1 -- 14. 1959 at 600 AM
Dear Joshua:  I cant [sic] send you any special postcards, coins -- and/or remarks showing my appreciation.  You wouldnt [sic] be interested in a sputum sample to identify the organism -- be it the authentic Koch bacillus -- the timothy bacillus -- or another.  But you might answer a question -- envelope is enclosed.  In the Wisconsin State Journal 1-10-59 an article by William C Robbins dealing with the U-Budget quotes C.A. Elvehjem as follows "The university's only Nobel prize-winner Joshua Lederberg, 1958 winner in the field of medicine, was lost to Stanford University partly for salary reasons Elvehjem said."  The emphasis is mine.  I would appreciate a line or two from you  for the sake of the truth -- whether this is so.
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I did not get that impression talking to Bob Irwin whom I consider to be an honest man -- that Stanfords [sic] salary cut much or any ice.
From now on -- in addressing you -- do I have to make it "Dr Joshua Lederberg -- Nobel Prize Winner" -- or "Nobel Prize winning Dr Jo Lederberg" -- or some variation of this?  I have just finished reading the book by F.J. Krieger Behind the SPUTNIK's which was compiled by Krieger under a grant by The Rand Corporation.
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What a mess of Bull-SHIT the U.S. public is being fed these days on our Astronautics programme.
Finally it will (possibly) interest you to know that I exspect [sic] to father a daughter after I get out from under Lakeview -- to be named "Mechta"  The mother of my 3 boys is 51 now.  When I told our boy Tom (aged 18) about my plan -- he said "Dad your [sic] a Dreamer."  So long!!
If you dont [sic] feel like giving me a sentence on the ?  I will understand.  My diary has many unanswered questions.
As usual
K.P.L.