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Mary LaskerMary Lasker
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my great opponent on the Cancer bill. But as this had all been arranged long ago, poor Lee was in a position and I was in the position -- he was in the position of giving me an honorary degree in humane letters, Dr. of Humane Letters --

Q:

-- so you're “Dr. Lasker” now?

Lasker:

Oh, I've been Dr. Lasker for ages. I've had numerous honorary degrees. But poor Lee was finding himself giving me an honor when he really could have gladly had me assassinated!

Q:

Tell me something more about this. Don't be so modest and pass over the June award which seems to have been a very significant one. This was awardzed on the basis of your efforts with this cancer legislation?

Lasker:

Well, actually it was because -- yes, I think it was because the New York City division was convinced that over the years I had constantly pushed for more federal funds for cancer, and that I had -- and that the involvement of the Cancer Society had been due to me and my husband, involvement ingetting federal funds had been due to that -- yes, the initial effort. Naturally I think that the New York City division and leaders of that were in favor of the bill, too. But the bill came long after they'd decided to give me the award. They needed to have somebody to give an award to. I was it, that particularly day.

Q:

I don't believe that.

Lasker:

We gave awards this fall --

Q:

-- the Lasker Foundation --





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