Tony's Diary Package — page 895

abort his plan of announcing it to the IC directors tomorrow and then making the announcement on Thursday. The best laid plans ....... Interesting situation where Lindsey Graham mentioned to a group of Republicans that they should get vaccinated and they boot him out of the room. Goes to show you how crazy the world is gone we have one of the most conservative Republicans gets booed when he tells far right Republicans to get vaccinated PRESS: CNN "At This Hour" with Kate Bolduan; Washington Times: Dr. Fauci: Americans, especially those vaccinated against COVID-19, should enjoy Christmas Oct. 5, 2021 - Case and hospitalization continue to come down; however less sharply down than other surges Hospitalizations and cases continue to come down. Deaths still up somewhat as a lagging indicator. The big question that is being debated by everyone as we go into the fall is whether or not we're going to have another surge as we get into the winter . I keep saying that that will depend on whether or not we get vaccinated a large proportion of the 70 million people who are unvaccinated who are eligible to be vaccinated. Francis Collins retirement. Francis and I tried to keep the announcement confidential until the time when he wanted to announce it which was yesterday . However, as expected in Washington DC it leaked and all the press were bombarding me and others about comments. Justifiably and appropriately I gave glowing comments to the press. The leak was probably through congressional staff after Francis notified the chairs and minority of the various committees. although I will miss Frances greatly , it is good that he is leaving now while the Senate is under democratic control and we have a democratic president . Otherwise it could be a disaster is the Republicans take over the Senate whereby they would unlikely approve a good candidate. In addition it would really be a disaster if he stepped down on the Republican president particularly Donald Trump. I recalled in all of the interviews about his retirement that I had pleaded with him when he was trying to step down during the trump administration. I knew that if he did that trump would hire an unacceptable person. Francis listened to me and waited until Biden became President and we had a Democratic Congress. PRESS: ABC "The Breakdown" ONLINE with Terry Moran and Kyra Phillips; MSNBC Peacock with Zelinda Maxwell; Oct. 6, 2021