500 



ri* L AKD KNOWLTON, Inc. 





CONFIDENTIAL 



\^Klo 



July 19, 1956 



CONFERENCES WITH LIFE AND 

 READER'S DIGEST. JULY 17-18. 1956 



MEMORANDUM TO: Mr. Timothy V. Hartnett 



ThU memora-ndum will summarise our contacts with LIFE staff mem- 

 bers on July 17, and DeWltt Wallace, editor of THE READER'S DIGES T; on July 18. 

 Participants on behalf of TtRC were Dr. Little a.id Messrs. Hartnett and Darrow. 



LIFE ConUct 



This was a luncheon-meeting Initiated at the Invitation of Mr. Robert 

 T. Elson, Deputy Managing Editor of LIFE. 



Those attendL- ^ .'or LIFE were: Mr. Elson; Albert L. Furth, assist- 

 ant to the editor-ln-chlef; George Hunt, assistant managing editor; Warren Young, 

 science editor; Ed Kern, science writer; Hugh Sldey and Miss Allx Witteborg, sci- 

 ence researchers. 



In extendlAg the original lovitatloo, Mr. Elson stated an Interest ia 

 having LIFE'S science staff gain a fuller appreciation of Dr. Little's personal Tlews 

 on the subject of cancer generally, particularly his estimate of the importance of 

 fact(T8 within the lodividual as opposed to external stlmoll. 



At the luncheon, which was conducted in a friendly and congenial at- 

 mosphere, Mr. Elson asked Mr. Hartnett to open the discussion by outlining the 

 thloldng behind the formation of TIRC a;id describing Its organizational set-up. A 

 number of interested questions were prompted by Mr, Hartnett's description of 

 TIRC policies. Particular note was taken of the freedom of action given the SAB, 

 as well as grantees. 



Dr. Little then covered a number of aspects of the broad subject of 

 cancer In a brief talk along much the same lines as his presentation at the last 

 meeting of the TERC on February 14, 1956. 



He pointed out the Importance to the public of receiving a balanced ^ 

 B/eserrtSTTbn of all the facts and underscojed the need for editorial responsibility y 

 in handling stories that rouse unwarranted fears. ■'T^ 



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