WARREN G. HARDING 311 



this History, and which the author will always cherish among his 

 most valuable documents : 



"The White House, Washington. 



"My dear Dr. Knopf: March I, 1922. 



"I am glad to receive your communication, with enclosures, and to learn that 

 the National Tuberculosis Association has undertaken the publication of "A 

 History of the Anti-Tuberculosis Movement in the United States. 



"My attention has recently been directed to the beneficent results achieved 

 by the intensive anti-tuberculosis effort, as evidenced by Dr. Frankel's paper 

 at the Annual Meeting of the National Association last June. It is certainly 

 gratifying to know that sixty thousand fewer deaths occurred in the United 

 States Registration Area from pulmonary tuberculosis in 1919, than would have 

 occurred if the 1900 death rate had prevailed. The knowledge of such im- 

 pressive facts cannot fail to be an inspiration to all engaged in preventive medi- 

 cine and in the mitigation of human suffering and distress. 



"With all good wishes for the continuing success of your efforts, I remain 



"Yours sincerely, 

 (Signed) "Warren G. Harding." 

 Dr. S. Adolphus Knopf, 



1 6 West 95th St., 



New York City. 



The interest in the tuberculosis problem taken by the Harding 

 family is not confined to the President alone. In the Bulletin of 

 the National Tuberculosis Association of December, and repro- 

 duced in this volume in chapter VI, entitled "The Tuberculosis 

 Christmas Seal, " a charming picture is shown of Mrs. Harding 

 purchasing her first sheet of Christmas Seals from a small Modern 

 Health Crusader. 



In his letter to Dr. Hatfield and in the one addressed to the 

 author, President Harding referred to the remarkably low level of 

 the tuberculosis death rate in 1919 and in 1920. With the Presi- 

 dent 's deep interest in the problem, with his ever present anxiety 

 for the care of the tuberculous ex-soldiers and the war veterans 

 afflicted with other diseases or still suffering from wounds re- 

 ceived in battle, and with his ardent advocacy of all measures 

 tending to improve the health of the nation, may we not be cer- 

 tain that during the years while he is President the morbidity and 

 mortality not only of tuberculosis but also of other preventable 

 and curable diseases will continue to decrease? 



