Part: 12         Session: 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536         Page 269270271271272273274275276277278279280281282283284285286287288289290291292293294295296297298299300301 of 1143

asked for a letter which he had written to the Budget. The letter had evidently been drafted by General Graham. There was a series of figures requesting substantial increases for the various institutes. He said, “Has that letter gone?” The secretary seemed to be uncertain as to whether or not it had been sent to the Budget. We took it for granted that the letter would go but took the precaution of calling on Graham about it. Graham was not too clear about what was going to be done with the letter and said he would check into it.

Florence continued to check on Graham for two or three weeks with great difficulty. Finally, Graham told her that the letter had been sent. This encouraged us somewhat, but knowing the resistance of the Budget boys to any increases in funds for the Institutes, around the 1st of October I said to Lynn Adams, who was working for the National Mental Health Committee at the time, which we supported, to see if he could find out from the Budget directly if any increases had been allowed for the National Mental Health Institute. He saw one of the key Budget people who said to him cautiously, “I wouldn't count on it if I were you.” This was the tip-off that nothing had been done. It was really absolute hell?

Were the Mental Health people, for instance, in touch, too? Were they trying to exert some pressure?

No. We were the only ones exerting pressure, the only