THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY |

1230 YORK AVENUE - NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10021

 

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

March 29, 1978

L

Mr. William Hewlett

Chairman, Exeeutive Committee
Hewlett-Packard Company

1501 Page Hill Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

Dear Bill:

I have just learned from Jim Linen's office that you are leaving the University's
Council. I can appreciate the reasons prompting your decision, but I must admit to
a feeling of disappointment that is heightened by my remembrance of your visits with
us in January of 1972 and April of 1975. On both occasions you showed a quick under-
standing of the wide range of work to which you were being introduced and the sin-

cerity of your responsiveness meant a great deal to everyone who had the pleasure
of meeting you.

Recalling the several hours you spent here prior to joining the Council makes
me realize, however, that your kind of interest does not require a formal relation-
ship to keep it alive. You know, I am sure, that you have a standing invitation to

visit the University whenever you are in New York and can escape the tyranny of
your schedule.

I believe you have already received a copy of the enclosed issue of our inter-
nal publication which carries the story of the selection of Josh Lederberg as my
successor as of July 1. He joins me in the hope you will visit again and that you

will bring along any friends or associates you feel would enjoy an introduction to
the work being done here.

While it will be a bit difficult to watch from the sidelines after nearly a decade
as president, I look forward to a very active retirement and to doing what I appropri-
ately can to help in advancing the mission of this extraordinary place.

I hope to have the opportunity to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Frederick Seitz
Enc.

i be: Mr. Rodney W. Wicho
eee ome Mr. Ray F. Carmichael
Mr. Barry W. Dress
Mr. Patrick J. Garvey

Hewlett RUC File