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472802299
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[Public Correspondence, Dec 1992 & Jan 1993] [7]
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472802299
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[Public Correspondence, Dec 1992 & Jan 1993] [7]
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93020-003
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Records of the White House Office of the Chief of Staff to the President (George H. W. Bush Administration)
James A. Baker III Files
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472802299
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1993-01-31
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1993
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1992-12-01
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12
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1992
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
2000-0715-F
2000-0715-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Chief of Staff, White House Office of
Series:
Baker, James A., III, Files
Subseries:
Public Correspondence Files
OA/ID Number:
93020
Folder ID Number:
93020-003
Folder Title:
[Public Correspondence, Dec 1992 & Jan 1993] [7]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
0
0
0
0
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 13, 1993
Dear Mario:
I just want to thank you for your very kind
letter of December 23.
Having the opportunity to serve our nation
during what I think was a remarkable time of
change in the world has been a great privilege
for me. Your generous comments about my
efforts during those years of public service
are deeply appreciated.
I've enjoyed the occasions we've had to work
together on various issues, Mario, and I hope
that our paths will continue to cross.
With appreciation and warm regards,
Sincerely,
Jim
James A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff and
Senior Counselor to the President
Mario G. Obledo
all the but
Leauge of United
Latin American Citizens
Post Office Box 1026
to you & your
Sacramento, CA 95812
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 13, 1993
Dear Pascale:
The letter that you recently sent to me
certainly brightened my day.
It is good to know that students like you are
concerned about current issues and the events
that touch the lives of people all around the
world. I hope you will continue your good work
in school and let's both continue to do what we
can to contribute to a world at peace.
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful message.
With best regards,
Sincerely,
Jun Baher
James A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff and
Senior Counselor to the President
Miss Pascale Nicolas
48 Sunset Drive
Hempstead, New York 11550
bcc: David Paton
Dear: Mr. Secretary of State James Baker
l think it was an excellent idea
to send the troops to Somalia. now
the people over their can eat. l alway's
go to bed at night and pray that one
day l will wake up to world peace, a
cure for aIDS, and a cure for Cancer.
l go to school at St. Thomas the Apostle
collected books for the children in
and I'm in the 7th grade. My class
Florida who were victims of hurri-
came Andrew. We sent them books
as Christmas presents. l hope you
and your family had a wonderful
Thankegurng, we had a great one!
I wish you and your family a
wondful Christmas, I'm going to
Haiti for Christmas, are you going
anywhere ? Bye!
Increase the Peace !
P.S. write back!
Peace,
my address is: H8 Sunset Dr.
Pascale
Hempstead NY 11550
nicolas
Central Files
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 13, 1993
Dear Gemal:
I was very touched by your kind and gracious
letter of December 21. Your generous comments
about my tenure as Secretary of State are
deeply appreciated.
Gemal, I also want to thank you for your
outstanding service to me, to the Department,
and to the nation. From my meeting in Geneva
with Tariq Aziz to our marathons with
President Assad, your interpretation skills
were invaluable to our efforts to promote peace
in the Middle East. I have enjoyed working
with you very much.
Thank you again for your thoughtful letter.
Susan joins me in wishing you and yours a happy
and prosperous New Year.
Sincerely,
Jun Baher
James A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff and
Senior Counselor to the President
Gemal R. Helal
A/OPR/LS -- Room 2212
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
James A. Baker III
December 21, 1992
Chief of Staff
The White House
Dear Mr. Secretary,
Almost two years ago, I first had the privelege of meeting you and serving
as your Arabic interpreter at the decisive meeting with Tariq Aziz in Geneva,
and to continue in that capacity ever since.
In the intervening time I have had the rare honor to observe close at
hand how you restored in the hearts and minds of the Arab
people and their leaders their long-lost faith and trust in
the United States. Many in the region had thought only a
miracle could accomplish this feat. Over the last two
years, Mr. Secretary, I was a witness to your crafting of
this miracle. The Arabic press and people, from kings to the
common man have come to appreciate your intellect, sincerity,
and integrity.
I grew up in the Middle East (Egypt), where the Arab-Israeli
conflict was a fact of daily life embedded in the minds of
the young. You were able to persuade centuries old mentalities,
to defy precedent and change their frame of reference for
conflict resolution. Thus you have written a fresh chapter in the
history of the region, engendering new expectations of peace
for generations to come. Your efforts allowed logic to prevail
in a region where emotions often predominate. It has been a
privelege to serve as the interpreter of your words and thoughts,
thus permitting me to learn the art of negotiation from one of its
masters.
Mr. Secretary, you will be missed, but history will always
record your deeds and accomplishments. Thank you for giving
me the opportunity to work with you. I wish you the best of
luck in your future endeavors, and may God bless you and
yours this Christmas.
Sincerely
Gamal R Helal.
A/OPR/LS
Room 2212
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON D.C. 20520
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 13, 1993
Dear Neal:
Your letter of January 7 was very generous and
I appreciate your gracious comments about my
government service more than I can tell you.
Neal, I share your commitment to public service
and your belief that it's important to do what
you can to make this world a better place.
I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to
serve our country these past twelve years
-- and I'm grateful for fine friends like you.
Many thanks again for the kind words and
all
that
Jun Sincerel
James A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff and
Senior Counselor to the President
The Honorable Neal Smith
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Neal Smith
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fourth District, Iowa
January 7, 1993
Honorable James A. Baker III
The White House
West Wing, 1st Floor
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I join the many thousands who thank you and the
millions who should be thanking you for the great
contributions you have made the past four years to-
ward establishing a more stable and peaceful world.
Although there are still great problems in world
affairs, at least they are more localized and in-
volve a much reduced threat of mass destruction.
Your skillful work involving the United Nations
in both military and humanitarian activities has gone
as long way toward restoring faith that the U.N. will
eventually become the effective instrument that was
intended for collective action.
You could have spent the past four years in a
more enjoyable and financially rewarding way, but it
is much more important to know that you have made the
Honorable James A. Baker III
Page 2
January 7, 1993
kinds of contributions to our country and mankind that
few people have ever had an opportunity to make and
even fewer succeeded in accomplishing.
Thanking you for your courtesies and with very
best wishes always, I remain
Sincerely,
neal Smith
Neal Smith
Member of Congress
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 13, 1993
Dear David:
This is just a short note to thank you for the
photographs you sent from election night and
Department. from my first day on the job at the Treasury
Please don't worry about the photograph that
Newsweek used -- I realize that you did not
intend to see it run that way and as you may
know Newsweek subsequently sent me a written
apology about it.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness and wish you
and yours all the best in 1993.
Jun Babe Sincerely
James A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff and
Senior Counselor to the President
Mr. David Woo
The Dallas Morning News
Communications Center
Post Office Box 655237
Dallas, Texas 75265
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 13, 1993
Dear Van:
This is just a word of thanks for your
December 28 note and for your generous comments
regarding my government service.
Many thanks also for your thoughtfulness in
sending me a copy of your book -- which I will
read with great interest.
Best wishes to you and yours for a happy and
prosperous 1993.
Sincerely
James Jun A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff and
Senior Counselor to the President
William Van Dusen Wishard
1805 Wainwright Drive
Reston, Virginia 22090
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 13, 1993
Dear Bill:
Thanks very much for your gracious and
thoughtful letter.
I share your view about the dramatic changes
the world has witnessed during the past few
years. There's no doubt that we were presented
with remarkable challenges, but each challenge
was also an opportunity. I'll always be
grateful to have served our nation during such
a momentous time.
I really appreciate your generous comments
about my record of public service, Bill.
Susan joins me in sending you and Gretchen our
warm regards,
Sincerely,
Jim
James A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff and
Senior Counselor to the President
William F. Gorog
U.S. Order
Thanks, Bill, for
13873 Park Center Road
Suite 490
Herndon, Virginia 22071
your friendship
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 13, 1993
Dear Peb:
Thanks very much for your thoughtful letter of
January 5.
I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to
serve our nation during what I think has been a
rather remarkable time of change in the world.
Your generous comments regarding my years of
public service are deeply appreciated and
I will certainly convey to Susan your kind
words regarding her as well.
With appreciation for the work you are doing at
Focus on the Family and with best regards,
Sincerely,
James Jun A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff and
Senior Counselor to the President
Peb Jackson
Thanks. Pet.
Thanks,
Senior Vice President -- International
Focus on the Family
420 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
420 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 531-3400
THE
January 5, 1993
Mr. James A. Baker, III
2415 Foxhall Road
Washington, D.C. 20007
Dear Jim,
Have been thinking about you so much recently and felt led to write
a note. Its obvious that the clock is running down on this phase
of your life. And before January 20, I wanted to write a note to
you to tell you how much I have admired the past twelve years of
extraordinary service that you have given to this country and I
believe, to God. Rarely have we had an opportunity to witness such
quality in service that you, in this period of time, have
represented. I for one hope that even though there may be some
bitterness over the result over the last election, that you were
able to take great consolation and satisfaction in what has
occurred.
As you may know, a significant part of my attention has been
directed in the past two years to the international scene. Its
apparent that we have come through one of the most exciting and
confusing times in recent world history. Nevertheless, I frankly
felt that in a lot of ways there was a period of confidence in
having your hands at the levers of influence. Some people have
disagreed with some aspects of your tour as Secretary of State, but
I believe that whether it was in Russia or even South Africa amidst
an unbelievably complex series of events, that you had a grasp of
what was going on, and performed at as high a standard as any
mortal man could have. Therefore, in your own reflection over the
past twelve years, and while you're out casting for some beautiful
browns or rainbows in Wyoming among other things, I hope that you
will have a powerful sense of satisfaction that you did your best.
And many people who you don't even know that well, will say, "well
done. " In addition, if I may be so bold, I would like to say that
Dedicated to the Preservation of the Home
James C. Dobson, Ph.D., President
Mr. James A. Baker, III
December 23, 1992
Page Two
the reality of superlative small stuff as you contemplate God's own
approval on what we do for Him and how there would be pure
satisfaction in hearing Him say, "Well done thou good and faithful
servant. " I pray both of those statements will ring in your ears.
May I close by saying that it has been a pleasure to have known you
mostly from a distance, but occasionally from up close, and I look
forward to hearing about what the next adventure in your life is
going to be.
Sincerely,
Jeb
Peb Jackson
Sr. Vice President
International
A big hello to Susan. -
PJ/tp
We sure miss her involvement
010-93-1
at Focus
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 13, 1993
Dear Michael:
Thanks very much for your thoughtful letter of
December 29.
I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to
serve our nation during what I think has been a
rather remarkable time of change in the world.
Your generous comments regarding my years of
public service are deeply appreciated and
I will certainly convey to my wife, Susan, your
kind words regarding her efforts as well.
With best regards,
Sincerely,
Jun Baher
James A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff and
Senior Counselor to the President
Michael Marcoux
4615 Rodman Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016-3232
J. MICHEL MARCOUX
4615 RODMAN STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20016-3232
December 29, 1992
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Baker,
Bill Tully would call this a "mash"
note.
Thank you both for your work in
Washington to date. James Baker is
the most effective and impressive
public servant of this Country's
domestic and foreign affairs I have
seen. Mrs. Baker's efforts to reduce
the pornography in our childrens'
enter taiments is thoroughly commendable.
I wish you, and the Presidents
you served, the best in the future.
Yours succerely,
Michel Marcoux
For Central Files
(Thanks, ya'll.)
csj
JAN 13 '93 09:21 THE JMR GROUP
P.2
CIFILES C.
JMR INVESTMENTS
January 13, 1993
The Honorable James A. Baker
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Jim,
Please forgive my last minute advice, but I think it is a serious
enough subject to bother you at this time. I sincerely believe
that my following recommendation will help the Republican Party
overall in 1996 and will help George Bush today. I am certain
God will not forget that he spoke for the unborn.
Enclosed is some correspondence I received today from some
friends of mine here in Nashville that urges President Bush to
consider issuing a proclamation similar to Proclamation No. 5761
issued by President Reagan on January 14, 1988. The draft
proclamation would affirm the "personhood" of the unborn and stop
all federal funding of abortion. Such an action by the President
may have the impact America 21 hopes it will, and my request is
simply that he receive the information so he can evaluate the
option. As you know, I feel very strongly about the issue and
urge President Bush to issue the proclamation. It does draw a
line in the sand. If Clinton does not cross it, the President
will have left a significant legacy, and if he does, his true
colors will be made very clear to a large segment of voters who
did not really know where he stood on this issue.
Thank you very much for your consideration of my request.
Sincerely,
Joe M. Rodgers
JMR/krg
Enclosures
P.O. Box 158838
Nashville, Tennessee 37215-8838
2000 Glen Echo Road
Suite 100
Nashville, Tennessee 37215
(615) 383-8600
FAX (615) 383-8693
JAN 13 '93 09:22 THE JMR GROUP
P.3
America 21
Family Values for the Twenty-First Century
Founder And Chairman
Thomas L Cummings, Jr.
Executive Director
Jeff Whitesides
January 12, 1993
CONFIDENTIAL
Board of Directors
Thomas L Cummings, Jr.
Cummings Inc
Honorable Joe M. Rodgers
Doug Daugherty
Challanooga Resource
P.O. Box 158838
Foundation
Don Finto
2000 Glen Echo Road, Suite 100
Belmont Church
Nashville, Tennessee 37215-8838
Dr. Steve Flatt
Madison Church of Christ
Ben Frizzell
Re:
A Presidential Proclamation Affirming The Personhood
Frizzell Construction Company
Rev. Robert Hammer
of the Unborn by President Bush
Eastside Baptist Church
Rev. L H. Hardwick, Jr.
