A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
-
April 17, 2007 - Scooter Libby contacted me and asked that I write a letter to Judge Reggie Walton via Scooter's lawyer William Jeffress to serve as a character reference for Scooter. Scooter has been found guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with the Valerie Plame/Joe Wilson CIA leak (see above). He is appealing the 1 by case but may be sentenced to jail before his appeal is heard. The purpose of the letter is to try and keep Scooter out of jail during the appeal. I wrote him a very supportive letter.
-
April 18, 2007 - Testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security together with Gerry Parker, Jesse Goodman (FDA) and Jeff Runge (DHS) on the successes and failures of Bioshield. Committee chaired by Jim Langevin. Hearing called because several of the companies that were trying for Bioshield procurement contracts had failed, i.e. Vaxgen for rPA and Hollois Eden for Neumune (to protect and regenerate BM after radiation). Richard Hollis testified against the USG and Dr. Davis from HGS (that makes AbThrax - monoclonal antibody against anthrax toxin) testified favorably towards the USG. Hollis looked like a whiner and the Hearing went fine. It is clear that Bennie Thompson, the overall Chair is in the pocket of the lobbyists as his questions reflected a "presumption" of failure on the part of DHHS and BioShield.
-
April 20, 2007 - Briefed Joel Bagnell and Rajeev Venkayya at the WH on the rolling out of justification for classified research. Some friendly tension between Joel and me in that they wanted us (CDC, FDA, HHS, NIH to sign off on the roll-out document and there was a phrase in there that did not clarify that we do not do classified research. It asked us to justify with all of our research why it should be unclassified making the default position that everything should be classified. I had them change it to read that we should explain why it is not classified as opposed to justifying it as being unclassified. We came to an agreement.
-
April 24, 2007 - Had lunch with Scooter Libby today at the Daily Grill in the Bethesda Hyatt. Hot muggy and sunny day. Has been cold up until now. Scooter looked very worn and down. I gave him a big hug and he looked like he was going to have tears. I asked about the trial and he said that they really expected a not guilty verdict and that is why they did not pull out all of the stops and ask the VP to testify. Also, it was clear that Reggie Walton was "preening" for this since he had the courtroom wired for the press and bloggers which they never do. He proclaimed complete innocence and is hoping that Bush will pardon him. He is sad that he has not been pardoned already and feels that perhaps if it looks like he will go to jail the POTUS will then pardon him. He feels that there are politicos in the WH who do not want the POTUS to pardon him since it will make the Administration look even worse that the 30% approval ratings. I told Scooter that I could not imagine that the POTUS will allow him to go to jail, particularly with the VP pulling so hard for Scooter. I spent the rest of the time briefing Scooter about biodefense updates. Also, had meeting at the White House called by Rajeev Venkayya and Mike Magan on XDR-TB including reps from CDC (Julie G. and Ken Castro), HHS (Craig Vanderwagen, Gerry Parker) DoD, DHS, State, USAID, Mark Dybul. Bottom line was to coordinate the multi-Agency efforts. Good meeting. We (NIAID) has already put together a strategic plan as has CDC and so HHS looked good. Mark Dybul mentioned that the Policy Time with the POTUS on PEPFAR funding did not go well today.
-
2007-04-25 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
April 25, 2007 - Had a lunch/reception at the White House followed by a presentation by Laura Bush and President Bush in the Rose Garden to celebrate the first ever Malaria Awareness Day in the USA. Day was sunny, hot and muggy. I was given a reserved seat in the second row. Had major and important conversations during the reception with Randy Tobias, Mike Gerson and Josh Bolten. Apparently, at a meeting with the POTUS yesterday on PEPFAR funding, there was some opposition to maintaining the funding level. Likely the major mover of this restricted funding was Karl Rove. Condi Rice is out of the country, but will be supportive of expanded funding. Josh Bolten is supportive also. Josh asked me what I thought and I came on strong. Josh pointed out that this was supposed to be a $15 billion program with $3 billion per year for 5 years. Josh said that at the time that I developed the program, I said that we could not absorb the entire $3 billion in the first years and so we would do more in the later years. Now the program is at $5 billion per year, which means that just to sustain it without increases would cost $5 billion per year for 5 years or $25 billion. Many conservatives would oppose this as a bottomless pit. I also argued that we should get rid of the mandated 33% for abstinence of the 20% prevention money. I am attaching an e-mail that I sent to Josh after getting back to my office in which I clarify my position: Josh: It was good to see you at the Malaria event today and I appreciate your listening to Randy, Mike and me. I know that you are very much supportive of the full funding and even increase of the initiative and I know that this view is not shared by all. However, just to reiterate what I said to you and what you already know, this is one of the most important things that this administration has done and is doing. The people of Africa look upon us with great admiration and gratitude because of PEPFAR. We just cannot let it slip. True, we cannot commit to treating every infected person in the target countries, particularly since there are 4.3 million new infections worldwide each year, mostly in developing countries. However, we are making significant progress in prevention. I know that you are aware of how