February 10, 1958

Hon, William A. ?Proxmire
Senate Office Building
washington 25, D. C.

bear Senator:

A number of my colleagues on the university faculty have finally
awakened to the importance for our professional functions of pending
legislation on federal aid to highsr aducation. We are preparing a
report for formal presentation to, and possible action by, the faculty.
If it were convenient, your office could do us w great service by giv—
ing us the current outlook on auch legislstiun, Of special use might
be copiss of the most pertinent and possibly aucvessful tllis. ie
could use as many as five or ten copies if so many are conveniently
avaliable.

I earnestly hope you will hava the time to congult some of your
constituents on the university faculty on thease mithurea 17 you revisit
Madison during the spring recess. There will, of course, be an oppor-
tunity for tremendous good or harm according tc thea precedents estaub-
lished now.

You will doubtless be burdened by expressions of our opinions on
the bilis but not, I hope, before we have had a: chance to study them
carefully.

With all best regards,

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Medical Genetics
JL/ew

P. S. Thank you for your thoughtful reply to my query about paying
for your trip out of pocket. I still hope you and your colleagues
don't lean too far backward in probity: an upright posture is no
less respectable and a more reasonable standard for your colleagues.
I shouldn't want any of them to miss a chance at their education!