Christ Church
Dear Joe:
Dr. Harold Hazelip
David Lipscomb University
Rev. Charles McGowan
Enclosed is a "Proclamation Affirming Personhood" drafted by Tom Smith
Christ Presbyterian Church
and Professor Michael C. McClintock for President Bush's signature before he
Sam Moore
Thomas Nelson Publishing
leaves office in the next few days. It is substantially revised from the first
Company
similar proclamation you saw. It would affirm President Reagan's Proclamation
Richard A. Osias
Osias Enterprises
No. 5761 and stop all federal funding of abortion. Its a long shot, but if
Pres. Millard Reed
issued, it would draw a line in the sand on the abortion issue for Clinton.
Trevecca Nazarene College
Thomas W. Singleton
J. Thomas Smith
Technically, Clinton could revoke it, but out of respect for the office,
Sankaty Capitol Corp.
James R. Stadler
very few, if any Presidents have revoked the acts of their predecessors. Further,
Dr. Jerry Sutton
Clinton's 42% popular vote that includes 20% or more evangelical Christians,
Two Rivers Baptist Church
E. DeVaughn Woods
might cause him to leave it in place; especially if its only impact is to cut off
Acuff Tire Company
federal funds for abortion. There has been a consensus that there should be no
federal funding of abortion because the American public is so divided on the
issue. Pressure on Clinton and Congress to find every possible cut in the budget will help.
The Bush Proclamation might also be helpful in arguments to the U.S. Supreme Court in
the Tennessee "7 Embryo Case" in a currently pending petition that the Court review the Tennessee
Supreme Court decision. A response is expected in February. It might also serve as a preemptive
strike in the pending battle over the Freedom of Choice Act and possibly the fetal research bill.
Marilyn Quayle has a copy sent to her through Frances Smith's connection with Marilyn's
sister, Nancy Northcott in Tullahoma. Pat Robertson, Ricky Skaggs, and Wynonna Judd are also
being contacted and asked to call either George Bush or Dan Quayle. Please prayerfully consider
calling President Bush or Vice-President Quayle, fax them a copy and urge the President to issue
it. Pray with us that he will.
Best Personal Regards and May God Speed Your Efforts.
Sincerely,
Din
TLC/tbm
Thomas L. Cummings, Jr.
200 12th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 254-3917
JAN 13 '93 09:22 THE JMR GROUP
P.4
NATIONAL SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE DAY.
DRAFT NO.2
1993
1/12/93
By the President of the United States of America
A PROCLAMATION AFFIRMING PERSONHOOD
In the Declaration of Independence, the founding fathers of America established this nation
with God-given wisdom on the immutable principles of the laws of nature and nature's God. To the
founders and their contemporaries, the meaning of these terms, together refered to as the Natural Law,
were binding on every government. The laws of nature were those moral laws that not only held the
universe together but also were written on the hearts of every man regardless of whether they were men
of great faith or had no faith at all. The laws of nature's God was a reference to the Holy Scripture
of the Christian faith - the Bible. All civil law and governmental acts were to conform to both, because
the laws of nature were imperfectly understood by man, and the law of nature's God served as an
immutable point of reference. We, as a yet unborn nation, judged the government of King George III
by these standards in our Declaration of Independence and declared his government dissolved for its
sanction of acts we enumerated as violations of the Natural Law.
The writings of our founders also show that many knew in their hearts that slavery was also
a violation of the Natural Law. During the Civil War, America itself was judged by these same
standards as the dissolution of the Union was almost accomplished in a bloody war which Abraham
Lincoln described as the judgment of God on both sides for the sin of slavery. For thirty years prior
to that judgment, the abolitionists warned that the laws of the nation had become violations of the
Natural Law and the "equal creation" principles of the Declaration of Independence. The national law
had failed to protect "all humanity" by permitting one class of humanity to be treated as "non-persons"
or "chattel"- and had sanctioned or overlooked a widespread denial of due process involving the acts
of private individuals buying and selling the life and liberty of others. This violation of the Natural Law
was remedied first by the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln and then by the Thirteenth
and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.
Today we see another violation of the Natural Law permitted by the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States in Roe V. Wade creating another class of non-persons. For twenty years, this
decision has sanctioned the denial of equal protection and due process for the most defenseless and
innocent class of humanity - the unborn child. The Declaration of Independence speaks of the ongoing
and individual creation of every man and the endowment of certain rights by the Creator himself in
that creation process. These rights are unalienable, meaning they cannot ever be transfered to another
and by definition are extended to the unborn. Chattel can be bought or sold - it is subject to alienation.
The right of every human being to live is not. Our founders knew that each life had a plan known to
God before it began. At any point in its creation and development, it was sacred, belonging only to God
and made in His image. It is endowed by right to its owner in trust, not to be sold or taken by any
other person before it began in birth, or ended in death. Like slavery, abortion desecrates the image
of God in man by permitting a multimillion dollar trade in the lives of the unborn. That the unborn
are protected by the "equal creation" principles of the Declaration of Independence is revealed in these
words of Abraham Lincoln :
"The authors of that nobel instrument. did not intend to declare all men equal in all respects.
They did not mean to say all were equal in color, size, intellect, moral developments, or social
capacity. They defined with tolerable directness in what rights they did consider all men created
equal-equal in certain unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
JAN 13 '93 09:24 THE JMR GROUP
P.5
Our people know in their hearts that abortion is wrong, and polling data shows that many
believe that abortion is not only immoral, it is murder. Advances in medical science photograph and
demonstrate the life of the unborn from the first moments in the womb, and one secular publication
of these images described them as the " first moments of creation" and "sacred." DNA research has
established the existence of an individual life at conception as an indisputable scientific fact.
Confirming this evidence of the law of nature written on the hearts of man and confirmed by science
is the revelation of the Bible. The Old Testament prophets tell us that God knows every life before it
begins and, however unintended by man, has a plan for that life. The New Testament affirms that the
unborn child is a person from conception. John the Baptist, as an unborn child of six months "leapt"
for joy in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth, upon her entry into the presence of Jesus, then only an
embryo in Mary's womb. Elizabeth, hearing the news of Mary's conception, affirms Mary's
motherhood and the "Lordship" and personhood of Jesus. The intentional taking of any person's life
and shedding innocent blood is a violation of the law of nature's God.
America must either remedy this continuing violation of the Natural law or face inevitable
judgment. Despite the issuance of Proclamation No. 5761 declaring the "unalienable personhood" of
the unborn by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, the abortion trade continues its grizzly business.
Many voices would urge the federal government to provide financial or other support for this holocaust.
Even those with a different moral view about abortion believe that our government can ill afford at this
critical time to spend funds or encourage an activity about which Americans are so deeply divided.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including but
not limited to faithfully enforcing the law of the land, as well as the provisions of the Family Planning
and Population Reasearch Act of 1970, 84 Stat. 1504 [the "Family Planning Act"], including Title X,
Section 1008, 84 Stat. 1508., do hereby:
(1) Proclaim and affirm by incorporating herein by reference each and every word of President
Reagan's Prociamation No. 5761 (January 14, 1988), published in 53 Fed. Reg. 1464 (1988) and
codified at 3 C.F.R. 3-4 (1988 Comp.); and I further reaffirm that the "unalienable personhood of
every American, from the moment of conception to natural death" is a right of every person in the
United States inherently protected by the due process clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments,
and the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
(2) In futherance and not in limitation thereof, proclaim and declare that any act of the United
States Government permitting the use of federal funds, directly, or indirectly through economic
incentives or otherwise, to encourage, support or sanction in any manner whatsoever, as a means of
family planning, or otherwise, the practice of abortion of any unborn child at any gestational age is
contrary to the laws of nature and nature's God and prohibited by this Proclamation and the
Constitution of the United States; unless such act is in the form of an Amendment to the Constitution
of the United States.
(3) Proclaim Sunday, January 17, 1993 as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon
all Americans to join in a day of thanksgiving for their God-given, unalienable right to life and the
protection of the sanctity of that life for all classes of humanity and every human life.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of January, in the year
of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-three, and in the Independence of the United States the two
hundred and seventeenth.
The White Homes
1792
1992
FRANCISCO. NNS 6 PM JAN OF 156
LYUSA
1993
The Honorable and Phrs. James a. Baker, III
Chief of staff to the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Hoover Institution
Stanford, California 94305
1/12 - maclid regret
card
Chairman and Mrs. Paul L. Davies, Jr.
and
Director and Mrs. John Raisian
of the Hoover Institution
cordially invite you to a reception and buffet honoring
The Board of Overseers
of the Hoover Institution
Stanford, California
Wednesday, February 3, 1993
Dolley Madison Ballroom
The Madison Hotel
15th & M Streets, N.W.
Washington, District of Columbia
6:30 - 8:30 P.M.
RSVP (415) 723-4163
or return enclosed card
Business Attire
SEAL as THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
AUG. 2618 1818
STATE OF ILLINOIS
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Springfield 62706
JIM EDGAR
GOVERNOR
October 1, 1992
James A. Baker, III
Chief of Staff
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20050
Dear Jim:
I wish to bring to your attention a matter of utmost concern to Illinois'
Medicaid program.
This summer, after prolonged and difficult negotiations, the Illinois General
Assembly approved modifications to our Medicaid provider assessment program.
These changes were required in order to conform with legislation the Congress
passed last autumn. I understand that the Office of Management and Budget is
expected to finalize regulations tomorrow, October 2, implementing this legislation.
Illinois has been informed that the regulation includes a formula test to
determine when states are using federal matching funds on taxes to "hold harmless"
providers from paying more than they get back. Our understanding of the formula is
that no more than 75 percent of providers can get back more than 75 percent of their
tax payments if the tax rate is more than six percent. This formula will invalidate
part of our assessment on nursing homes and long-term care facilities for the
developmentally disabled.
OMB recognizes that some states have already enacted changes to their
programs without knowing the specifics of this formula and has agreed to allow those
states to have until April 1, 1993, to comply with this test, instead of January 1, 1993,
as the regulation otherwise requires. However, Illinois' legislature does not meet
until the spring. While I am pleased that OMB recognizes the difficulties states often
have in making "good faith" efforts to comply with the letter and spirit of federal
legislation in the absence of implementing regulations, April 1 does not do much for
Illinois. I therefore ask that you direct OMB to grandfather until July 1, 1993,
changes to state Medicaid provider tax programs that may violate the "hold
harmless" formula test.
The assessment program in Illinois is controversial, and it is set to expire
on June 30, 1993, which is also the end of our fiscal year. The program does not need
any further negative publicity, particularly at this time. I greatly appreciate your
concern and empathy for the Medicaid situation in Illinois.
Warmest regards,
Aim Jim Edgar Edgar
Printed on Recycled Paper
STATE OF ILLINOIS
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
SPRINGFIELD 62706
James A. Baker, III
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
VIA HAND
Central Files
I believe this was handled orally.
Cozetta 1/13/93
2533
Defense - 30 days from
9/3/39 - 11/3/46
BATLANT
Mushants
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
longer term 180 days
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
Box 290298 Homecrest Station
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11229-0005
(718) ES 7-0713
After I 88 Ct Decisure
10 November 1992 of 180 days
Office of the Chief of Staff
73,000 processed by
The White House
the Air Force
Washington, D.C. 20500
5,000 didn't qualify
Attn.: Ms. Linda Tripp
THEM WERE
Dear Ms. Tripp:
HR 44 JACK FIELDS SpansoRED
FEDERAL
Emproyees
Enclosed please find the text of our proposed executive order
which, if signed by the President, could mitigate much of the needless
harm visited upon a group of forgotten heroes, the U.S. Merchant
Mariners.
Please note that the provisions of the order: are by no means a
Treasury raid. It merely provides just recognition for a group of
America's sons who were wrongfully denied such recognition as a
result of enemy misinformation, ignorance, bigotry, and prejudice,
and bureaucratic inertia and indifference.
Section I, Paragraphs 1-4 directs the Secretary of the Air
Force (the administrator of PL 95-202) to make appropriate findings
to include Merchant Mariners who served in the periods of conflict
to be recognized on the same basis as other service groups during
the same time period. American Merchant Mariners died in the service
of our country during the periods listed, but many have yet to receive
proper recognition.
Section II orders the American Battle Monuments Commission (the
Federal agency whose mandate from Congress is to memorialize ALL of
America's war dead) to place the names of American Merchant Mariners
killed in action or missing and presumed dead on its existing monu-
ments, utilizing the same criteria as any other service group. To
date the ABMC refuses to consider any such proposal. They have stated
to us that if we desire a monument to go build our own. That attitude
MARRO
is indicative of their prejudice and gross neglect of duty. An ABMC
DOMIN,
brochure notes that civilian noncombatants who accompanied the troops,
such as Red Cross workers, USO entertainers, correspondents, and others
WARREN
are remembered in the ABMC monuments, but there are no merchantmen
LERACK
remembered by them. This exclusion is a purposeful distortion of the
public record and an attempt to change history.
Section III provides the means to establish official histories
and documentaries as to the service, sacrifice, and valor of U.S.
Merchant Mariners. This was afforded to all other service groups,
but to date there is no official history of the Merchant Marine's
wartime exploits.
* BATTLE MONUMENTS Comm. -
XAIR FORCE PECR.
MAKES DETERMINATION
-2-
Section IV, Paragraph 1 directs the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Transportation to have their service bands play on
appropriate patriotic occasions the Merchant Marine song, "Heave ho,
my lads, heave ho," along with those of the other services in the
salute to the services medley. The song, written in 1943, was deeded
over to the U.S. Maritime Service, and all royalties belong to the
successor agency in the Federal Government, so there is no copyright
problem, and expanding the time of the salute to the service medley
by less than a minute would not appear to be such a terrible burden.
