Letter from Wallace H. Graham to President Harry S. Truman

September 9, 1952 Deax Mr. Procidente I am enclosing your suggested draft pertaining to the con- templated amount to be requested for the Hoalth Resoarch Funda for the year 1954. Mra. Lasicox and hor group, as you rocall, requested $100,000,000. Due to my limitation of research on this project, or perbaps not being able to proporly fathom the nocessary points, I was unable to substantiate the request for $200,000,000. The picture on sporopriations for medical rosearch is very complicated becauso of the large numbez of peoplo and organisations who are striving to aid special requests and interests. The dotails of this manouvor to securo additional funds are not of particular importance. Howover, the most important item, in my opinion, is that the end rosult of all these efforts may bo to throw modical resoarch out of balance, with some ficlds libozally financed and other equally im- portant aroas vory poorly financed, as you have opined in your* momo- ranchen dated June 18th to Mr. Lavion. Attached is the tireo-colum statement showing the so-called Budget", the amounts which will bo available from the Burom of the Budget colling for 1954, and our suggosted amornts for 1954 The suggested budget is about midway betroon proposals in the first column, which aro proposals of the New York groups Mary Laskor, and the second colunn, the existing coiling set for the 1954 budget request following the receipt of the Buroau of the Budget and P.S.A.'s ceiling for 1954. This would reduce the *Citisen's Budget" in somo of the well-financed fields, and would build up othors which havo boon overloolod. Tho hoavlest expenditures aro still in the heart and canom areas, although they propose only anall increases for thone prograns. I am sure that your ain is to avoid an undue build-up of research in sone areas, and to avoid noglect in other fielda of endoavor. Consequently, my suggestion would be to set the budget you prosent to Congress for 1952 at the lovol shom in the third column on the attachod shoote If it would be permitted to ask Congress for the amounts shown in the third colum, which can bo dono if Mx. agroes to allow the necessary amounts (the differonce botwoon colunna tiro and three), x believe we would then have a sound program. RUMAN &