A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
-
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".
-
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).
-
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.
-
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.
-
2005-12-31 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
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.
-
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.
-
Jan. 26-29, 2006 - Attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland to participate in 2 events: 1) a dinner panel discussion on Pandemic Influenza and 2) a plenary panel moderated by Ira Flatow (NPR - "Science Friday") on Pandemic Influenza. Other panel members included David Nabarro of WHO, David Stout of Glaxo-Smith Klein, the Minister of Health of Spain. The meeting was unexpectedly enjoyable in that I went to "close-up" panel discussions, breakfasts etc with people like President Muschaaraf of Pakistan, President Karzai of Afghanistan, Bill Gates, Bono, Queen Rana of Jordan, Bill Clinton, a number of journalists, etc. I was particularly impressed by leaders such as Karzai and Muschaaraf. The activity and press interest in Pandemic Flu has calmed down somewhat with other issues in the news (Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito confirmation, Iraq, the Hamas election victory in Palestine, etc.) Yet I still did a few CNN broadcasts from Davos.
-
Feb 3, 2006 - Attended Distinguished Lecture Series at Hilton Hotel with Chris. Lecture by Bono to a crowd of several thousand in the Hilton Ballroom. Bono spoke about his vision, etc. He stopped during the talk to recognize me in the audience as a "hero" of his who has done an enormous amount for global HIV/AIDS, particularly in being the main player working with President Bush in developing PEPFAR. Then several times throughout the speech when he mentioned global health or AID he would look in my direction and mention my name saying something like "I am sure that Tony would agree that...." Bono has been incredibly generous to me in his public recognition of me. He also mentioned that the USA and the world should support his "One Campaign". Of note, Jenny (Fauci) is a leader among the Harvard students in the One Campaign efforts. Feb. 3 - March 6, 2006 - Continued intensive interest in the potential for an H5N1 pandemic influenza with several media appearances. Also, I testified on March 2, 2006 before the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Foreign Operations together with Julie Gerberding, Kent Hill (USAID) and Ambassador Nancy Powell (DoS). Did Diane Rehm show in addition to other media. Spent an 90 minute lunch briefing the Washington, D.C. Bureau of ABC News (particularly George Stephanopoulos's people) on bird flu.
-
Feb. 13, 2006 - Had dinner with Rahm Emanuel (Democratic Caucus Head and brother of Zeke Emanuel), Christine Grady, Zeke Emmanuel, Mary Richardson and a Washington Post reporter (?name) at Central Restaurant at 1001 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. We were in the middle of an ice storm that did not deter us. Had very interesting and enjoyable conversations with Rahm about the Democratic Congress and the potential Democratic candidates for President in 2008. Rahm used to work for Bill Clinton when he was POTUS and was part of Clinton's original campaign team. Rahm feels that Hillary has the inside track because of the Clinton machine, her experience, and lots of money. However, he feels that Barack Obama will give her a tough race.