JAN 1 8 4973. THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE REHOVOTH + ISRAEL sob yaxn ton PRI) NINA New York January 17, 1973 Dr. Joshua Lederberg Professor of Genetics Stanford University Medical School Stanford, California 94305 Dear Professor Lederberg: I am writing to you on a matter outside my normal frame of activities - and also, I suspect, yours. But one to me so compelling that I want to share it with you. It is to invite your support in securing the Nobel Prize in Literature for Elie Wiesel, artist and humanitarian, for which he has been nominated. Indeed, he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, as well. He is a survivor of the death camps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, who has captured the imagination of young and old alike on several continents through the written and spoken word. Now 45 years old, he is the author of 13 books - novels, essays, memoirs - two to be published in 1973 - which have been trans- lated into 12 languages. A list is attached. In its truest sense, he may be called the poet of the Holocaust, who uses the written word as both art and anvil. His work is addressed to remembrance of things past - the dual tragedy of six million Jews deliberately annihilated as a race, and the tragedy of millions more who failed to act against this greatest crime against civilization. His books, with their mysticism, passion and compassion are a phenomenon of our time, in their command of a reading public cutting across barriers of place, language, religion, to make the best seller lists. At this particular time in history, with its sweeping brutali- zation, it seems to me it is fitting that the highest recogni- tion should be accorded to a great writer, unexcelled in pro- jecting the depth of tragedy, and, simultaneously, in evoking hope for human advancement and for peace. Dr. Joshua Lederberg -2- January 17, 1973 I am told that the Nobel Committee would be receptive to a letter of support from distinguished personalities, particu- larly Nobel Laureates, not in the field of literature, and also from heads of academic institutions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. I am writing to the Nobel Commit- tee and enclose my draft, I hope you share my feeling about the relevance of this matter. Your letter, if you decide to write it, should be addressed: Nobel Committee Swedish Academy Borhuset ยง-11129 Stockholm, Sweden Time is of the essence. The letter should reach its destination not later than January 28, 1973. With best regards and the hope that you will act, MWW: m1 Enclosures P.S. I have asked Lillie Shultz, of our New York office, to act for me in this matter and she will be calling you about this.