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Andrew HeiskellAndrew Heiskell
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competence to head it. And we went over a whole series of names, most of them didn't impress me very much. Well, I finally said, “Well, look, if I find the right man and what I mean by the right man is one that you would recognize as being the right man too, will you fund this operation?” And he said, “Yes.” So I struggled through more names for a week or so, and then I read in the paper John Gardner had resigned as head of HEW. And I called my friend Scotty Reston and I said, “Scotty I know John somewhat, admire him immensely. But I believe you know him quite well. Could find out what he wants to do? What's he going to do with his life now?” “Sure,” said Scotty. And he called me back the next day and he said, “John thinks he should get involved in the urban scene.” Well, my God. That was the first ray of hope that I had. And I called him, went down, had lunch with him in HEW, worst lunch I've ever had. Found him immensely sympathetic, and really, really quite interested. And I explained exactly what it was and how difficult it was and so on to him and that we needed a John Gardner to make this thing work, if it was going to. If anybody could do it he could do it. He didn't say yes, but he didn't say no. We met again a week later in New York and it was a very strange coincidence. We were sitting in the bar of the Regency, I think it was, and I was talking quite loudly, trying to convince him and a man and a woman at the next table, the man said, “Excuse me for interrupting but I've been over hearing your conversation and I think the





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