A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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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.
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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.
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Mar. 7, 2006 - Gave laudatio remarks at a reception in the Dirksen (430) Building at 6:00 PM (beautiful crisp Winter day) in honor of Peter Piot who was celebrating 12 years at UNAIDS. I reflected about his early days at Projet SIDA in Kinshasa, Zaire with Tom Quinn and Jonathan Mann. Also, honored at the reception was Michael Iskowitz, formerly Sen. Kennedy's Staffer, former White House AIDS Deputy Coordinator and recently at AIDS Action. He is entering a private consulting arena. Met and spoke with Sen. Hillary Clinton who recognized me specifically in her remarks.
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Mar. 8, 2006 - Took quick trip to NYC to brief the NY Bureau of ABC News with David Westin (President) hosting me. Afterwards, rushed back to DC to do a teleconference with the officials from all of the DC area (MD and VA) school officials from private high schools.
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2006-03-12 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
Mar. 12, 2006 - Had tea at the Four Seasons with members of the Mothers to Mothers to be (M2M2B) an African Program founded by Dr. Mitchell Besser (Rich Besser's brother) and involving HIV-infected South African women who have delivered babies (some infected, others not) and who now work with other mothers to be who are HIV-infected to educate them, empower them and help them live a positive life. They are visiting the USA at the request of First Lady Laura Bush stemming from her trip last year to Africa where she met these women. The Mothers Program is partially funded by PEPFAR. I will Chair a panel discussion at Georgetown tomorrow where the women will discuss their work.
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March 13, 2006 - Presentations at the White House (East Room) with Laura Bush and Randy Tobias followed by brunch in the State Dining Room. Mrs. Bush thanked me for serving as the Panel Chair. Had good conversations with Kristen Silverberg, Randy Tobias, Michael Gerson, Carol Thompson and other White House folks. After the presentations at the White House we went to Georgetown (Healy Building - Gaston Hall) for the panel discussion. It was a beautiful sunny an unseasonably hot (84F) day for March 13. Other members of the Program were Gene Falk and Robin Smalley.
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Mar. 21, 2006 - First day of Spring 2006. Had phone conversation with Carol Kuntz today and she was concerned that there have been "policy time" briefings with the POTUS regarding pandemic flu involving Sec. Leavitt where she thought that I should definitely have been included. The POTUS asked some questions that Rajeev Vankaaya and Leavitt could not answer that Carol knew for sure that I would have been able to answer. Carol asked whether I was having a problem with HHS. I told her not at all, but I did mention to her my suspicion that HHS is trying to shed all of the light on Leavitt (probably because of his political aspirations) and having him share the spotlight with me or Julie Gerberding is something that makes HHS nervous. We continually see this when press ask for me and HHS diverts them to Leavitt when we ask them for clearance for me. Welcome to Washington!! nse and SN1
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April 3, 2006 - Over the past 2 weeks, there has been continued medium-high interest in the ever expanding bird flu situation with a constant low-level stream of new human cases and more countries getting either migratory birds or chicken flocks infected. Current number are 188 infected and 103 dead. Recently, there has been migratory birds (mostly swans) infected with H5N1 detected in Western Europe. France as only country with some domesticated chickens and turkeys infected. They quickly handled it by culling. Other countries such as Italy had migratory bird(s) infected, but no chickens and still chicken sales in supermarkets and restaurants has plummeted by as much as 50 to 60%. My prediction is that infected migratory birds may (not definitely) make it to USA and that there will be very little contamination of chickens because of the agriculture controls. Yet, it will affect (by misperception) the chicken industry. There has been some backlash among people in press about the over-hyping of the threat. I am in good shape here since I have always maintained that the threat, although non-quantifiable, is likely low. This is in contrast to others such as Rob Webster, who says that there is a 50% chance that we will have a bird flu pandemic among humans with H5N1!!! I have no idea how he came up with that number. Also, my friend Michael Osterholm is also singing doom and gloom.
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April 6, 2006 - Had dinner with Tara O'Toole of the Univ of Pittsburg Biodefense Program. She had just testified at the BioShield Hearing on the Hill and wanted to get my perspective on how things were going with the Biodefense effort and if there was anything that she could do for me. I explained to her that the reason the current BioShield effort was not successful was that the Congress did not approve the Bill that I and VP Cheney and Scooter Libby had originally proposed. The Congress limited the money to $5.6 Billion instead of an unlimited authorization to draw from the Treasury and the Appropriations Committees still controlled how much could be spent each year. Also, we could not do advanced development for products. This put off the big companies (not enough money) and the little companies (advanced development) and so the process has not been entirely successful. We are attracting marginal companies like VaxGen that cannot get to the goal post.