A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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Dec. 1, 2005 - World AIDS day. I was invited by the White House to be a Principal at the POTUS Speech (EEOB 450). As with last year, the POTUS specifically recognized me as being in the audience for all of the work that I have done in AIDS. Peter Mugyenyi from Uganda was there as was an AIDS mother from South Africa and her 2 children who had benefited from the PEPFAR program.. Had coffee with Julie Gerberding after the ceremony at Starbuck's on Pennsylvania Avenue and she feels exactly the way I do about the States Summit and the "tour" (see above).
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Dec. 2, 2005 - Had pre-Table Top preparation at HHS with MOL, Julie Gerberding, Stewart Simonson, Bill Raub, Bruce Gellin, Jesse Goodman, Rich McKeon and the entire DHHS staff. I have concern over these exercise since they are unrealistic and always make everyone look bad. I tried to interject some common sense into the discussions, but there were too many people who were acting like they knew what they were talking about. I generally do not like those "group" briefings of the Secretary since everyone trials to look smart and few people have a clue of what is going on. That evening, went to an incredible affair at the Kennedy Center with Christine. It was the Grand Opening of the Family Theater sponsored by the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Series for Artistic Excellence. After the show which included extraordinary superstars, we had dinner on the stage of the Eisenhower Theater!!. It was incredibly elegant and all the Washington Glitterati were there. At my table with Chris was David Rubenstein of the Carlyle Group, Super-Attorney Bob Barnett, UNICEF President Ann Veneman, Former Sen. John Breaux (D-La), Rita Braver (producer for CBS). At the dinner were every media and politico you could imagine. The dinner was amazing and we all had a great time.
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Dec. 5, 2005 - Big meeting ("Summit") at the Grand Hyatt in DC to roll out the plan to visit all 50 states to talk up pandemic flu preparedness. Present were health officers of the big cities and all the states. Presentations by MOL, Julie Gerberding, me and the usual cast of characters. I am very anxious since MOL wants to take me with him on the tour to visit 75 locations in all 50 states to talk up preparedness. I just do not have time for this. Stewart Simonson and even Rich McKeown are aware of this and are trying to get me out of it. However, MOL is so enamored of me that he wants me with him.
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Dec. 6, 2005 - Strange article (Profile of me) on the front page of the Wall Street Journal by Bernie Wysocki. It made it look like I have 100s of millions of dollars of biodefense money that I dole out at my whim to contractors. The article was very likely (almost certainly) instigated by the lobbyists from BioPort (AVA anthrax vaccine) and from Hollis Eden (countermeasures for rad/nuc) who want contract money and did not get it. The article was extremely confusing since it mixed up what we do (research) and what HHS does (procure via BioShield). Also, it made it look like there was no peer review and that I just hand out money to the "Fauci Club".
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2005-12-16 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
Dec. 16, 2005 Paradoxically, mostly favorable responses to the WSJ article. Most people interpreted it as indicating that I was a powerful player. Publicity dying down about bird flu around holidays. MOL went on the first of the State trips to Minnesota. With the help of Rich McKeown, I got out of the trip. Julie Gerberding went and feels as I do that these series of trips will be a waste of time for us. Article came out in WSJ by Sarah Lueck on Stewart Simonson with major quote by me defending him. It was a fair article and will likely reverse the trend of bad press that he has been getting as being the "Michael Brown of Public Health preparedness". Went to the VP's mansion for a Christmas Party on Dec. 15 and then went to Lessons and Carols at the National Cathedral right afterwards. Took Stewart Simonson and his parents (who are in town for the holidays).
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Dec. 16-31, 2005 - Reasonably calm. Still doing press regularly related to pandemic flu. On Dec. 27, 28, 29 did Today Show, Good Morning America, and CNN "The Situation Room", respectively. Bush popularity polls going up slightly after a terrible year related to Iraq, prison abuses, Valerie Plume leak (Scooter Libby, Karl Rove), Katrina, etc. POTUS speaking more to the press and admitting more that certain things have not gone well. Am still trying to be low profile in requirement to travel with MOL on his 50 State tour.
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Dec. 27-28, 2005 - Drove up to NYC with Chris and the girls to do Christmas sightseeing and to visit my father who does not travel down to DC/VA for the holidays the way he used to do years ago. Had a great time. Went to Bryant Park around 42nd Street and 5 Avenue (near NY Public Library and saw the Kenneth Cole tented exhibit in cb the Park. It was a series of photos and plastic molds of foot imprints of people who had devoted themselves to fighting the AIDS epidemic. My footprint was up there along with Angelina Joli, Brad Pitt, Whoopie Goldberg, Larry Kramer, Bono and a large number of other notables.
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Dec. 31, 2005 - Carol Kuntz took Chris, me and the girls on a private tour of the West Wing. It was terrific. I got an interesting new perspective of the place since I have been there so many times over the past several years that I take it for granted and never really "look around". It was great to have a personal tour and take my time looking at rooms and furniture, some of which I have sat in when briefing the POTUS and others.
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Jan. 4, 2006 - Met with David Rubenstein, Founder and CEO of The Carlyle Group. He made me an amazing offer to join the firm as head of a Medical Venture Capital component of the Group. Compensation projected to be in the millions per year with a base salary of $1 million! Obvious question is whether I want to get out of the classical scientific/public servant arena.