Tony's Diary Package — page 1069

Russia threatening nuclear attack on Ukraine as their forces are now losing to the Ukrainians I testified before the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense held at the Hudson Institute (Scooter Libby is Senior VP). The group that I testified before was Joe Lieberman, Donna Shalala, Rep. Susan Brooks, Jin Greenwood, Tom Daschle, The Commissioners all congratulated me on my career and praised me for my decades of public service. I gave a very energetic and passionate plea for support in the long term and consistently of our research component of the pandemic preparedness plan. I also spoke about the importance of major funding to modernize the CDC and their surveillance efforts. All in all, it was a very good appearance before an important Commission. My old friend Joe Lieberman wished me "Cent Anni" and made a great joke: "In every 75 year old person is a 35 year old that wondered what the heck happened." The White House MPX coordinators (Bob Fenton/Demetre Daskalakis) are trying to micromanage (Project by project) our and the CDC's portfolio. Bad news!! They mean well, but this is unprecedented for any WH element to micromanage a research portfolio. I received a delightful call today (pre-arranged) from former Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III informing me that I have been chosen to be honored at a gala in Boston with by the Edward M Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. The award is given for service to the country and the co-awardee with me would be basketball legend Bill Russell formerly of the Boston Celtics. I had a wonderful conversation with Joe over the phone in which he expressed extraordinary admiration for me for what I have been through and the attacks against me by the far right. On my way tomorrow to Aspen for "The Weekend" where I will do a "fireside chat" on COVID. Monkeypox cases declining: