A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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April 23, 2015 - Conference call with MSF (Joanne Liu and Sophie Delaunay), Tom Frieden and Cliff Lane about"BioBank" and study of specimens that had been stored from Ebola patients. Interesting that MSF, who has never been interested in research and who often put down research since that focused on care now want to lead the effort. Joanne and Sophie are good people and this manifests the dichotomy and heterogeneity of MSF. Many conflicts within their ranks. Bottom line is that we agreed since we all are interested in this that we do the best possible science with true transparency and that above all, the data belong to the West Africans.
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April 25, 2015 - Went with Chris to the Annual Garden Party at the Beall-Washington House at 2920 - R Street, N.W. that precedes the White House Correspondents' Dinner tonight. Usual DC scene of TV stars and Hollywood stars such as Michael Kelly from "House of Cards" among others. Many people commented about my performance on TV during the Ebola crisis this past Fall. The Brunch was sponsored by Steve and Jean Case, Tammy Haddad, Mark Ein, etc.. That evening went to WH Correspondents's Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue and Florida Avenue. Was guest of Tom Burton and the Wll Street Journal. President Obama gave good comedy show followed by Saturday Night Live's Cecily Johnson. She was not particularly funny, but OK.
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April 26, 2015 - Went to the Annual NAS Garden Party at NAS Headquarters on C Street and 22-23rd Street, N.W. Usual scene of seeing old friends. As always, great to see Max and Rosalie Cooper.
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April 28, 2015 - Wonderful evening at the home of Ambassador Esther Coopersmith (2230 S Street, N.W.) who gave "A List" party in honor of Barbra Streisand who is a strong advocate of the Women's Heart Alliance, an organization calling attention to the unrecognized burden of heart disease among women. Beautiful DC Spring evening (magical) - perfect temperature, crystal clear sky. I had the pleasure of spending much face-to-face time with Barbra. She clearly knew who I was when introduced. She knew the connection to Larry Kramer as she was supposed to produce "The Normal Heart" for Hollywood, but did not as it went to HBO. I was seated directly across from her at a narrow table and right next to Esther Coopersmith, the hostess. Amazing crowd with many politicians - Nita Lowy and Rosa DeLauro (who kept shouting me out in their remarks); Ed Markey who gave a short speech and said "Wow, what a party - I am sitting here with Tony Fauci!"; Sen John McCain, Chris Dodd, Lloyd Hand, James Brolin (Barbra's husband and father of Josh Brolin), Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Gary Gibbons (the only other NIH person), Catherine and Wayne Reynolds, Diane Rehm, henry Waxman, Irene Pollin, Anita Mcbride, Rima Al-Sabah, Sen. Franken, Debbie Dingel, and many other notables. Barbra was amazingly nice - warm, sincere, funny, friendly. I was surprised since Harold Varmus had told me that on a prior visit by Barbra to NIH when he was Director and I was not present, Harold said that Barbra was aloof and not friendly. Totally opposite tonight. You get the feeling you could really be her friend.
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2015-04-30 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
April 30, 2015 - testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee with Francis Collins, Gary Gibbons, Tom Insel, Jon Lorsch, and Doug Lowy. Committee now chaired by Roy Blount (R-MO). Hearing went well. Concomitantly with Hearing has been the drafting and revising of the 21 Century Cures Act developed by Fred Upton (RMN) and Diane DeGette (D-CO). Clearly, Francis Collins (who denies it) had a lot to do with this since it authorizes (and appropriates - weird for an authorization committee) $2 billion per year for 5 years to NIH Director to ONLY be spent on Precision Medicine, young investigators, and "other research" TBD. This is a bad idea to earmark that much money in the NIH budget. (ws s Corner. Big 2 weeks giving
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May 2, 2015 - Went to Children's Inn Gala at the Ritz-Carlton at Tyson's Corner. Big shout out for me by the MC for my Ebola and other work.
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May 5, 2015 - Dedicated Building 4 today as the Lowell Weicker Building. I gave the main laudatio and Lowell loved it as did his wife Claudia, who I knew from the old days when she was his staffer. He divorced his wife to marry Claudia. Nice ceremony attended by Sen. Tom Harkin, Rep. Dave Obey, Tim Schriver. Was visited today by Harry Jaffe the National Editor at The Washingtonian. Harry wants very much for me to write a book. Says he has been following my career and that I have a "couple of books in me". He wants to help as an editor, co-writer and/or agent. He has written several books himself, including the best seller "Dream City" about Marion Barry.
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May 6, 2015 - Went to Detroit to receive honorary doctorate of LAWS from Wayne State Univerity. President Roy Wilson whom I know from his years ta NIH and he was on the Search Committee that I co-chaired with Gary Gibbons for the Director of NIMHD. Very nice trip. Absolutely beautiful weather - 50-60 and bright sun. Had very pleasant dinner in Roy spectacular apartment near Wayne State Univ. Roy was born in Japan of African-American father (officer in Air Force) and Japanese mother. He is fit and handsome guy. His apartment was a combination of modern American and Kyoto-like Japanese décor. Really nice.
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May 7, 2015 - Received degree today from WSU. On plane back, zsat behind an African American man and his wife/girlfriend. He looked around 60 years old and in great shape. I helped him open the upper luggage bin and our eyes met. He looked straight at me and said with a big smile: "Did you dye your hair gray so that a young man like you would look more distinguished?". I told him that unfortunately it was age. He asked me how old I was and I told him 74. He smiled and said he was 69 and gave me a fist pump. I noticed a massive diamond-studded ring on his finger. He pointed to it and said: "Do you know what this is?" I said no and he said it was a Hall of Fame Ring. I looked at him and apologized and said I am very sorry, but I do not recognize you. He said: I am Lem Barney, Hall of Fame cornerback for the Detroit Lions from 1967 through 1977, and you are that wonderful doctor who does so much for the world. I told him how much I admired his play over so many years with the Lions. We hugged and shook hands for a long time. Wonderful encounter!