Paragraph 2 provides some measure of equity regarding the awards
that are due Merchant Mariners, and seeks equity with that of other
service groups. Recently the former Soviet Union awarded to U.S.
Merchant Mariners decorations for valor for their service on the
North Russian convoys half a century ago. As terribly hard up as
that country is for Western currency, they gave them gratis to those
who deserved them, unlike our Government which just recently got
around to issuing decorations and charges the recipient $20 plus
postage and handling for each award due. Frankly, this is rather
tacky.
As you can see, our proposals are rather modest. They provide
equity and justice and recognition where they have been wrongfully
denied, and set right the record of history.
The letter of 30 October 1992 from the Undersecretary of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (see enclosures) indicates to us that
instead of appropriate action being taken, more bureaucratic indif-
ference is the current routing of our appeal. The Department of
Veterans Affairs:
1. Does not have the administrative authority to determine
eligibility of individuals and service groups under PL
95-202. That responsibility lies with the Secretary of
the Air Force.
2. They have no authority over the American Battle
Monuments Commission.
3. They have no authority over the Departments of Trans-
portation or Defense.
The only person who can cut through decades of bureaucratic inertia
and indifference is the President, who by use of an executive order
can set things right.
We would hope that the White House staff would permit the Presi-
dent the opportunity to advance the cause of justice before he retires,
rather than allowing the entrenched bureaucracy to perpetuate injustice.
House Subermentter
Sincerely yours,
-Greq Lambert
B.D. Hammer
Enclosures
Exec. Dir., BATLANT
Central Files
I believe Tom Scully took care of this,
either orally or in writing, though
I have no copy of a written response.
Cozetta 1/13/92
2533
BATLANT
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
Box 290298 Homecrest Station
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11229-0005
(718) ES 7-0713
30 September 1992
Hon. George H.W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Mr. President:
Merchant nition Marine--may group of be forgotten achieved. heroes of World War II--the U.S.
We for need a your help in order that at long last justice and recog-
until they never remembered by their country, which they SO ably Sadly, served,
were Their story is that of valor, service, and sacrifice,
very recently--and even then inadequately so.
You usually disposed to do nothing unless they are compelled to is SO.
We've gone through channels and found that bureaucracy
proposed may remedy this situation by means of an executive do
it remedies draft of which we've enclosed. You will please order, a
and long-standing injustices and provides note that equity
recognition, long overdue. It is by no means a a Treasury measure of raid.
*
How much can it possibly cost to provide Merchant
vets or their next of kin with honorable discharge Marine certif-
icates, a flag for their coffins, and a grave marker
testimony of their true and faithful service to. the nation? as
How much to carve 7,000 names in U.S. Government granite?
U.S. Soviets, strapped for cash, awarded them for free.
already won with their blood and never awarded? (The ex-
How much can it cost to issue battle honors and decorations,
award charges them $20 plus postage and handling for The each
due.)
*
How much to have any of the service bands play their
other services are played on patriotic occasions?
song, "Heave ho, my lads, heave ho" when those of the
How much can it cost to task Government historians
suitable exploits, and in collaboration with filmmakers to
create an official history of the wartime Merchant Marine's to
documentary, as was done with all the services? make a
.on. George H.W. Bush
30 September 1992
-2-
*
What will it cost to award the Congressional Medal
of Honor posthumously to an 18-year-old Engineer
Cadet Midshipman from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
at Kings Point whose valorous actions certainly deserve it?
If these questions are foolish, it is only that for the past
half century none of these basic civilities were afforded to nearly
240, 000 of America's sons who served just as bravely as any other
servicemen and women. Nearly 7,000 of them died just as bravely, too!
And their loss pains many half a century later, to no less a degree
than any other.
Mr. President, it is within your power to set right the course
of history, to mitigate much of that harm done to Merchant Mariners
and their families over the years, to enfranchise those long excluded,
and to recognize those long deserving.
For all of your other worthy accomplishments you would long be
remembered in the hearts and minds of Merchant Mariners, their fami-
lies, survivors, and friends as a just and honorable man and win
their everlasting gratitude.
Sincerely yours,
B.D. Hammer
Exec. Dir., BATLANT
Background info
Enclosures
CC: Mr. William Caldwell, White House Staff
Mr. Rex Williams, Veterans for Bush
BATLANT
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
Box 290298 Homecrest Station
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11229-0005
(718) ES 7-0713
PROPOSED TEXT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER "JUSTICE FOR AMERICA'S
FORGOTTEN HEROES, THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINER"
I. The Secretary of the Air Force (who is the administrative officer
for PL 95-202, the "G.I. Bill Improvement Act") is hereby directed
to find:
7,000
1. U.S. Merchant Mariners who served between 8 September 1939
and 31 December 1946 inclusive with 30 days honorable service
to have qualified within the context of PL 95-202 to be veterans
Improvement
GI Bill
and will issue the necessary documents recognizing their status
accordingly.
2. U.S. Merchant Mariners who served between 6 April 1917 and
11 November 1918 (extended to 30 March 1920 for Merchant Mariners
who supported U.S. military operations in north Russia and Siberia)
similarly should be recognized within the context of PL 95-202
as veterans.
3. U.S. Merchant Mariners who participated in the Korean sealift
between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954 similarly should be
recognized as veterans within the context of PL 95-202.
4. U.S. Merchant Mariners who participated in the Vietnam
sealift between 1 July 1958 through 28 March 1973 will also
be considered to be veterans within the context of PL 95-202.
The above is done to conform to existing service groups to
achieve equity and justice.
II. The Chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission is
hereby directed without further delay or obfuscation to place
the names of some 7,000 U.S. Merchant Mariners killed in action
or missing in action/presumed dead on its existing memorials
that it maintains in the United States and overseas using the
same criteria for other service personnel, pursuant to its
mandate to memorialize ALL of America's war dead.
III. The Secretary of Transportation is hereby directed to have MARAD
commission official histories of U.S. Merchant Marine operations
in World War II, World War I, the Korean sealift, and the Vietnam
sealift, and suitable documentary films as well.
oposed text of executive order
p. 2
IV. 1. The Secretaries of Defense and Transportation are hereby
directed that all U.S. service bands on all appropriate
patriotic occasions will play, with their salute to the
services medley, the Merchant Marine song, "Heave Ho, My
Lads, Heave Ho,' in the medley as well.
2. They are further directed that Merchant Mariners who serve
and otherwise distinguish themselves shall be eligible to
receive service decorations and awards for valor on the
same basis as other service personnel.
OF
CAITED VETERANS AMOUNT AFFRIRS
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veterans Benefits Administration
Washington DC 20420
STATES
OF
October 30, 1992
In Reply Refer To:
Mr. B.D. Hammer
Executive Director
Battle of the Atlantic
Historical Society, Inc.
Box 290298
Homecrest Station
Brooklyn, NY 11229
Dear Mr. Hammer:-
Your letter to the President was referred to me for response.
I have asked my staff to review your letter. When this review is
completed, I will write again.
Sincerely yours,
D'Wayne Gray
Under Secretary for Benefits
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
October 13, 1992
Dear Mr. Hammer:
On behalf of President Bush, thank you for your recent
message.
The President appreciates your bringing your concerns
to his attention. Due to the specific nature of your
correspondence, I have forwarded it to officials at the
appropriate agency for their review. Please be assured
that your message will receive every consideration
consistent with the law and with applicable regulations.
With the President's best wishes,
Sincerely,
Shirley m. Green
Shirley M. Green
Deputy Assistant to the President
for Presidential Messages
and Correspondence
Mr. B. D. Hammer
Executive Director
Atlantic Historical Society (BATLANT), Inc.
Post Office Box 290298, Homecrest Station
Brooklyn, New York 11229-0005
SUGGESTED FOR PUBLICATION ON OR ABOUT 27 SEPTEMBER 1992
Sunday, 27 September 1992, marks the 50th anniversary of a
little-known but nonetheless significant sea battle of World War II.
The Liberty Ship s/s STEPHEN HCPKINS was steaming independently on
a northwesterly course from Cape Town en route to Paramaribo, Dutch
Guiana. The HOFKINS was one of a new class of Liberty Ships, an
innovative mass-produced freighter that was eventually to number
2,770 ships. produced by American shipyards for the war effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt would refer to them as "ugly ducklings."
They would carry, in his words, "the sinews of war from the arsenal
of democracy to where and when they were needed." The Liberty Ship
had a top speed of 11 knots. Later models would be better armed,
but this ship had to make do with a motley collection of discarded
obsolete Naval ordnance: on the bow a pair of one-punders from
before the turn of the century; on the top of her midship house
were four water-cooled Browning .50 caliber machine guns; and on
each wing of her bridge a 30 caliber Lewis machine gun left over
from World War I. Her main battery, located atop the after house,
was a 4" 40 caliber rapid fire gun. It was originally designed
for the torpedo boat destroyers from the turn of the century. Those
vessels long since scrapped provided many merchant ships with their
only effective protection.
The HOPKINS' long voyage in the South Atlantic was thus far
relatively uneventful. The ship's routine of the crew doing normal
maintenance and standing endless sea watches were punctuated by
the traditional uneventful entry in her log--"Under way as before.
No remarks." And so the voyage went until the morning of the 27th
of September. The Third Mate who pursuant to standing orders called
the Master, Capt. Paul Buck, to the bridge, when two unidentified
vessels were sighted. Coming out of the mist, they quickly bore
down on the HOPKINS. To the casual observer they bore a resemblance
to any of the old ubiquitous freighters that plied the waters of the
world's oceans, but any resemblance to a merchantman engaged in
innocent passage ended when both ships simultaneously ran up a
red, white, and black flag surcharged with a black swastika--the
battle ensign of the Nazi Kriegsmarine. The two ships that the
STEPHEN HOPKINS had encountered were the Hilfshif Kreuzer (auxiliary
cruiser/commerce raider) STEIR and her supply ship the TANNENFELS.
The STEIR was armed with six 5.9" guns and an assortment of smaller
weaponry, the supply ship TANNENFELS with a number of 20 mm. Both
were considerably faster than the HOPKINS. From the first shot
that ranged across the HOPKINS' bows, the outcome was a dead certainty.
Capt. Buck could have hauled down his colors and abandoned ship--it
would be no major disgrace for a merchantman outgunned, outranged,
and outnumbered to do SO they were sorely mistaken. He would fight.
Capt. Buck sounded the general alarm, calling the HOPKINS' crew of
41 and 15 Naval armed guard gunners to their battle stations. The
fight would be bitter, brief, and to the death.
or
The 5.9" projectiles from the STEIR burst into the unarmed hull
and superstructure of the HOPKINS, starting numerous fires and leaving
them a shambles. Her decks were raked with withering fire, from which
many were killed, The inexperienced gunners of the HOPKINS fired
back as best they could. The 4" gun at the stern fired. A shell
exploded in the STEIR. Again and again the HOPKINS' 4" gun fired,
the shells exploding in the raider. The other guns in the HOPKINS
one by one were silenced. The guns' crews of the Navy armed guard
2
and merchantmen lay dead beside the ruined mounts, but still the 4"
gun on the stern continued to fire again and again into the STEIR.
The next salvo of 5.9s from the STEIR found the range of the 4" gun
aft. The magazine exploded, leaving the after deck a mass of twisted
wreckage and flames, killing or mortally wounding the remainder of
the gun's crew. Simultaneously, a projectile from the STEIR found
the HOPKINS' starboard boiler. It exploded, killing or wounding
nearly all in the ship's engine room and leaving the HOPKINS nearly
dead in the water, without power. Most of the HOPKINS' boats and
rafts were shot away. Many of her crew were cut down by machine
gun fire. The STEIR and the TANNENFELS moved in for the kill.
At that moment the HOPKINS' 18-year-old engineer cadet-midshipman,
injured but miraculously alive after escaping the carnage in the
engine room, made his way aft to the 4" gun. He was on his first
voyage as a cadet from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings
Point. Despite the fire that still raged in the magazine below,
he entered the gun tub, finding it littered with the dead gun's
crew and its splinter shield shattered and deck a twisted, smolder-
ing wreck. He found the gun miraculously appearing to be in working
order. There were 5 rounds left in the ammunition ready service box.
Clearing the dead away from the gun, the cadet loaded, elevated,
trained, and fired the piece at less than 1,000 yards range. Again
and again and again and again the 4" fired. The shells tore into
the vitals of the STEIR and the TANNENFELS, causing them to break
parting shot, one of the raiders fired again and cut the cadet down a
off their attack into the cover of the nearby mist and fog. In
just as he was leaving the gun tub.
The master surveyed the damage. With the ship dead in the
water, engine room a shambles, the midship house burning, every
gun out of action, and with a pronounced list to starboard and
sinking rapidly, it was time to go. A few of the survivors of the
20-minute battle were able to launch a damaged lifeboat and clear
away a couple of balsa Cairley floats. As the HOPKINS sank, its
surviving crew members noted a massive explosion some distance
away. The raider STEIR had suffered mortal wounds at the hands
of the 18-year-old engineer cadet. The fires out of control, the
STEIR escaped. had blown up. The TANNENFELS had suffered lesser damage and
The bravery of the HOPKINS' master and crew had made history.
The only Nazi surface vessel sunk by U.S. forces in World War II
was sunk by an American merchant vessel. Sadly, few would survive
a month-long voyage in the battered lifeboat which finally made a
landfall on the coast of Brazil. Capt. Buck was observed climbing
out of the water into a raft, but was not picked up.
