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Mary LaskerMary Lasker
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commission. I said I could get Laurance Rockefeller to help him on that because Laurance Rockefeller is interested in cancer research and head of the Memorial Cancer Hospital here, and that I'd bring Laurance to see him in the fall.

Well, then I thought on further consideration that perhaps if the President could be persuaded to appoint a Cancer Commission it would be easier because if the Commission came forth with some substantial recommendations and it was his commission, he would be more or less embarrassed about not following the recommendations. At least he would put money in the budget, which then Magnusson would certainly go along with, as would Flood probably. The tendency is to go along with whatever's in the President's budget in this area.

So, I got hold of Elmer Bobst who is one of Nixon's chief supporters and friends, and I had a meeting with him, Laurance Rockefeller, Emerson Foote and Sidney Farber at my house. This was in November this year (1969). We persuaded Bobst to go to see the President and talk to the President about cancer Research. He did talk to the President. The President sent Arthur Burns to see Bobst. Burns asked how much would this effort cost, and Bobst replied about a half a billion, he thought. Bobst talked to the President the night of his birthday which was December 17, of 1969. Bobst is 85 years old now. Bobst is interested but they didn't have time enough to





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