed me. I get word indirectly from Scott Whitaker, Bob Charrow and others that there really is a political battle going on in the WH with a strong antiThompson faction led by Clay Johnson who does not want to appoint me because he wants to put down Thompson who is pushing me. On the other hand, there are those who clearly want me, but are less aggressive in pushing any agenda since they are assuming that I will get appointed. It is unclear what role Sen Brownback is playing in influencing Clay Johnson. I hear from Rick Klausner that the issue is just that they are reluctant for me to do two jobs simultaneously. I doubt this and believe that there is something else going on. Jan.22, 2001 - Finally, I get called to the West Wing of the WH to meet with Clay Johnson and Ed Moy (Johnson's deputy) to discuss the job. Johnson was cold and abrupt. He said that the President was getting confused messages about my "conditions" for the job and the POTUS had asked Johnson to clarify things. Johnson coldly and abruptly asked how I can do 2 jobs simultaneously. I explained about the extraordinary overlap in what the NIH Director must know and do with what the Institute Directors must know and do and tell him that I feel that I will have no problem doing this. He clearly was not convinced. Then he wanted to know why I wanted 2 full salaries, i.e. the NIH Director's salary and the NIAID Director's salary. I explained that this was not the case, and that I merely did not want to lose money by relinquishing my retention bonus that I could not take as NIH Director as well as several outside activities that I could not do as NIH Director. He acted (coldly) like he understood that. As soon as I answered these 2 questions, he abruptly said: "Well, you answered my questions and told me what I 'sident Bush to need to know. Thanks a lot and have a nice day", whereupon he ended the meeting. Never did he even approach asking what my vision for the NIH was or other related substantive questions. Clearly he had made up his mind before the meeting and was only meeting because the President had asked him to.
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Jan 24, 2001 - Tommy Thompson calls me at home at 9:30 PM (he was sequestered in "the bunker" for security reasons) and tells me that he spoke with Clay Johnson today and Johnson told him that he was going to recommend someone else and not me to the President. Thompson was clearly very angry and sad. I am more convinced now that this is a Clay Johnson agenda working here.
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Jan. 26, 2001 - I go to the Annual Alphalfa Dinner at the Capitol Hilton as a Guest of Robert Wood ("Woody") Johnson IV.. Amazing scene! Virtually every important government official (the entire Cabinet, military leaders, etc) was there. At the reception, I met Barbara Bush who was very warm with a hug and kiss and told me that she is "pulling for me". I did not pursue this since this is not my style. I then met former President Bush who was his usual wonderful self with me, hugging me and telling guests who were standing around that I had won the 1988 election for him when he told the world that I was his hero. I mentioned that we had just received the President's Budget for FY2003 this week and that the President has fulfilled the promise to double the NIH budget and had given NIAID and additional $1.5 billion for bioterrorism research. I told Bush that this was similar to what he, himself, had done with me in the 1980s when he increased my AIDS budget, but that this was on a much larger scale. I told him how much I appreciated this. He told me to make sure that I tell the POTUS this. I also saw Tommy Thompson at the dinner and walked into the ballroom with him. He seemed very sad and troubled. He again said that he was going to see the POTUS next week and will tell him that I am not only the best person, but the "only" person for the NIH Director's job, regardless of what Clay Johnson will tell him. At the dinner Woody Johnson brought me over to the head table to say hello to the POTUS. Bush greeted me warmly (he clearly knew who I was). I thanked him for the BT money and he asked about our efforts; I briefly told him. He then surprised me by asking whether I had seen Clay Johnson yet, and so he knows that the meeting was set up. I told him that I did see him a couple of days ago. The POTUS said "Good, I will touch bases with Clay next week". Later on I met Laura Bush and she too complimented me on my work and we had a very nice conversation. In none of these encounters did I mentioned the NIH Director's job. My feeling at this time is confirmed that the President really does not know the situation except that he has heard a lot about me, but this is confounded by the fact that it is clear that Clay Johnson does not want me. Is it really because he is against 2 jobs, or is there some hidden agenda. I feel strongly that it is the latter. We shall see....maybe.
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March 2, 2001 - meet with Anne Phelps at White House to discuss global AIDS and other issues.
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April 3, 2001 - Extensive briefing of Secr. Thompson's staff (Halaska, Steiger, Ann Agnew) regarding International AIDS. Secretary Thompson dropped by and spent most of the hour. After the meeting he called me into his office to speak in private (Bob Woods (Chief of Staff) and Brett Davis (Special Assistant to the Secretary) were there. Thompson said he wanted me to be his point man on AIDS and to spearhead our international endeavors. Stated that he and Colin Powell would lead a Task Force on International AIDS and he wanted me to be the "go-to person".