In the early spring of 1942, Pres. Roosevelt had ordered the
Secretaries of War and the Navy to recognize Merchant Mariners who
distinguished themselves with appropriate citations and decorations.
This order was ignored. The Army and Navy had other things to occupy
themselves, and did not worry about recognizing merchantmen. In
response to the Army and Navy's inaction, the War Shipping Administration
3
proceeded with the concurrence of Congress to issue service bars and
medals for valor in 1943. The Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission,
Adm. Emery S. Land, cited the STEPHEN HOPKINS as a "gallant ship."
Her Master, Paul Buck, and her engineer cadet, Edwin J. O'Hara, were
awarded posthumously the Merchant Marine's highest award, the Dis-
tinguished Service Medal.
Some 7,000 American merchant seamen were killed in action in
World War II. They suffered the highest per capita loss of any
service group with the exception of Marine assault troops in the
Pacific, who exceeded them by 1/10 of 1%! 142 cadet midshipmen
from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point were killed
in action--no other service academy sent its undergraduates to
die in war.
In spite of their courage, sacrifice, and service, the American
Merchant Mariner of World War II's story remains largely unrecog-
nized and forgotten. You won't find an official government history
of their exploits, nor their names listed amongst the fallen on the
gleaming memorials that our government maintains. You won't hear
their song played with those of the other services in a medley salute
on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, or other patriotic occasions. Perhaps
if enough citizens knew their story, they would be sufficiently out-
raged by the injustice they needlessly suffered and at long last
for those living and dead, a grateful nation would extend its recog-
ntion and thanks.
suggested for publication on or about 4 July 1992
After half a century, the nation has yet to honor our forgotten
heroes of World War II, the United States Merchant Mariners, with
the respect and recognition long overdue them. Quoting Franklin D.
Roosevelt, "The Merchant Marine carried the sinews of war from the
arsenal of democracy to where and when it was needed," to our be-
leaguered allies and our own forces, often without proper escort or
protection.
They sustained the highest per capita casualties of any service
group, exceeded only by the U.S. Marine assault troops in the Pacific
by 1/10 of 1%. Not only had they to suffer the fury of the enemy's
bombs, bullets, mines, shells, and torpedoes, but the neglect and
indifference of the government and people of the United States, and
their unjustified bigotry, discrimination, prejudice, and outright
hostility visited on them as well. Much of it was due to a highly
successful enemy misinformation campaign; the lies and calumnies
persist to this day.
Excluded from service clubs and recreation facilities, subjected
to all forms of pettiness and harassment; "There's a war on" was
the excuse to justify their ill-treatment. They continued to sail
and deliver the goods even when America's coastal cities and resorts
refused to dim out their lights, making them perfect targets sil-
houetted against the glow for the U-boats offshore. Dimouts were
bad for business. The night skies off our coasts were illuminated
by burning ships and dying men.
The Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, woefully unprepared, compounded
the problems of coastal defense and merchant ship protection by not
adopting a cental command and control structure and not using proven
methods to fight the U-boats. They established their own "learning
curve"; as a result, more men and ships died needlessly.
The only German surface warship sunk by U.S. forces was sunk
by a merchant vessel. In September 1942 the auxiliary cruiser
STEIR intercepted the Liberty Ship STEPHEN HOPKINS, steaming without
escort. After numerous hits from the STEIR, the HOPKINS was ablaze
and sinking. Her Navy guns crew were killed; her crew tried to
abandon ship. The raider started to shell the lifeboats. A
-year-old cadet-midshipman from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
manned the 4" gun and proceeded to load, aim, and fire repeatedly
into the STEIR until the ammunition was exhausted. His firing
into the raider gave the opportunity for ONE of the lifeboats to
make good their escape. The raider, as a result of his well-placed
shots, caught fire and eventually blew up. In the exchange, he
was mortally wounded.
142 cadet-midshipmen from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
were killed in action against the enemy. The Merchant Marine
Academy was the only service academy which sent its undergraduates
to die in war.
The United States was the only maritime nation of World War II
which made no provision for its Merchant Marine veterans. They
did not receive any benefits under the GI Bill of Rights, and for
42 years received no recognition.
2
In January 1988 the Secretary of the Air Force, pressured by
a wise decision of the Federal District Court, allowed American
Merchant Mariners who could document honorable service of 180 days
between Pearl Harbor and V-J Day to be recognized as veterans by
the issuance of an honorable discharge certificate, issued either
by the Coast Guard or the Army, a transcript of service (DD 214),
and for service-connected injuries, admission to Veterans Administra-
tion hospitals on a pay-as-can-afford basis was authorized as well.
They are also entitled to a flag for their coffins and a grave
marker. Hardly a Treasury raid!
Since January of 1988 the Coast Guard has processed approx-
imately 83,000 applications, of which 73,000 were approved. 5,000
were referred to the Army and were subsequently approved. Some
5,000 applicants did not meet the arbitrary requirements set by
the Secretary of the Air Force.
It should be noted that members of the other services who
have as little as 30 days honorable service or were killed or
wounded between the 8th of September 1939 and the 31st of December
1946 are considered to be veterans of World War II. It should
further be noted that if the criteria for other services had been
applied to these 5,000, they would have been approved as well.
You won't find Merchant Mariners' graves amidst the manicured
gardens and lawns of Arlington. Their bones lie scattered on the
floor of the world's oceans, forgotten.
The American Battle Monuments Commission has refused to remember
some 7,000 Merchant Mariners killed in action and has refused to
place their names on the appropriate existing war memorials it
maintains here and overseas, in spite of their mandate to memorialize
all of America's war dead.
You won't hear the Merchant Marine's song played with the
other service songs on patriotic occasions by U.S. military bands,
nor can you read any government-sponsored history of the Merchant
Marine's service, valor, and sacrifice in World War II, unlike the
other services. Nor will you find media personalities discussing
the slaughter of Merchant Mariners off our Eastern seaboard or
the gross negligence of our Navy in the destruction of convoy PQ 17
to North Russia (4 July 1942).
Recently the Government announced that World War II Merchant
Mariners who could document their service would be eligible to
receive medals in testimony of their wartime service, 50 years
after the fact. The U.S.A. says thanks--and charges the recipient
$20 plus postage and handling for each award due. Unlike all the
other services, Merchant Mariners must pay for their awards!
3
While many have been celebrating in this holiday season of
backyard barbecues, department store sales, long weekends, and
other displays of hyper-patriotism, some of us who study history
find that the "official" and "popularly accepted" lines ring
hollow, and the rampant hypocrisy is unbearable.
Little has been done after half a century to close the
gaping wounds that to this day still bleed.
B.D. Hammer
Exec. Dir., Battle of the
Atlantic Historical Society
(BATLANT), Inc.
P.O. Box 290298, Homecrest Sta.
Brooklyn, New York 11229-0005
(718) ES 7 -0713
8
Saturday, July 4, 1992
DAILY #NEWS
220 E. 42d St., New York, N.Y. 10017
JAMES P. WILLSE, Editor and Publisher
MATTHEW V. STORIN, Executive Editor ELLIS COSE, Editorial Page Editer
DEBBY KRENEK, Managing Editor
Invisible patriots
Today is a joyful anniversary, but also a sad one. It was exact-
ly 50 years ago that a 37-ship Merchant Marine convoy, bound
for Russia, was ambushed by German forces. Because of a fou-
lup in assignments, the convoy had no Navy escort and was vir-
tually destroyed, with the loss of hundreds of lives.
A Brooklyn-based organization, the Battle of the Atlantic His-
torical Society, cites that as one of many disasters Merchant
Marines suffered during World War II. But only recently has
the nation begun to recognize their sacrifices. Even so, not one
of the 7,000 merchant mariners killed in action is listed on any
U.S. war memorial. Are not their contributions worthy of note?
OFFICIAL SONG OF THE U. S. MARITIME SERVICE
EAVE HO! MY LADS,HEAVE HO
(SONG) OF THE MERCHANT MARINE
SERVICE
Words and Music by
JACK LAWRENCE, Lt. (jg) U. S.M.S
Leeds.Misic
car Rr PM
RKO BUILDING RADIO CITY NEW YORK
SO THAT SHIPS MIGHT GO
TO SEA WITH ABLE HANDS
They come-from.every point of the compass, from 48
states, Alaska, Hawaii and Uncle Sam's possessions, in city
clothes and rural clothes, in zoot suits and cowboy boots-
thousands of them of all colors and creeds to man the ever-
growing fleet of Liberty ships that carry the goods to the
men on the fighting fronts of this global war.
At the world's largest United States Maritime Service
Training Station at Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York,
more than 10,000 are studying the elements of seamanship,
are acquiring knowledge about life boats and life saving that
will protect them along the sea lanes menaced by Axis
U-boats.
Today, trained-men-men who have the know-how-are
going out from this United States Maritime Service Training
Station and its counterparts throughout the country to win
the battle of the seven seas against the submarine, the dive
bomber and the surface raider.
Upon these men, deck hands, engine room men, ship's
cooks, messmen, ship's clerks and pharmacist's mates, rests
the task of passing the ammunition, braving the sub and
dive bomber.
To these men, this song, written at the United States
Maritime Service Training Station, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn,
New York, is dedicated.
Official Song of the U.S. MARITIME SERVICE
HEAVE HO! MY LADS, HEAVE HO!
(SONG OF THE MERCHANT MARINE)
Key of C (C-E)
Words and Music by
JACK LAWRENCE
Lt. (j.g.) U.S.M.S.
6
AS
Fm6
C7
C dim7
o
VERSE
Give us the oil, give us the gas, give us the shells, give us the
mp
Dm7
G
G7
C
F
O
DOO
000
o
guns, We'll be the ones to see them thru.
Give us the tanks, give us the
G
G# dim 7
D7
E7
COO
00
O
G dim7
Cm6
00
planes, give us the parts, give us a ship, Give us a hip hoo - ray!
and
6
Copyright 1943 by KAYCEE MUSIC COMPANY, Inc. R.K.O. Bldg., Radio City, New York, N.Y.
International Copyright Secured
Made in U.S.A.
All Rights Reserved
Sole Selling Agent: LEEDS MUSIC CORP. RKO Bldg. Redio City, New York
4
Am
Am7
D7
G
G7
C
G7
00
O
000
000
o
occ
O
we'll
be
on
our
way.
A7
C
G
00
Dm
A7
Dm
D7
o
Fedia
000
00
o
CHORUS
6
HEAVE HO!
MY LADS, HEAVE HO!
It's a long, long way to
6
7
G
G7
C
G7
C
A7
Dm
C7
F
000
o
00
o
000
000
go,
It's a long, long pull with our hat - - ches full, . Bra-ving the
B7
Em
A7+
D9
G7
C
O
00
o
000
Hells
wind, bra-ving the sea, Fight- - ing the treach - er-ous
foe, HEAVE
HO!
MY
7
Heave Ho! etc-3
5
F# dim7
G
A7
00
Din
^7
D7
G
Dm
O
000
000
LADS, HEAVE HO!
Let the sea roll high or low,
G7
C
G7
Co
G7
C
G7
F# dim7
C
F
E7
000
000
000
o
000
O
00
We can cross an - y o - cean, sail an - y riv - er, give us the
Am
Fm 6
Co
D7
Dm 7
G7
F# dim7
G
o
O
O
o
GCO
Co
CCO
goods and well de - liv - er, Damn the sub - ma - rine!
We're the
D9
G7
Dm7
G7
1
OCO
O
CCO
Co
G7
2 C
Dm
COO
o
men of the Mer - chant Ma - rine!
HEAVE -rine!
6
Heave Ho! etc-3
-Warning! Any copying of the words or music of this song
or any portion thereof, makes the initinger liable to
criminal prosecution under the U. S. Copyright Law
Tom Scully
Tom, Mr. Haber of the Combat Merchant Marines called today
wonder why RBZ/you had not gotten back to him with his
request that restitution be given to this group of people.
I noted that times were busy, RBZ had asked one of his
assistants to look into this, and hopefully that assistant
would be able to get back to him soon.
POC: 914/623-6411
Tom, I forwarded his letter to you earlier, asking
that you respond. (I did not give him your name;
just noted that I would tell you of his call.)
Cozetta 10/12 Mon 9:15 AM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 25, 1992
Dear Mr. Haber:
Thank you for your letter on behalf of Merchant
Seamen of World War II.
I've passed on your thoughts to Tom Scully. As
Associate Director for Human Resources,
Veterans, and Labor he would be best suited to
follow through on the feasibility of your
request.
With best regards,
Sincerely,
ampaign of
Robut B. B. Zoellick
le to the
Robert
issue an
Deputy Chief of Staff
enefits to
my letter
ter).
sible by
Mr. Kermit Haber
as senior
Executive Officer
ty years
Combat Merchant Mariners
d Reserve
World War II
14 Castle Drive
Chestnut Ridge, New York 10977
dent Bush
for our file.
y additional
Central Files
Incoming & outgoing correspondence
copies to
RBZoellick/Cozetta
Tom Scully262 OEOB
thanks
Cozetta
Executive Officer
Commander Kermit Haber
COMBAT MERCHANT MARINERS
Honorary Commander Awards
World War II
Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman
14 Castle Drive
Arthur Gunther, Editor
Gannett Journal News
Chestnut Ridge, New York 10977
Ray Kerrison, Columnist
(914) 623-8484
New York Post
Eugene Levy
New York State Senator
Stanley Willner
September 10, 1992
POW - Burma 3 years
Built Bridge Over The River Kwai
Honary Sponsors
Rear Admiral Norman C. Venzke
(U.S.C.G. Ret.)
