Home
Search transcripts:    Advanced Search
Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Mary LaskerMary Lasker
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Part:         Session:         Page of 1143

Lasker:

Oh, any form of criticism affects him because he wants very much to be right, and if he's wrong, he doesn't want to stay wrong. He feels very very upset by what he considers unfair criticism. I think that if he finds people have facts that are a basis for criticism, he's very willing to change his position. I don't think that he wants to stay wrong.

Q:

But does he have this quality: If he's convinced that he's made all the effort in advance of action--I mean he's investigated in every way possible--and he's convinced that what he's about to do is right, then does criticism still bother him?

Lasker:

It bothers him but he still goes ahead doing what he thinks is right. He goes forward with what he thinks are the best interests of the country. There's no doubt about that.

Well, one night at the conference on the second day...

Q:

This was the conference presided over Mr. Rockefeller?

Lasker:

Yes, by Lawrence Rockefeller. It was held in the State Department, and then the summing up meeting on the second day was held in the east ballroom of the White House at four or five o'clock I guess, and the President made a speech welcoming





© 2006 Columbia University Libraries | Oral History Research Office | Rights and Permissions | Help