impressive the circumcision data are. In addition, although we are still years away from a vaccine, the most recent candidate has entered a phase 2 trial internationally (including Africa). Even if it does not totally prevent HIVinfection, there is a reasonable chance that it will slow the progression of disease if people do get infected, and this will result in lower levels of virus in their bodies, which in turn makes transmission to others less likely. I tell you this because I believe that we are on the cusp of a slowing down of transmission, which would dampen the possibility of a "bottomless pit" of infection in target countries for which we would feel obligated to treat. Finally, with regard to prevention, I am sorry that I was at first not clear about my position on abstinence being mandated as one third of the 20% prevention piece of the pie. We get enormous bad press (that often overshadows the enormous good that we are doing) because we mandate a specific number for abstinence. The faith-based organizations are going to push abstinence with the prevention money that we give them anyway. Therefore, abstinence will indeed be pursued through PEPFAR. By mandating it, those who do not think that this is the way to go will only drop out of the funding stream and declare the program dysfunctional when it really is a breath-taking success. On balance, it is my opinion that if we remove mandated categories of prevention, abstinence programs will still go on in Africa and PEPFAR will be praised by everyone, deservedly so. I am sorry if I came on somewhat strong at the White House with you, but I feel deeply that PEPFAR is such an historically great program (that would not exist if it were not for you) and I want it to function optimally. As always, if you need me to pitch in on this and articulate my views to anyone, please call upon me. I would jump at the chance. Thank you and best personal regards, Tony During the Rose garden ceremony, the POTUS actually got up and played the drums with a troop of Senegalese/American dancers who provided entertainment on the stage in the Rose Garden. As he left the stage and went back to the Oval Office, we caught each other's eyes and he said "Hi Denny", walked a few steps, turned around, came back and said "What am I talking about, Hi Tony"; he laughed and went on.
-
April 27, 2007 - Went to the National Cathedral this AM to see Megan receive the honor as one of 12 NCS girls to be inducted into the "Cum Laude Society" . It was a beautiful ceremony at the Cathedral. Found out during the evening as I was on the way to a Nats Baseball game (call from Greg Folkers) with Bob Seder, Stewart Simonson, and Gary Nabel that Randy Tobias just abruptly resigned effective immediately. There is a woman who runs an "escort service and sexual fantasy service" who is being charged with running a prostitution ring. She is a bit bizarre and is using as a defense that if her girls did prostitution, then they did it on their own. For some unexplainable reason, she released the cell phone numbers of the clients of her girls and Randy's number was on the list. ABC News confronted Randy and he stated that he merely used the girls to get massages and had no sex, but he resigned anyway. My impression is that unlike Attorney General Alberto Gonzales who will not resign and keeps embarrassing the POTUS with his incompetence in handling the firing of the Federal Attorneys, Randy does not want to cause more bad press for the POTUS. Irony is that Randy runs the AID Programs which require recipients of Federal Funds to condemn prostitution. This is probably the reason that he resigned, i.e. the appearance of hypocracy. April 28-May 6, 2007 - Just a very busy time for me preparing for the Board of Scientific Counsellors Review of my Lab (LIR) to take place on June 4. Weather turned absolutely beautiful - typical DC Spring with sunny skies and balmy temperatures. Have been following over the past several weeks the St. Alban's baseball team. They are having their best year in decades. Danny Hultzen (pitcher/first base) is clearly the best pitcher in the league and one of the best hitters.
-
May 7, 2007 - Went to the British Embassy for a Garden Party in honor of the visit to the USA of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Everyone who is anyone in DC was there. Spent time speaking with Sen. Joe Lieberman, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader of House Steny Hoyer, Columnist David Brooks, CNN's Judy Woodruff, Fox News Chief Editor Britt Hume, Former Mayor of Baltimore Schmoke, Harvey Fineberg of IOM, etc. Spoke with Prince Philip who showed an astounding lack of understanding of what is biomedical research. He asked me what I did and I explained. He said "Of medical stuff; that is statistics, i.e. numbers". I explained that we actually do research to answer questions. He insisted that it was all about statistics of diseases. I said that the statistics inform us of the extent of the problems, but then we do basic and clinical research to diagnosed, prevent and treat diseases. He then said, "Oh yes, like I said, it is all about numbers". I hope that he was just jet-lagged.
-
May 10-14, 2007 - Had one of the most intensely busy weeks in recent memory with preparations (rehearsals) for my upcoming Board of Scientific Counselors review of LIR, NIH Budget Retreat, NIH Roadmap Retreat, Commencement Address at Penn State, Major talk in Miami to AAI, NIAID National Advisory Council Meeting, and Senate srsity College of Extremely busy: Appropriations Hearing Testimony - all in 5 working days. It was exhilarating in a strange sort of way. Almost like being on call as an intern and having 5 admissions in a row. After a while, it does not make any difference how many they send you. Weather has been spectacularly beautiful - typical Washington Spring weather. Sunny, dry, warm in day, cool at night.
-
May 19, 2007 - Gave Commencement Address at Penn State University College of Science