Mr. Robert Zoellick
J. Daniel Smith
Staff
Propeller Club of the United States
The White House
Gordon W. Spencer
American Maritime Officers Service
Washington, D.C. 20500
Joseph F. Baker
Atlantic Maritime Officers Assn.
..,
Dear Mr. Zoellick:
John H. Griffith
CEO - Norton Lilly International
Just a short note to be helpful to the Campaign of
Roy Carreau
Won Veterans status for seafarers who
President Bush.
built Mulberries at Normandy
OFFICERS AND LEADERS
There are over one million votes available to the
Secretary
reelection of President Bush if he will issue an
Mendy Ohrwaschel
Chaplain/Service Officer
Executive Order granting full veterans benefits to
Joseph Hussey
the Merchant Seamen of World War II (see my letter
Treasurer
to the President in the enclosed newsletter).
G. Howard Nugent
Historian
Rendish Meola, MAI
Not only did this group make victory possible by
Membership Secretary
winning "The Battle of the Atlantic" but as senior
Edward H. Richards
citizens they came out of retirement forty years
Corresponding Secretary
later to man the ships of the decades old Reserve
John J. Hensel
Fleet to bring triumph at Desert Storm.
Engineers Liaison
Eric Johanson
Legislative Liaison
The one million votes will help put President Bush
Thomas Atkins
over the top.
Joseph O'Leary
Public Relations
William E. Lightcap
Contact Ron Kaufman, Political Officer, for our file.
Speakers Bureau
Haskell Wexler, Chairman
You may call me at (914) 623-6411 for any additional
Nominated for "Oscar" Award 1990
Dr. Douglas H. Morgan, D.D.S.
information.
Publicity Committee
Chairman: Amold Ropeik,
Best wishes,
The Times. Trenton - Princeton
Arthur Weedfald
Charles W. Mitchell
COMBAT MERCHANT MARINERS WW II.
Advertising Chairman
Bob Cardin
Coordinator NE Region
Harold Kropp
Street Hahn
Frank (Bud) Rines
Kermit Haber
Coodinator SE Region
Executive Officer
Elof Maim
Glenwood Yopp
Legal Counsel
KH:jh.
Judge Paul J. Doyle, Esq.
enclosures
Richard Newman. Esq.
Special Events
Harry Hogencamp
Ballard C. May
Medical Officer
Dr Irvin F. Plank. MD
How month
people ? 1 million?
Executive Officer
Commander Kermit Haber
COMBAT MERCHANT MARINERS
Honorary Commander Awards
World War II
Congressman Benjamin A Gilman
Arthur Gunther. Editor
14 Castle Drive
Gannett Journal News
Chestnut Ridge. New York 10977
Ray Kerrison. Columnist
(914) 623-8484
New York Post
Eugene Levy
New York State Senator
June 6, 1992
Stanley Willner
POW Burma 3 years
Built Bridge Over The Ricer Kurai
Honary Sponsors
Rear Admiral Norman C. Venzke
(U.S.C.G. Ret.)
J. Daniel Smith
Dear Mr. President
Propeller Club of the United States
Gordon W: Spencer
American Maritime Officers Service
The purpose of this letter is to ask you to issue an Executive
Joseph F. Baker
Atlantic Maritime Officers Assn.
Order granting the merchant seamen of World War II the same veteran
John H. Griffith
status as given to the other armed forces after their victory against the
CEO - Norton Lilly International
axis powers.
Roy Carreau
Won Veterans status for seafarers u.bo
built Mulberries at Normandy
Possibly this can be done as an addendum to the D.O.D. Decision
OFFICERS AND LEADERS
Secretary
of January 19, 1955 by Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Edward Aldridge
Mendy Ohrwaschel
Jr. who granted the seafarers the honor of being called veterans,
Chaplain/Service Officer
Joseph Hussey
discriminated by restricting the benefits to the use of the Veterans
Treasurer
Administration Hospital System and burial in a military cemetery.
G. Howard Nugent
Historian
Rendish Meola. MAI
The basis for the foregoing is that President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Membership Secretary
Edward H. Richards
to signing the G.I. Bill in June of 1944 stated, "I trust Congress will soon
Corresponding Secretary
provide similar opportunities to members of the merchant marine who
John]. Hensel
have risked their lives time and time again during this war for the welfare
Engineers Liaison
of this county."
Eric Johanson
Legislative Liaison
Thomas Atkins
oseph O'Leary
This promise was not kept! It is not how a great nation should
act.
Public Relations
William E. Lighteap
peakers Bureau
taskell Wexler. Chairman
I therefore write to respectfully ask you to right this wrong because
Nominated for "Oscar" Award 1990
)r. Douglas H. Morgan. D.D.S.
I know you to be a decent and compassionate man who will not stand
Publicity Committee
still for injustice.
Chairman Amold Ropeik.
he Times Trenton Princeton
sthur Weedfald
Charles W. Mitchell
Along with the foregoing act, I ask for reparations for the denial of
dvertising Chairman
the G.I. Bill which excluded most of us from a college education with the
ib Cardin
increase in income which such credentials bring.
oordinator NE Region
arold Kropp
rank (Bud) Rines
Therefore, may I suggest your support for our program of $40.00
oodinator SE Region
of Maim
every Friday, which is $2,000/year and a one time grant of $90,000
lenwood Yopp
which is the foregoing amount times 50 years.
egal Counsel
dge Paul J. Doyle. Esq
chard Newman. Esq
pecial Events
My DD214 comes with a Combat Ribbon with 2 stars, and I tried
arry Hogencamp
to get into the U.S. Army Air Corps Flying Cadet Program but was
dland C May
edical Officer
rejected for not being able to pass the physical (copy of that letter is
-2-
available).
In conclusion, the men of the Merchant Marine sustained the same rate of death
as the U.S. Marines. Judge Louis Oberdorfer in his Summary Judgement in favor of the
seafarers stated he had looked into the claim that we were paid more than equivalent
ratings in the Navy and found the income was comparable when taxes, and food charges,
gear, clothing allotments to families etc. were balanced off along with a Death Benefit one
half of that of the Navy men ($5,000).
Further after hostilities ended, War Shipping Administration wrote to the seamen of
record requesting that we stay at sea to bring home the troops and help feed Europe -
copy of a WSA Flyer is enclosed and I cannot understand why our cut-off date of service
is August 15, 1945 (end of hostilities) When post hostility draftees were given a cut-off
date of December 31, 1946) - 16 months later - and were never in combat.
With best wishes and warmest regards,
I remain
Sincerely,
Kermit Haber
Executive Officer
CC: Ron Kaufman
This organization was formed because forty years after world War II no recognition was
:
given to the brave men, who as volunteers joined the Merchant Marine, and carried
war supplies through hazardous waters to make our victory possible!
The membership consists 06 seafarers who sailed in war zones during the period 1941
Administration. through 1946 and were awarded Combat Bars and/or War Zone Bars by the War Shipping
YES, I WISH TO JOIN THE COMBAT MERCHANT MARINERS WORLD WAR II:
APPLICATION
NAME:
ADDRESS:
Enclosed is check or money order for annual dues $20.00 100 NOT SEND CASH)
Make Check payable to: COMBAT MERCHANT MARINERS ww II
14 CASTLE DRIVE, SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. 10977
I CAN HELP WITH:
Send Copy of Combet/Warzo Zone BART
writing to my Congressman
Fundraising
writing to my 2 U.S. Senators
Finding new members
writing a letter to my local newspaper
Attending meeting in Restaurant
Speakers Bureau
Attending meeting in Rockland/Berge
Have interesting war story
Publicity Committon
WHAT'S
NEW?
Shipmates:
The FIFTH Annual Dinner/Reunion was a smash Hit! We gathered at West Point, a historical
Revolutionary War site and home of the nation's oldest service academy. The Academy cooperated with us
100%. They provided an Honor Guard, a trumpeter, and a flag. The meal was outstanding featuring New York
Steak or Baked Salmon ending with Chocolate Mousse, tea and coffee. Dancing and music by the Smith Street
Dixieland Band, and a 20's Dancing Girl to pep things up. Headquarters has received a bundle full of letters
from attendees expressing their thanks for a memorable evening.
Here is the program; Invocation by member Reverend Richard Carley, an official of the Presbyterian
Church, New York State. The Pledge of Allegiance was followed by member Irving Dietscher reciting a poem
he has written about our love for country and flag. An amusing and interesting talk by Richard Murray about
how he got to go to the war in Desert/Storm. A recollection of his 3 years as a Prisoner of War by member
Stanley Willner who was 2nd mate captured by the Japanese when his ship was torpedoed in the Far East. Hit
story of survival under the tender mercies of the Japanese Army brought tears to the eyes of most of the
audience.
Inasmuch S my family did not feel that my health would permit me to last out the evening if I tried to
M.C. the extensive program. My two college professor sons volunteered to help my carry the ball. They
received a round of applause for their contribution to the success of the function. Everyone agreed I had a
wonderful family and the boys did an outstanding job.
The U.S. Navy Department has honored us by sending Vice Admiral Stephen Loftus to address the group.
Assignments: Former Commander Maritime Air Forces, Mediterranean - August 1981/July 1987; Carrier
Airborne Early Warning Squadron Twelve; Office of CNO (Deputy CNO, Logistics OP-04 - October 1990 to
date; A few of the Medals and Awards: Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit with Two Gold Stars;
Distinguished Flying Cross; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and two Gold Stars; Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Stars; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; Republic
of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Naval Service:
Designated Rear Admiral - September 1984; Vice Admiral - January 1991.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Plague to Four Star General H.T. Johnson
honoring him with the Honorary Commander of the Combat Merchant Mariners WWII Award. General
Johnson, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Transportation Command who was in full charge of Logistics for Operation
Desert Shield/Storm prevented a possible catastrophe in the Saudi Desert by implementing the use of WWII
Reserve Ships to bring war material to our troops. He also accepted the offer of the senior citizen former WWII
Merchant Seamen to come out of retirement to repair and sail these decades old ships to the War Zone. These
acts insured our victory in the Desert and made possible the liberation of Kuwait. General H.T. Johnson will
be remembered by all seamen forever.
The enclosed letter of support on (page 3) from President George Bush was sent Express Mail July 24th.
It was unsolicited and represents his sincere feelings for Merchant Seamen. My letter to the President
(enclosed) is the next project for the organization. Write letters of support to the White House and to the
Editorial Page Editor of your local paper. I have not let you down. I know you will not let me down.
With best wishes for good health for you and your family. Till we meet again, I hope to continue serving
the membership.
Sincerely,
Jorn Hohn Kermit Haber
Executive Officer
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 22, 1992
I am delighted to send warm greetings to the
Combat Merchant Mariners of World War II as you
gather at West Point for your Fifth Annual Dinner.
It is a privilege to have been nominated as your
"Honorary Commander."
The liberties that we enjoy as Americans have been
won at great cost, and our Nation owes a lasting
debt of gratitude to our Merchant Mariners, who
have repeatedly risked their lives to secure those
freedoms. During World War II you made a critical
contribution to the Allied victory over tyranny,
courageously ferrying war supplies to our Armed
Forces through hazardous, enemy-infested waters.
During Operation Desert Storm, you once again
answered our Nation's call to service, delivering
millions of tons of equipment and spare parts to
the Persian Gulf within a few short months. I
know that many of you volunteered for duty, and
I salute you for your service to our country.
Barbara joins me in sending best wishes for an
enjoyable and memorable dinner. God bless you.
GBul
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
AIR MOBILITY COMMAND
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS 62225-5001
27 July 1992
country. Duty has exposed them to hostile fire but not integrated
Mr. Kermit Haber
the mariners into our armed forces. As I mentioned, we are slowly
14 Castle Drive
making some inroads by sponsoring legislation to provide the first
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
step to "reserve-like" status by guaranteeing "rehire rights." We
hope this will be the first step to gaining full military and veteran
Dear Mr. Haber
status for future and past combat merchant mariners.
Linda and I very much enjoyed our time with the Combat
It was a privilege and distinct honor to meet you, Mrs.
Merchant Mariners of World War II last evening. You were most
Haber, Steve, and Mark. 1 share your immense pride in your
gracious to honor the men and women of the United States
family. Steve and Mark showed their utmost respect and love for
Transportation Command by making me an Honorary Commander
their father in assisting you with the program and throughout the
of the Combat Merchant Mariners of World War II. I was in awe
evening. It was a tremendous joy to talk with and gain enormous
among your distinguished group as I listened to the challenges
respect and admiration for Steve. He has combined history and
you faced during World War II. Certainly I am proud of the
economics to not only understand the past but affect the future. He
tremendous job our merchant mariners did during the DESERT
must be a greatly sought after professor. 1 was sorry I did not get to
Operations. Our feats may have been comparable; however, the
know Mark as well--I understand he is also uniquely gifted as a
dangers and challenges were insignificant when compared to
computer data base librarian. He must also be a standout in his
your accomplishments.
field.
We were pleased and impressed that members of your
Thanks so very much for a truly memorable evening,
World War II veterans like Richard Murray came back to operate
honoring me with your award, and most importantly for your
our ships during DESERT SHIELD. As always, when our nation
leadership of our Combat Merchant Mariners of World War 11.
needs help, the patriotic men and women of our great country step
forward to serve with immense distinction. Stanley Willner's story
Linda joins me in sending our very best wishes to you and
combined the atrocities with the strength and determination of our
your family for good health, great joy, and fulfillment in all your
POWs into an emotional but powerful and moving portrayal. We
activities and interests. You will have to take better care of yourself
truly have a rich heritage of great, heroic Americans!
--we need your continued leadership.
