STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
                          STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305 o (415) 321-1200

STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MELHCINE
Depcrrtmrnl of Genetics

JUN 6 1969

Mr. \5.  A. Koshland
President
A.A. Knopf, publishers
501 Madison Avenue
New York, N.Y. 109&2

Dear Mr.  lCo.shland

  It has just reached my attention that one of the characters
in "The Andromeda Strain " has certain biographic resemblances to
me9  and might plausibly be believed to refer to me.   At the same
time,  the novel exhibits some personal history that bears no such
correepondance to facts, and casts the character in an uncomplimentary
light.

  I am writing to ask your cooperation in minimizing the personal
injury that might follow from this publication, for example in the
style of your advertising which stresses the "documentary versimilitude
. . . in authentic detail" of the book. I do not wish, at this time,
to call further attention to the matter by any specific statements
about it.

  The further mutations that the script might undergo in being
produced fern: as a movie are a matter of even dec>per concern to me.
I have written to Mr. Wise; but I would also ask you to use your
wun good offices to help assure that thi% is hantilcd in a respon-
sible fashion.

  The book is an interesting one, and deserves to have a wide
sale.  But I do not think it would detract from its appeal if it
were praperly fictionalized.  I assume that you will reassure me
that the possibility of a personal identification (through such
details as the academic position of the character!) had simply es-
caped your notice.

Yours sinceqLy,

Professor of Genetics and Biology
Nobel Laureate (for work in
   bacterial genetics)          ,

LT. J. P. KENNEDY, JR. LABORATORIES FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE, DEDICATED TO RESEARCH IN hfENTAL RETARDATION

MOLECULAR UIOLOCY              HEREDITY             NEUROBIOLOGY             DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE