Diary Prequel Package — page 230

Feb. 23, 2010 - Continued activity in trying to dissect out what went right and/or wrong with the response to H1N1 flu. Still considerable tension between Heidi Avery who wants s "to transform" the system and make some leaps and the slow, careful (and actually incompetent) response of the HHS people. Had the PHEMCE review led by Nicki Lurie under the auspices of the IOM. Held at the House of Sweden on 2900 K street by the Georgetown Waterfront. I presented a lively endorsement of the Avery plan. L felt that it made the HHS people nervous. This reminds me of 25 years ago when I was pushing HHS to accept the AIDS activists and they were conservatively reluctant. They are not bold at all. Feb. 25, 2010 - As per the "review", a PCAST meeting c--chaired by Harold Varmus and Eric Lander was held at the Carnegie Institution on 1530 P Street, N.W. with David Baltimore, Tom Monath, Robert Coffman, Emilio Emini and others present. Their purpose was to look at the response to H1N1 and report back to the POTUS. I presented my theme of the absolute importance of developed a new paradigm of close interaction between USG and industry whereby USG pushes and shares to risk of developing innovative technologies (new platforms for vaccines and drugs) that industry can use for their own profits while the USG then has it available to respond to public health threats (existing, emerging and deliberate). I was very well received. March 1, 2010 - Regular Monday evening meeting in the Situation Room of the White House led by Heidi Avery with the usual cast of characters. Still inertia on HHS part and agitation by Heidi. Couple of days later (~ March 3 or 4) Heidi called me at home at around 10:00 AM very discouraged at the inertia and lack of imagination of HHS people, particularly Peggy Hamburg, Nicki Lurie and Jess Goodman. Asked for my help in getting the initiative going or she even said that it might be hopeless with this cast of characters. She felt that Nicki was in over her head and that she was afraid of losing her command of the situation instead of capitalizing on what Heidi wants to do. Heidi also feels that Peggy is missing the big picture and that Jesse is hopelessly garbled in his thought and expression. I will try to help her by formulating a plan with her to get this initiative rolling. March 5, 2010 - Gave my yearly talk to the Zuckernman Fellows led by Mort Zuckerman and David Gergen. Then had the usual receptions that evening at Ronald and Beth Dozoretz's home at 3005 45th Street, N.W. (right around the block from my house. Usual stars were there - Sonya Sotamayor, Desiree Rogers (Social Secretary at the WH), Justice Breyer, Dave Gergen, Wolf Blitzer, Andrea Mitchell, etc/ March 6, 2010 - Under the continued generosity of Wayne and Catherine Reynolds to Chris and me, we were their guests at the premier showing of the Opera "War and Peace" at the Opera House of the Kennedy Center. Special elegant dinner before hand in the Atrium followed by the opera. Guests were the usual DC lists of famous people: few examples - Gen James Jones, Sen. Tom Daschle, Marcus Brauchli (editor of Washington Post), many media people - Dana Priest, Wolf Blitzer, Sam Donaldson, etc. Long opera!