The members of the Combat Merchant Mariners of World
With great respect and admiration
War II are indeed fortunate to have you at the helm. Over time and
even now, we have not treated our merchant mariners properly.
H T Johnson
They have always answered the call to duty in defense of our
HANSFORD T. JOHNSON
General USAE
General H T Johnson
Combat Merchant Mariners World War II
West Point, NY
25 July 1992
I am proud to be here this evening to accept the Honorary Commander Award from
you gallant mariners who served America during WWII and all the deployments
since. You can take special pride in knowing that you and your comrades who are no
longer with us have made great sacrifices for America when the need for sacrifice
was greatest.
You here tonight know too well the capability and the sacrifices put forth by
merchant mariners through the years. By the end of WWII, 731 American merchant
ships had been sunk, 5,638 merchant seamen were dead or missing in action,
thousands more of your number were wounded or permanently crippled, and 609
taken as prisoners (like Stanley Willner [to attend: 3yrs WWII POW in Burma, worked
river Kwai bridge]).
During the war
one out of every 32 merchant mariners died in battle
as Vice
Admiral Loftus pointed out, that is a casualty rate second only to the US Marine
Corps. You weren't soldiers, but like Kermit Haber, whose 20mm gun shot down a
Luftwaffe torpedo plane you manned the guns when needed and sailed the ships
that delivered American power. You are patriots.
I salute your contributions to American freedom. You fought side by side with
American troops. You participated in the invasions of Normandy, North Africa,
Sicily, Anzio, the Philippines and Okinawa, and in every beachhead assault from
Guadacanal to two Jima. You built the strategic bridges that carried our troops to
the enemy's doorstep, sustained them in battle, and brought them home after
victory was won.
We have had the same goals
deliver the troops, sustain them, and bring them
home. That is why it is especially meaningful for me to receive this recognition from
you tonight. Like you, I share your pride in our transportation community and the
role it performed during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
The word pride has taken on renewed meaning for all Americans
pride in the role
we played in the Persian Gulf crisis pride in the ideals for which our nation stands
and pride in our men and women in uniform who served with great courage, skill
and dedication.
But you know it was not just the men and women in uniform who served our nation
in this most recent time of national crisis
Americans from all walks of life, and
particularly Americans from all sectors of our transportation community stepped
forward to conduct one of the largest military deployments of all time.
One young civilian employee at the port in Savannah certainly knew the meaning of
pride. She had just spent several 16 hour days preparing for deployment of the 24th
Infantry Division. When she finally had an evening off, she and some friends headed
to a restaurant on River Street. As they arrived, she noticed a group of people in
front of a cafe watching a ship moving down the channel.
With great pride, she walked up to the group and said: "That's the first ship headed
to the Gulf. I just finished loading it. Its called the Altair." One of the women in the
it was an emotional moment
at least until the
group was wiping away tears
ship turned so that everyone could see the name
it wasn't the Altair
it was the
Del Monte
a pineapple ship!
The tears turned to laughter, but the pride was still there. It united Americans
during the crisis. It enabled America's transportation community to pull together as
a team and meet the challenges of the Desert Shield deployment.
2
I use the word team whenever I talk about this deployment because our success
came from an incredibly wide array of military and commercial transportation assets.
Many people outside the defense transportation community are surprised to learn
just how dependent we are on the commercial sector. In total, 85 percent of
America's defense transportation capability is in the commercial sector. More than
half of our airlifters and virtually all land and rail assets come from the commercial
sector. On the sealift side, the Department of Defense today owns only eight ships,
the remainder of the 200 ships used in the Desert Shield deployment came from
other sources-- primarily commercial.
Operation Desert Shield was the first major test of America's newest unified
command, the U.S. Transportation Command. When USTRANSCOM was activated
on October 1, 1987, for the first time, all defense transportation assets were aligned
under a single command: the Air Force's Military Airlift Command, now Air Mobility
Command; the Army's Military Traffic Management Command; and the Navy's
Military Sealift Command
These commands form a triad composed of air, sea, and land transportation assets.
Each leg of the triad provides unique capabilities critical to our success in Desert
Shield.
America's maritime community was the life line for our armed forces in Southwest
Asia. In the early days of Desert Shield, this life line was maintained almost
exclusively by airlift. It was an incredible feat unparalleled in history. But when the
first two fast sealift ships arrived in Saudi Arabia, they carried more tonnage than
the entire airlift up to that point.
For years, we in the Department of Defense have stated that airlift will be the first to
arrive in crisis or contingency, but in a large-scale operation, 90 percent of materials
and equipment will be carried by sealift. It is a fact that has remained unchanged
since WW II and will not change for the next fifty years: Sealift will remain the
bedrock of America's defense transportation system, and the defense transportation
system will remain the foundation of America's armed forces.
Now, many of you may be concerned about the massive reorganization that is taking
place within the Department of Defense; the FY95 DoD budget will be 45 percent
less than the FY85 budget. By 1995 the number of personnel in our armed forces
will be fewer than anytime since the late 1930s. DoD spending in 1995 will be 18
percent of the federal budget as opposed to the early 1950s when it was 57 percent.
However,I assure you that one organization that will not change much is US
Transportation Command. The value of placing one command in charge of all
transportation is a lesson we will not have to learn again.
We also learned that a defense transportation system primarily based in the
commercial sector can respond to a large scale crisis in a timely manner. Many
aspects of this system, such as the Ready Reserve Fleet that Admiral Loftus discussed
had never been tested, but all of the players in the commercial sector responded
with the same attitude as Bill Masters, port manager at Beaumont, who, during the
early days of the deployment, greeted my representative with: "The answer is yes,
now what is the question?"
We have, without question validated the need for a unified transportation
command. In the early days of Desert Shield, the priorities changed rapidly. It was a
tense and highly fluid situation. Whenever General Schwarzkepf needed to make a
change in the flow of personnel and equipment, it only took one phone call.
3
We proved that America's defense transportation system can enjoy the cost benefits
of being primarily dependent on the commercial sector, and at the same time, still
have the capability to meet the fast paced and massive demands of a major
contingency such as Desert Shield.
We demonstrated that our Afloat Prepositioned Ships and Maritime Prepositioned
Ships will be a superb method of maintaining our global reach as we reduce the size
of our forward deployed forces.
In the Ready Reserve Force we have learned several lessons. Most importantly, we
learned that the system worked. We also learned that we need to place more roll
on/roll offs in the RRF, and we need to place a higher priority on the readiness of the
RRF.
We also demonstrated to the American public what we have been preaching for
several years the status of America's merchant marine force is in a downward
spiral. Unless we are going to man our ships with 90 year old mariners, we won't be
able to rely on old hands like Robert Wilson and Richard Murray much longer. The
question is, who will be there to replace them?
President Bush has given us the blueprint for this revival
the National Security
Sealift Policy. It is up to us make it a reality. It is vital to our economic health, our
defense, and our national security.
Last month, Secretary of Transportation Andrew Card laid out a plan for revitalizing
the nation's maritime strength. He identified several areas that apply directly to the
Department of Defense. Most significant is that DoD will not pursue any build-and-
charter programs for the lease of ships that would be detrimental to US liner
operators or distort the commercial market:
This is an issue that has my whole-hearted support. If America is to remain the world
leader beyond the 1990's, America must maintain its strength
economically,
diplomatically, and militarily.
To maintain this strength
to maintain our political and economic freedoms
America must have a strong and viable merchant marine.
I leave you with the words of President John F. Kennedy
words that he wrote for
a speech he was scheduled to deliver at the Dallas Trade Mart on November 22, 1963.
If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself.
If we are weak, words will have little meaning.
We must all work together to ensure that the America you have served so unselfishly
and heroically in the past remains strong and free in the future. As your honorary
commander, I will do all that is within my power to remain true to the ideals upon
which you Combat Merchant Mariners of WWII have pledged yourselves.
,
LRT,
FYI, long ago we heard about this
same issue for the US Merchant Mariners.
&
I passed it to Tom Scully and never
heard back, other than he took care of it.
CDJ 11/16
Thanks, Tom ! I have
attach it ut your response for
held a copy here & will
THE
CENTER
FOR
SECURITY
NRN
POLICY
Date: 1/12/93
To: HON. JAMES BAKER
Company:
Fax Phone Number: 94562883
CC:
From: Center for Security Policy
Subject:
# of Pages (including this cover sheet) 5
Message:
General inquiries concerning the Center and specific name or fax
number changes should be directed to extension 268 at the number
below.
If you do not receive all pages, please call back immediately.
Voice: (202) 466-0515
FAX: (202) 466-0518
01/12/93
17:27
CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY
MODEM TWO
NO.215 P001
No. 93-D 4
THE
DECISION BRIEF
12 January 1993
CENTER
For Immediate Release
Contact: John Kyl
FOR
(202) 466-0515
SECURITY
THE TRIUMPH OF HOPE OVER EXPERIENCE: THE NEW
POLICY
CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY IS A DANGEROUS DELUSION1
Samuel Johnson once said that second marriages represent "the triumph of hope
over experience." The same applies to much of the experience with arms control -
D
particularly of the multilateral variety. Rarely has that been more true than with the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) due to be signed by the United States and scores of
other nations in Paris tomorrow.
E
The Center for Security Policy believes the United States is now poised to repeat
the mistakes of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention. As with the CWC, the U.S.
C
entered into the earlier convention because it did not wish to maintain the relevant
military capability and thought it would be better off signing up other nations to a
ban even one that was wholly unverifiable and unenforceable. The result was
graphically illustrated in the course of the war with Iraq: Notwithstanding the Biological
Weapons Convention, the enemy was equipped with lethal viruses and the United States
S
was forced to rush hastily ginned-up and inadequately tested antidotes and less-than-
effective defensive systems into the theater of operations. America had no option
whatsoever to threaten in-kind retaliation.
I
The new Chemical Weapons Convention, and the fact that it enjoys official Ameri-
can support despite its fatal flaws, is - as much as anything the result of U.S. President
O
George Bush's personal obsession with "ridding the world of chemical arms." However
desirable this goal is, as a practical matter, it simply is not an achievable one. Such
N
weapons are simply too easily manufactured, with too readily available technologies
and ingredients and too concealable to be susceptible to international prohibitions.
Reckless Presidential Myopia
B
Chemical arms control is hardly the only area where the personal predilections of
the President have prevented "the facts from getting in the way" of U.S. policy. Indeed
(as the Center for Security Policy has assiduously documented over the past four years),
R
the Bush practice of "personal diplomacy" has involved one astonishing example after
another of subordinating realistic assessments of international problems to say nothing of
long-term U.S. interests to Mr. Bush's strongly-held, but fundamentally misguided,
I
notions. Consider the following examples:
o
E
Preserving ties with the PRC despite the Tiananmen Square massacre and
subsequent pervasive repression. The net effect has been no appreciable
F
- more -
1 This Decision Brief is adapted from remarks by Director Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. at the 1992 U.S.
Army Scientific Conference on Chemical Defense Research, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 17
November 1992.
1250 24th Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20037 (202) 466-0515 FAX (202) 466-0518
01/12/93 17:27
CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY
MODEM TWO
NO.215 P002
Center for Security Policy
Page Two
Decision Brief
12 January 1993
diminution in the brutality of the Chinese regime and a $15 billion trade deficit (including
illegal import of products made with Chinese slave labor).
Betting on Mikhail Gorbachev - with, among other things, $3.75 billion in taxpayer-
underwritten credit guarantees and sensitive dual-use technology. This was done long after
it became apparent that he was an impediment to radical reform in the Soviet Union, not its
champion and after it became clear that the loans would prove unrecoverable.
Failing to provide vital support to the real reformers in the Soviet successor states until
it was effectively too late, then failing to condition such aid as was given on wholesale
structural change and institution-building. We are now confronted with the prospect of the
complete cooption and/or elimination of the Russian democratic and free market movement
by Old Guard forces coalescing behind organizations like "Civic Union," "National
Salvation Front," etc.
Coddling Saddam Hussein - even after the U.S. government knew that he was bent on
acquiring an immense arsenal of offensive weaponry including weapons of mass destruction,
some of which he was prepared to use even against his own people. Worse yet, such
support for Saddam continued despite the fact that U.S. taxpayer funds were being used to
underwrite some of these purchases.
Toadying to the Syrian version of Saddam Hussein, Hafez Assad -- a far smarter and
more dangerous actor than the Iraqi despot.
Interestingly, all of these examples of misbegotten Bush investments in personal diplomacy
have one other thing in common: Each of the aforementioned beneficiaries of U.S. protection
and largesse during Mr. Bush's tenure engaged in systematic efforts to amass large inventories of
offensive chemical weaponry. In fact, every one of the foregoing nations is still building
chemical arms -- as are probably a dozen or more others." That fact is a particularly
inconvenient one in light of perhaps the most insidious instance of Mr. Bush's wishful thinking -
namely, his personal crusade to "ban chemical weapons from the face of the earth."
An III-Conceived and Poorly Executed Accord
The result of President Bush's monomania on chemical arms control is that the United
States is about to become legally committed to a treaty that is neither "global" nor "verifiable,"
the two claims typically made on its behalf. In fact, it is basically an accord that will require the
elimination of all U.S. chemical arms - even though others, including the world's pariah states,
may continue to possess them. The Convention will also likely exacerbate the present
inadequacies of the United States' chemical defensive posture.
- more -
2 The Yeltsin government recently incarcerated, in a manner reminiscent of the communists' repression of
Andrei Sakharov and other dissidents, a scientist - Prof. Vil Mirzayanov - who had the temerity to reveal that
Russia was continuing to develop and produce deadly chemical warfare agents.
