A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
-
Jan. 31, 2003 - Spent most of day at DHHS and the WH. President gave absolutely wonderful speech at the WH to the PACHA (Presidential Advisory Committee of HIV/AIDS) and the African Ambassadors. He truly reflected his commitment and passion concerning our moral obligation to do something about HIV/AIDS internationally. He mentioned me specifically. Interesting that the activists who were completely trumped by the POTUS announcement, now can only complain that only $1 billion of the $10 million new money is going to the Global Fund.
-
Feb. 1-2, 2003 - Much preparation for the President's visit to NIH and for the briefing of the President on Feb. 3 on BioShield. Many calls from WH I am asked by WH people to fact check things that he will say. Also, they want me to be responsible for arranging the details of his visit to the Vaccine Research Center. His advance people keep calling me and Kristen and others keep asking if everything is going OK.
-
Feb. 3, 2003 - Another magical day! In the AM, I brief the POTUS on Project BioShield. Place = Roosevelt Room of the WW. Present are POTUS, VP Cheney, Tom Ridge, Tommy Thompson, Scooter Libby, Condi Rice, Karl Rove, Josh Bolten, Kristen Silverberg, Adm Abbott, Ari Fleischer, Dan Bartlett, Ken Bernard, Elias Zerhouni, Carol Kuntz, etc. I played major role in walking him through the Project. We rush back to NIH to greet him (Flying in on Marine One) at the VRC. We give him a tour and he is smash hit with the staff. We go over in motorcade to Natcher Building where he gives major address. He specifically mentions me as an old friend and someone who he thanks on the part of the country because I have been for many years THE general in war on AIDS. His speech drew applause every time he would mention me, Zerhouni, or AIDS in Africa Plan, but no applause when he spoke of the likely need to go to war with Iraq. He leaves and I spend rest of day and also Feb. 4 doing press calls to describe in detail Project BioShield.
-
Feb. 4, 2003 - The world knows that the President's Plan came from me and I am briefing many people. The WH refers all questions about Project BioShield and The President's AIDS Plan to me Got a call from Richard Feachem, President of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, congratulating me on the Plan, but expressing concern that since the USA only put $1 billion new money in the Fund over 5 years that now the other countries would be reluctant to contribute more to the fund than the USA. I told him emphatically, but in a nice way, that I disagreed. The original purpose of the Global Fund was not to replace bilateral agreements, but to complement them. Feachem is essentially saying that the other $9 billion in new money does not really count in a matching game since we did not put this in the Global Fund. Unbelievable. I have now told people. This is not about the Fund or about your particular choice of how you give money. It is about saying the lives of people in Africa and the Caribbean. Another looming problem is the Mexico City Agreement which states that Foreign NGO who counsels on abortions or who supports the performance (with funds) of abortions is not eligible for USG funding. This might make the implementation of the Plan through NGOs difficult. Also, I need to check with the US Trade Representative about the generics and breaking patents.
-
2003-02-06 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
Feb. 6, 2003 - Snow storm in DC. Went out to dinner with Stew Simonson and driving back home from Etrusco's restaurant on DuPont Circle I hit a patch of ice on Cathedral Ave., spun around twice and broad sided a telephone pole. No other cars or people involved. I was unhurt and drove my wrecked car home. Luckily it still ran since only the side doors (passenger side) were destroyed.
-
Feb. 6 - 12, 2003 - Much briefing of White House and Congressional staff on Project BioShield and the President's AIDS plan. Much, much activity. The WH wants me in on all briefings.
-
Feb. 13, 2003 - Delivered Plenary lecture at the 10th Conference on Retroviruses and OIs in Boston. Spoke on Role of viremia in host abnormalities. Very well received; it was hard core basic science, which was in sharp contrast to the publicity that I have been getting for the policy issues. Returned in early afternoon to go to WH to brief Congressional leaders on Project BioShield. Received secret briefing from CIA Torrey Froscher (Deputy Director, WINPAC, CIA). Present were Admr Stephen Abbott, Tom Ridge, Tommy Thompson, Jim Capretta, Kristen Silverberg, Chris Cox and Ginger Poers (Special Assistants to the president for Leg Affairs), Sens Gregg, Congressmen Burr, Turner Cox, Tauzin, Sen Collins; Sally Stansfield, Stewart Simonson, Carol Kuntz. The President walked in during the meeting and greeted the Congressmen and gave me a special warm greeting saying that the "A" team was there. He now has his special name for me. It is not Tony or Dr. Fauci it is "Fauci".
-
Feb. 13, 2003 - Received wonderful FAX from Bono congratulating me on the AIDS initiative. Referred to us as "partners in crime". Did more briefings on the hill as well as briefing of activists Paul Davis, Asia Russell, Rachel Cohen (MSF) on the Pres. initiative. Still much concern out there that we did not put all of the money in the Global Fund. Yet, the Global Fund has not really done anything yet. Also, issues such as generic drug purchase and the Mexico City Agreement (MCA) have come up. Importantly, Jay Lefkowitz is supporting my view that even if organizations would not qualify to receive USG funds because they are not in accordance with the MCA, i.e. they do counseling that encourages abortion or they actually do abortions, they can in fact receive funds as long as they use them for treatment and not abortion performance or counseling. Major victory for me if Jay supports me since otherwise many groups would be disqualified to participate in the AIDS implementation plan. Also, according to the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement, the WTO countries would not permit breaking of patents or use of generic. However, in paragraph 6 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration on the TRIPS, members could use "compulsory licensing themselves or have a third party compulsory license for them to make drugs in the case of an epidemic emergency such as AIDS, malaria, TB, cholera, Ebola, etc. so long as certain conditions are met such as this must be in poor countries and drugs cannot be sold back to rich countries. Thus, the TRIPS agreement will not interfere with our giving money to poor countries to buy generic or compulsory licensed drugs. Please refer to TRIPS and Doha documents. Feb. 14 - Mar. 2 - I have been leading (with Stew Simonson and occasionally Mark McClellan (FDA) many, many briefings of senators, Congressmen and staffers on Project BioShield. The WH has proposed our legislation. Zerhouni is acting extremely insecure and (I believe) inappropriate regarding the mentioning of NIAID in the authorizing legislation for BioShield. He and Stew and having a terrible fight since Stew insists that NIAID remain in the language. I am trying not to get caught in the middle. A few days ago, I presented the Jimmy and Rossalyn Carter Award of the NFID to former Congressman John Porter.
-
Mar. 3, 2003 - Had dinner with Senator Bill Frist in his Majority Leader's Office in the Capitol. He regularly (on Mondays) brings together people with whom he likes to discuss various topics. This time it was bioterrorism. Besides me was Herb Pardes, Mark Halperin (NBC News), Stuart Taylor (Editor, National Journal), Georges Benjamin (Director, American Public Health Assoc), Bill Madia (Oak Ridge), Rev. Anthony Davis (Director, DC Black Church Initiative), Michael Byrne (Dept. of Homeland Security, Coordinator for DC, MD, and VA) and Ginny Wolfe (Counselor to Sen. Frist).