Diary Prequel Package — page 329

microbiome. My Medal was for lifetime achievement in medical science. Peter Palese gave the best introduction of me ever. He seriously compared my career to that of Robert Koch in that I attacked a brand new disease (HIV/AIDS) in the same manner that Koch approached and studied Anthrax, TB, etc. It was a humbling and exciting visit. I gave the Robert Koch Lecture at the Max Planck Institute and reacted with many students. Also saw old friends Stefan Kaufman (nominated me), Fritz Melchers, Hermann Wagner, etc. Visited Checkpoint Charley, Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag. Great honor and enjoyable visit. November 19, 2013 - Yesterday I appeared on Local TV Station WUSA - Channel 9 News at 7:00 PM to discuss the recent outbreak of meningococcal meningitis at Princeton University. Since March, 2012 that have been a total of seven cases of meningitis among Princeton students. Six of the cases were among resident students and one was a case from a visitor. The type of the meningitis was meningococcal type B, which is not contained in the vaccine that is distributed generally among students and young people in United States. The standard vaccine contains types A, C, Y, and W-135.. None of the students died from the meningitis. I will be appearing today on the radio WTOP to discuss the situation. The FDA has given approval for importation of type B vaccines from Novartis Company in Switzerland. It still remains to get approval from the institutional review board of the CDC. As usual HHS Public affairs has balked at my going on the media because they consider this a CDC issue. This time with support from John Burklow, we asked for permission, they said no, and I went on TV last night anyway. I am going to appear on radio this morning again. This is a turning point in our relationship with HHS who continue in a completely crazy way to rty to block our going on the media in situations that they feel belong to CDC even though the Media specifically ask for me. November 20, 2013 - This was one of the most magical evenings that I have had in Washington in the 40 years that I have been here. I was invited with Christine to go to a Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the conferring of the Presidential Medals of Freedom. The event was held at the Smithsonian Museum of American History on 1300 Constitution Ave. NW., District of Columbia. The event was in celebration of several things. It commemorated the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy. It also was the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Presidential Medals of Freedom by Pres. Kennedy. We found out in a historical examination of the situation that Kennedy established the Presidential Medal of Freedom in February of 1963. He was intending to give out the first metals in December of 1963. However, as we know, sadly he was assassinated on November 23, 1963. Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson went ahead and conferred the medals one month after the death of Pres. Kennedy. He conferred the Medal to Pres. Kennedy post-humously and gave it to Jacqueline Kennedy who received it on her deceased husband's behalf. The reception and dinner that was held at the Museum of American History was extraordinary. Virtually everyone who is anybody in Washington, DC was there and it was highly populated by people who in the past had received the Medal. I had the opportunity to speak with Pres. Obama, President Clinton, as well as a nice conversation with Hillary Clinton. It was also the first time that I had the opportunity to speak with first lady Michelle Obama. The number of celebrities that were