, The genesis of Mr. Bush's monomania about using arms control to eliminate chemical weapons has been
documented in numerous Center for Security Policy papers, notably "Bush's Myopia on Chemical Weapons
Keeps Him From Seeing the Handwriting on the Arms Control Wall," (No. 91-P 37, 13 May 1991).
01/12/93 17:27
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MODEM TWO
NO.215 P003
Center for Security Policy
Page Three
Decision Brief
12 January 1993
The critical groundwork for such a dubious achievement was laid when, in May 1991, the
Bush White House capitulated on two fundamental points. It announced that:
"The United States will foreswear the use of chemical weapons for any reason,
including retaliation in-kind with CW, against any state, effective when the CWC enters
into force."
"The United States will drop its position that we must be allowed to keep two percent
of our CW stockpile (500 tons [of chemical agent]) until all CW-capable states have
joined the convention."
These and other American concessions made it possible, after decades of negotiation, to
find at last the lowest-common-denominator: a Chemical Weapons Convention essentially bereft
of verifiability, equitability or practical utility. As a result, the treaty which will shortly be
submitted to the United States Senate for its advice and consent is unquestionably the most
ambitious and overreaching arms control agreement of all time. While there are innumerable
technical points that materially contribute to the defective character of this Convention, there are
three overarching issues that argue against its ratification:
First, the security of U.S. citizens and military personnel will, in all likelihood, be
jeopardized - later, if not sooner - if this country is denied the right and the ability to deter
chemical attack by the credible threat of in-kind retaliation. Historically, chemical agents
have been used almost exclusively where such an in-kind deterrent threat was not present; in its
absence, the use of the "poor man's atomic bomb" has proven irresistible to a number of nations.
Notwithstanding Saddam Hussein's restraint in using CW in the Persian Gulf war (the cause of
which can at this point only be surmised), it is likely that such a temptation will occur in the
future if similar conditions pertain.
Second, thanks in part to the inherent nature of chemical weapons, in part to the myriad
flaws in the CWC, virtually any other nation that wishes to do so can, and probably will, retain
the capacity to conduct militarily significant CW attacks. The loopholes, circumvention options
and verification problems inherent in the treaty will guarantee only that law-abiding nations
like the United States will comply fully with its prohibitions.
Finally, the inevitable effect of the CWC will be to reduce still further the level of
effort going into defenses against chemical weapons. The truth of the matter is that the U.S.
military did not take the threat posed by chemical weapons seriously enough when it was an
acknowledged danger from a monolithic and unremittingly hostile adversary like the Soviet
Union. Without deprecating the valiant efforts of those who have struggled to provide American
troops with quality CW protective gear, antidotes, reconnaissance, detection and analysis
equipment, etc., there is no disputing the fact that these programs have suffered from the low
priority traditionally accorded this threat by the United States armed forces. One can only
imagine what priority they will enjoy - particularly over time - when there is not supposed to be
any such threat at all!
. more .
01/12/93 17:27
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MODEM TWO
NO.215 P004
Center for Security Policy
Page Four
Decision Brief
12 January 1993
The Bottom Line
The passing of the Bush Administration from the scene may have come in the nick of
time. If a President whose monomaniacal attachment to wishful thinking is replaced by a man
and an Administration prepared to reckon with the world as it really is not just as we wish it
to be - then the United States may yet be spared further travel down the dangerous road toward
effective unilateral chemical disarmament.
It can only be hoped that President Clinton will recognize that far from enhancing the
international arms control regime, agreements like the Chemical Weapons Convention actually
serve to debase the value of that regime. Collecting signatures from renegade leaders of pariah
states - instead of policing and enforcing existing, and violated, agreements like the 1925
convention banning first-use of chemical arms or the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention - is
irresponsible escapism. The fact that some such states are now trying to manipulate Western
interest in their enrollment in the CWC to catalyze international pressure against a peaceable
democracy, Israel, and coerce it to abandon its alleged stockpile of nuclear weapons is but the
latest evidence of the mischief that will be made of this treaty.
Unfortunately, both the new President and the Senate will be under immense pressure to
honor the commitments to CW arms control made by the outgoing Bush Administration. Still,
both have a responsibility to understand that any hope this country has of deterring and, if
necessary, of defeating chemical attack will lie not in wishing the threat away but in remaining
prepared to deal with it both through defensive measures and through the credible threat to
respond in kind.
- 30 -
NRN
Frank J. Ball
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
mr. James Baker
Dear mr. Baker,
Thought you would he
internted in comments of Dr. games
McJaren and poot thermonuclear danger;
and at the pertinence of certain
micronutrients relative to predent
and future health.
many, many thanks for you contributions !!!
Frank I Ball
January 7, 1993
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, SC 29401
President George Bush
Mr. James Baker
Mrs. Barbara Bush
The White House
Washington D. C.
Dear Mr. President, Mr. Baker, and Mrs. Bush,
The president spoke in his excellent address to the cadets yesterday about incredible
accomplishments; and also mentioned "getting on with the rest of my life."
Correction of Personal Magnesium Deficiencies
After hearing of the presidents atrial fibrillation while flying back from a California
symposium on Magnesium in Clinical Practice; a series of letters over the past year and
a half persistently attempted to alert the president and his staff as to his critical
cardiovascular dangers and their apparent very simple correction. Understandably, I do
not yet know if the president and his wife are supplementing with adequate (500 mg) levels
of critically needed magnesium or with high levels of natural antioxidants. This final
attempt to possibly catch some personal attention seemed merited considering the previous
arrythmia warning and your coming personal responsibilities for your own health.
At this juncture it seems quite important that all three of you appreciate the striking
protection to your hearts and arteries from increased oral magnesium to correct wide-
spread deficiency; and also to realize that very extensive foreign medical evidence
demonstrates marked prompt improvement following heart attacks or arrythmias from
prompt adequate intravenous injection of magnesium salts. This is well covered in the
enclosed Oct. 29, 1992 letter and attachment to Doctors Burton Lee and James E. Edwards
(now president of M.U.S.C. and previously Energy Secretary). Just quickly (half a minute)
running your eyes over some of the enclosed underlined abstracts from five Cardiology
sessions at this latest European Magnesium Conference is very likely to indicate why this
area merits your personal attention and action.
Antioxidants, Evening Primrose Oil, Arthritis and Cancer
Brief contact with Dr. James O. Mason at the International Cancer Conference in
Charleston, prompted the enclosed Nov. 3, 1992 letter and attachment to him. That letter
covered the first successful U. S. double-blind trial presented earlier that week in Atlanta
at the annual rheumatology meeting; which successfully employed the same natural essential
fatty acid that had completely controlled my very severe rheumatoid arthritis without
drugs since 1980. The last paragraph of the first attached letter copy to interested
rheumatologists mentions potential future applicability of this approach to the president's
right hip joint. Other attached letter copies deal mainly with provocative similarities
between rheumatoid arthritis and cancer; and the apparent effectiveness of high levels
of the antioxidant Vitamin C and the gamma-linolenic acid in evening primrose oil in
achieving sustained control of both these degenerative diseases.
Dr. James McLaren, Thermonuclear Weapons, and You
You three just returned from Moscow after the all important mutual agreement
to further massively reduce our thermonuclear weapons. President Truman as you know
had ordered production of any possible hydrogen bomb in 1950 after the Russians surprised
us by exploding their first nuclear fission bomb four years earlier than expected; and
during the same week Klaus Fuchs was found to be passing our nuclear secrets to the
Russians.
You should thus find interest in the thermonuclear physicist, whose five year control
of bone cancer and bone pain with very high levels of Vitamin C was discussed on the
last two pages of the James Mason attachment. Based on five years (1980-85) of phone
conversations with him he believed in 1947-54 that the "hydrogen bomb" should be based
on Lithium-6; and apparently contributed very significantly when the Russians exploded
the first transportable thermonuclear bomb in 1953.
Dr. James McLaren (B.S. at Syracuse) obtained his Ph.D in Scotland in 1933 on the
separation of Lithium-6 from Lithium-7. He also then helped construct the equipment and
beryllium target with which Sir James Chadwick produced and detected the first neutron;
and thereby obtained the Nobel Prize.
Our race to quickly isolate bomb quantities of Lithium-6 occured when the August
1953 Russian thermonuclear bomb exploded with 25 times more power than at Hiroshima;
and subsquent atmospheric analysis showed it had contained Lithium-6. With Dr. McLaren's
background on Lithium-6 isolation and also being an electro-chemist; he apparently was
deeply involved in proper utilization of an electochemical counter-force amalgam at the
Oak Ridge plant to rapidly isolate the required Lithium-6 from lithium.
This Lithium-6 was then reacted with deuterium gas to form a solid Lithium-6-
Deuteride nuclear fusion core. Detonation in one millionth of a second by neutrons from
adjacent Uranium-235 fission; produced the massive fusion energy and also sufficient
additional neutrons to double again the explosive power by causing fission of a cheap
Uranium-238 casing.
This extremely small Lithium-6-Deuteride thermonuclear fusion bomb apparently
demonstrated at Bikini in March 1954 half again more explosive power than the sixty-
three ton liquid deuterium bomb (cooled to almost absolute zero) that exploded at Einewetok
in November 1952; and fifty times greater explosive force than the Russian bomb seven
months earlier.
The whole world surely owes Presidents Reagan and Bush incredible gratitude for
so quickly and massively rebuilding our military capability and markedly reducing our
nuclear danger even if it cost two trillion dollars. Timely, very quick and successful
movement at an apparent critical period forty years ago could also merit our thanks and
recognition. I remember his comment that the deuterium bomb cost twenty billion and
was not usable; while theirs was achieved for fifty million. Of the six who worked
together from 1949 to 1952, two had bone cancer, two had leukemia and two were dead.
Why Do We Age
If you are not yet convinced your vital organs need significant increased antioxidants
as we age, then please look at the third paragraph of the enclosed Dec. 15, 1992 response
to Dr. Peter Greenwald (NCI Director of Cancer Prevention and Control) and the table at
the end of the attachment showing how much Vitamin C seems to drop in different vital
organs over your life.
With hope that you might see this and find personal benefit or pertinent information,
since all of us have benefited SO tremendously from your combined twelve year effort.
Most sincerely,
Frank I. Ball
Frank J. Ball
FJBkaj
CC: Dr. James E. Edwards
Senator Ernest F. Hollings
Dr. Peter Greenwald
Senator Strom Thurmond
Dr. Dr. Burton J. Lee, III
Representative Arthur Ravenel
Dr. James O. Mason
PS: January 11, 1993
Since I couldn't get the typist to quite complete corrections on Friday, Monday's
Post & Courier write up covering the quite significant progress on ovarian cancer
with the natural product Taxol by Dr. William T. Creasmand is enclosed. He spoke
to and possibly attracted the 8th International Cancer Conference that Dr. Mason
also spoke to in Charleston.
I am not a medical professional, do not know Dr. Creasmann or the medical university
oncologists and the enclosed picture with comments was attached to my 26 page
1978 letter on Vitamin C and cancer to indicate my situation.
Enclosed is the 1983 letter to the vice-president on non-toxic control of cancer that
I briefly discussed with him in Charleston and a letter to Dr. Jan Van Eys at the
same time. I retired a few months later and have been mainly interested in and
have pushed the very deterimental effects of deficiencies of magnesium, gamma-
linolenic acid and antioxidants in degenerative diseases since there was a much more
receptive medical response.
I have since had an old Weimramer dog who weakened and almost quit eating; and
was found to have a bladder tumor the size of a grapefruit, not recommended for
removal. It turned out his bowel tolerance point for the oral half salt of Vitamin C
in his food was about forty grams per day. His quality of life and weight returned
to normal and his tumor progressively shrunk until it could no longer be detected by
the veterinarian even with x-rays.
In early October my 12 year old English Sheep dog at her annual shots and check
up, was reported to have a large mammary tumor, along with arthritis and an
operation with subsequent radiation treatments were recommended. I found however
that her bowel tolerance for Vitamin C was 32 grams which she has taken daily in
her food along with some evening primrose oil since then. Progressive shrinkage of
the tumor is evident; and there has been recent need to reduce the Vitamin C level
to about half.
CC: Dr. William T. Creasmand
Dr. Samuel Broder, NCI Director
Dr. Jan Jan Eyes
Westvaco 1975 Annual Report
The Westvaco managers pictured on the four cover pages of this report have
Year ended October 31
responsibilities in the key areas of forest resource management, technological
research, manufacturing and marketing. Scott Wallinger (front cover), who
holds a master of forestry degree from Yale, is manager of our Timberlands
Division. Now 36 years old, he assumed responsibility for the management of
nearly 1,200,000 acres of Westvaco forestland three years ago. He has been
WHO'S WHO IN THE WORLD
associated with Westvaco for eleven years. Dr. Frank J. Ball (below) has been
a research scientist with Westvaco for 31 years. He is now associate corporate
(1978-79)
research director and director of our Charleston, South Carolina, research
BALL FRANK JERVEY. chemist: b. Charleston, S.C., Jan. 29. 1919;
3. John Coming and Annie Arden (Jency) B.: B.S., L. of South, 1941:
center, which concentrates on the development of high technology products
Ph.D., U. Rochester. 1944; m. Mary Elizabeth Furtwangler, Feb. 16,
1950; children-Frank Jervey, Stuart Furtwangler. Bruce Devon.
that have accounted for the rapid growth of our specialty chemicals business.
Steven Moultrie. Research chemist Westvace Corp.. Charleston
Research Center. 1944.46. group leader. 1946-53. dir., 1953-75, 8550.
