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Mary LaskerMary Lasker
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Part:         Session:         Page of 1143

Q:

Did you know any of the pioneers in the development of aviation in the '30s?

Lasker:

No, I knew nobody in the field of aviation at all. My imagination was greatly stimulated by the exploit of Lindbergh, who, believe it or not, had been in my class at the University of Wisconsin but the class was so large that I didn't know him. And I was tremendously moved by that. And I was so moved by the possibilities of commercial aviation that I went to visit the Douglas plant in 1937, knowing nobody anyone in the Douglas plant at all. They were quite surprised to see me come as a visitor, and they had some large planes sitting on the floor of a large hangar, and they were making maybe 10 or 12 at a time, and things certainly changed a lot in the Douglas plant in just a few years. Their business certainly got bigger.

But to go back to what I was doing with my husband. In 1943 I was interested in the fight for air power, and my husband was doing a great deal about it, thanks to his natural energy and his good sense, I thought, and spirit.

Q:

And your original enthusiasm.

Lasker:

And my original enthusiasm for it. And I felt extremely frustrated about doing anything spectacular to help the Planned Parenthood Movement, which I thought then and still think one of the most important voluntary or health movements in the world.





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