Attachment V - Page 1 
Ray Thornton's Statement 
Septernber 10-11, 1981 NIH-RAC Meeting 
I have a statement concerning our deliberations today. First, let me express 
iiy great confidence in Dick Krause, who has been delegated responsibility for 
receiving recommendations from this advisory committee. I have enjoyed neny 
opportunities of working with him, and knew his scientific and professional 
judgment will work to the benefit of the people affected by the actions of the 
National Institutes of Health. 
At the same time, however, there can be no adequate statement as to how much we 
will all miss the wise counsel and leadership of Don Fredrickson as we continue 
to wrestle with the interaction of science and society. Don has a great gift of 
expressing clearly, as only an outstanding scientist could, his understanding of 
the continuing relationship between public policy and science. 
Whenever either side of this relationship, the public or the scientific commun- 
ity, invades the province of the other or disregards the proper irput of the 
other into decision making, the result is at best high levels of tension and 
frustration. At worst there may be attenpts to regulate thought, as in laws 
regarding what theories may be taught; or just as bad, attenpts to eliminate 
irput from the public as to how scientific research should be conducted with 
public funds. 
May I ask your indulgence as I cite the first few paragraphs of the statement 
I made in opening hearings on ENA research in Congress in 1977. This was at a 
time when legislation was being considered to prohibit or severely limit such 
research. 
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