February 25, 1977

Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson
Director
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Dear Don:

First 9 want to tell you how pleased I am that the

Secretary of HEN retained you as Director and,  as re-
ported in Science, made gestures of strong support for
the BIE. It's a fine start.

   I realize that the issue of recombinant DNA research
is even more troublesome than it was in June of last year
when we last met in San Francisco and talked about it. I
was shocked then by the ugly tone of Sinsheher's address
to the ,American Society of Biological Chemists and by the
warm response it received from an audience that should
have been revolted by it.

    In the interim it has become even clearer to me that
what we now must fear most, is not the remte possibility
of biological warfare, but instead the war on biology. If
we succumb through weakness or confusion to the forces who
are attacking scientific inquiry in the G.S.,  I am certain
that the frontiers of genetic research will develop else-
where (e.g., Soviet Union, China, Israel) and will provide
a refuge for American scientists. This is a lesson from
history that does not need to be learned painfully still
again.

My best wishes for your efforts on behalf of reason

and the national welfare.

Sincerely,

Arthur Romberg