Now 56 years old, Dr. Ball has a Ph.D. degree from the University of Rochester.
corp. research dir., 1975-: dir. Tyrone Research Lab.. 1958-60. Pres.,
Empire State Paper Research Assos., 1970- Mem. Am. Chem. Soc.,
T.A.P. Charleston C. of C. (chmn. higher cdn. com. 1969-74). Phi
Beta Kappa. Sigma Xi, Omicron Delta Kappa Episcopalian Clubs:
South Carolina Soc., St. Cecilia Soc., Carolina Yacht Contbr. articles
profi jours. Patentee in field. Home: 4 Atlantic St Charleston SC
29401 Office: PO Box 5207 North Charleston SC 29406
BALL GEORGE WILDMAN, lawyer. investment banker: b. Des
Moines. Dec. 21. 1909; 1 Amos and Edna (Wildman) B.; B.A.,
Northwestern U.. 1930. J.D., 1933: m. Ruth Murdoch. Sept. 16, 1932:
children-John Colin, Douglas Bleakly Admitted to 111. bar. 1934,
D.C. bar. 1946. with Gen. Counsel's Office. Treasury Dept.,
October 29, 1992
Dr. Burton J. Lee, III, Physician to the President
Dr. James E. Edwards, President, Medical University of South Carolina
Dr. Peter C. Gazes, Distinguished University Professor of Cardiology, M.U.S.C.
Dr. James F. Spann, Director, Department of Cardiology, M.U.S.C.
Dear Doctors Lee, Edwards, Gazes, and Spann,
During the past year and a half you four have been exposed to continuing letters
and literature emphasizing the wide-scale critical dangers of arrythmias and heart attacks
caused by inadequate maintenance of our cellular magnesium. Diet-induced, stress-induced
and running-induced magnesium deficiencies occur particularly in the heart, cardiovascular
and cerebrovascular arteries and specific concern was expressed throughout this period
because of the potential dangers from President Bush's very high stress levels and his
arrythmia warning.
Doctors Edwards, Gazes, and Spann and their M.U.S.C. colleagues had been repeatedly
written and contacted over the previous five years; as clinical evidence became
progressively more impressive on 1) our serious chronic cellular magnesium deficiencies
brought about largely by industrial preparation of foodstuffs, 2) the progressive resulting
cardiovascular health problems and 3) the demonstrated major beniefit from intravenous
magnesium supplementation in various cardiovascular crisis without detrimental side effects.
I came close to attending the IVth European Congress on Magnesium in Geissen,
Germany last month; but couldn't finally get past the $ 1,650 plane ticket. Dr. Sighart
Golf, Conference Chairman, however fortunately very kindly just sent me all of the 129-
Magnesium abstracts. The 27 enclosed underlined abstracts from the five Cardiology
Sessions decidedly merit perusal by all cardiologists; and by those of us who want to
avoid, put off, or control deadly heart attacks. Just running your eyes over the titles
would seem to suggest personal supplementation to lower chronic deficiency; since your
likely intake appears to be half that desired.
Extensive intravenous magnesium supplementation in both heart attacks and arrythmias
may begin in 1993 following completion of the 18 month Fourth International Study of
Infarct Survival (ISIS-4) which ends in December; and which my Dec. 5, 1991 letter tried
to get M.U.S.C. to join.
This week's November Harvard Heart Letter comment More on Magnesium (enclosed)
covers the recent Lancet paper by K. L. Wood et al on a five year double-blind trial
using 1776 mg of intravenous magnesium or placebo on 2316 randomized patients with
suspect acute myocardial infarction. The magnesium group evidenced both a 28 day
mortality reduction of 24% and a left ventricular failure reduction of 25% that were
independent of thrombolytic or antiplatelet therapy and with no detrimental side effects.
The ISIS-4 trial finishing in December uses 2000 mg of intravenous magnesium on half of
the perhaps 40-50,000 randomized, double-blind acute myocardial infarction patients on
hospital arrival; with end points at the first month and the end of the trial.
Enclosed are four underlined abstracts dealing with magnesium and the heart from
the October American College of Nutrition annual meeting in San Diego; which had one
day mainly on magnesium, zinc and selenium. Incidentally, two weeks earlier I also
attended most of the excellent week-long Intensive Review In Emergency Medicine in
Charleston. The first talk on Monday by Dr. Bruce Usher covered Emergency Management
of Myocardial Infarction; that prompted a final question on possible magnesium use, which
he surprisingly referred to me. Several other questions on magnesium use were asked at
this conference but with no answers. Dr. Robert Leman's quite interesting, late Friday
afternoon talk on Emergency Management of Ventricular Tchycardia mentioned my presence;
and that 2-4 grams of intravenous magnesium sulfate was now a good drug to use in
certain acute heart problems. He later commented in his talk that where bradycardia
converted to ventricular tachycardia this problem was magnesium responsive as were
torsades de pointes arrythmias.
The Magnesium abstract in the STRESS session, Noradrenergic Activity in Panic
Disorder: The Effect of Magnesium Salt Administration, that happened to be copied with
the last of the 27 Cardiovascular Abstracts; seems another quite pertinent indication of
the importance of adequate magnesium and clinical amelioration. Hopefully such encouraging
abstracts and trials will accelerate acceptance of both daily magnesium supplementation
to correct our wide-spread diet-induced, stress-induced and genetic magnesium deficiencies;
and the intravenous use of magnesium in arrythmia and cardiovascular crises.
Most sincerely,
Trank I. Ball
Frank 9. Ball
P.S. Enclosed is my August 1992 response and the July 29 New York Times story sent to
me about Dr. Curtis Hames' long term efforts to demonstrate that the very much
higher stroke death rate across the South (highest in South Carolina) was because
eons ago, selenium was largely washed out of our soil (as was magnesium). Low
soil level cellular selenium (reduced antioxidant capability) and low level cellular
magnesium (reduced metabolic, enzymatic, synthetic and energy capabilities) thus
certainly must be avoided. The amount of the readily absorbed magnesium in drinking
water at various locations in industrial countries becomes critical and decidedly
relates to cardiovascular death; because industrially prepared foodstuffs are so very
low in magnesium.
CC: President George Bush,
Mrs. Barabara Bush,
Vice-president Dan Quayle
James Baker
John Sununu
Secretary for Health Loius W. Sullivan
Assistant Secretary for Health James O. Mason
Senator Ernest Hollings
Senator Strom Thurmond
Representative Arthur Ravenel
Dr. Curtis Holmes
Dr. Robert B. Zurier
Dr. Sighart Golf
M.U.S.C. Personnel
J. C. Allen
A. J. Crumbley
E. C. LeRoy
M. E. Assey
R. H. Gadsen
W. M. Newberry
J. C. Ballenger
L. M. Haddad
W. M. Simpson
W. H. Barnwell
H. G. Hempling
C. P. Summerall, III
B. A. Carabello
E. L. Hogan
B. W. Usher
J. A. Colwell
J. E. Keil
F. Tecklenburgh
F. A. Crawford, Jr.
R. B. Leman
W. C. Worthington
clinical basis. Severity of coronary sclerosis was quantified according to the Kaltenbach' score and patients were
divided into 4 groups (I. mild CHD. n=20: II. medium CHD. n=22: III. severe CHD. n=22; IV. very severe CHD.
n=9 ). Leftventricular ejection fraction was used to evaluate pump function. Furthermore we assessed the influence
of digitalis or diuretic therapy and also of the presence of arterial hypertension or myocardial infarction. For statisti-
cal analysis we used Student 's t-test and Mann and Whitney's u-test. Magnesium content of erythrocytes decreases
significantly with rising severity of coronary sclerosis (I.- 55 SEM 0.24: II.2, 44 SEM 0.30: III.- 2.40 SEM 0.24:
IV:- 2.00 SEM 0.44 There was no significant difference between patients with normal or impaired pump functi-
on. Considering the presence of hypertension or myocardial infarction, we could not find any difference. The results
were not influenced by digitalis or diuretic treatment. Plasma magnesium did not show any difference in all cases.
The decrease of ervthrocvte magnesium in patients with coronary heart disease is a phenomenon which is primarily
related to severity of coronary sclerosis and which does not depend on digitalisation. diuretic therapy, myocardial
infarction or arterial hypertension.
13
Magnesium and Hypertension
II ester. P.O
Internal Medicine. University of Umea Sweden
In experimental work magnesium (Mg) has been established to be an important regulator of vascular tone and in
some studies hypertension has developed in Mg deficient rats. The evidence from epidimiological studies of a role
for Mg in the development of human hypertension is inconsistent. Dietary intake of Mg and also Mg in serum are
reported to be inversely related to blood pressure (BP) in several investigations but urinary Mg excretion is unrelated
to BP in most studies. A BP fall in relation to i.v. Mg infusion is often observed. The results of peroral Mg substitu-
tion to hypertensive patients are inconsistent. Peroral Mg added in physiological doses to hypertensive patients
seems not to affect BP unless the patients have a Mg deficiency which often is the case after several years of diuretic
treatment. However. the administration of Mg in pharmacological doses seems to lower BP dose dependently
without any uncomfortable side-effects. The pathophysiological background may involve several mechanisms such
as interference with the sodium. potassium. pump function. the calcium transport mechanisms. the renin-angioten-
sin-aldosteron system and also the prostacyclin and inositol metabolism.
14
The Dose-Dependent Reduction in Blood Pressure through Administration of Magnesium A Double Blind
Placebo Controlled Crossover Study
L. Widman. P. O. Wester, B. Stegmavr
Internal Medicine. University of Umeá. Sweden
Seventeen patients with a diastolic blood pressure over 90 mm Hg were recruited from a running health screening
365
programme to a double blind crossover study with 15 mmol Mg 2+/day (Emegsan) for three weeks. followed by a
30 mmol Mg2+/day for another three weeks with 40 mmol Mg2+/day for a final three weeks. A significant decrease
729
in the mean systolic blood pressure was recorded from 154±10.7 mm Hg to 146±16.9 mm Hg (p=0.031) and the
mean diastolic blood pressure decreased from 100.2±4.2 mm Hg to 92±6.6 mm Hg (P=0.0001).
15
rats. Influence of vascular endothelium on Mg-induced relaxation in isolated aorta from DOCA-Salt hypertensive
P. Laurant, A. Berthelot
Laboratoire de Physiologie Pharmacie, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Place St Jacques, 25030 BESANCON
Cedex France
Few investigations have been focused about the relationships between extracellular Mg (Mg e.c.) and endothelium
in arterial hypertension. The present study was designed to determine whether increasing Mg e.c. leads to endothe-
lium-dependent relaxation in noradrenaline-precontracted isolated aorta from 12 weeks-old deoxycorticosterone
acetate salt (0.9% NaCl) hypertensive (DOCA) (n = 10) and normotensive (NT) (n = 10) Sprague-Dawley rats.
Mg-induced relaxation was lesser in intact aorta from DOCA as compared to NT rats with increased IC50 value to
Mg (1.22 ± 0.19 VS 0.12 ± 0.01 mM. P < 0.001). Removal of endotheliurn depressed the Mg-induced relaxation in
aorta from both DOCA (IC₅₀: 2.33 ± 0.26 vs 1.22 ± 0.19 mM: P < 0.01) and NT rats (IC₅₀: 1.00 ± O.23 VS 0.12 =
0.01 mM, P < O.01). The same observation was made in presence of L-NAME (inhibitor of endothelial NO bio-
S. .ithesis) (IC₅₀: 0.52 ± 0.11 VS 0.11 ± 0.01 mM, P < 0.01 in NT rats; IC₅₀ : 3.87 = 0.51 vS 1.09 ± 0.15 mM. P <
0.001 in DOCA rats). However the Mg-induced relaxation following contraction with noradrenaline was signifi-
cantly less in intact aorta treated with L-NAME or in aorta with disrupted endothelium from DOCA rats than those
from NT rats. It is concluded that Mg-induced vasorelaxation on noradrenaline precontracted aorta can be mediated
by endothelium-dependent mechanism implicating NO. The influence of NO on the impaired Mg-induced relaxa-
29
tion is more pronounced in aorta from DOCA rats. These differences could be related to the impaired endothelial
function from hypertensive rats which seems ameliorate by Mg e.c.
Influence of a Magnesium Supplementation on Serum Lipids and blood Pressure.
K. Kisters, C. Ke ff. K H. Rahn. W. Zidek
Med. Uniy Poli nik. 4400 Münster. Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33. Germany
The effect of an oral Mg⁺⁺ supplementation on serum lipids in patients with hyperlipidemia of Frederickson type IV
and Ilb and on blood pressure was examined. In 65 patients with normal renal function, on cholesterol-poor and
calorie restricted diet. blood pressure. serum cholesterol, triglyceride. HDL- and LDL-cholesterol as well as plasma
and intracellular magnesium concentrations were measured before and 4 weeks after therapy. 35 patients received
500 mg Mg daily additionally. The results show that a Mg++ supplementation in addition to the usual dietary
measures is beneficial with regard to serum triglycerides (values. means+SD. decreased from 197. 57±47.12 to
163.80±40.73. p<0,05). but exerts no positive effect on blood pressure and serum cholesterol. Furthermore intracel-
lular magnesium concentration increased significantly under Mg⁺⁺ supplementation (values. means± SD, increased
from 1 .73±0.23 to 1,90±0.19 mmol/1, p<O,05).
This study has shown that a peroral magnesium therapy can alter blood lipid composition and therefore be of use in
reducing atherogenic risk factors, but further investigations, especially with regard to a long-term Mg therapy.
still remain to be settled.
16
Reduction of Blood Pressure with Oral Magnesium Supplementation in Women with Mild to Moderate
Hypertesion
I.C.M. Witteman (1). D.E. Grobbee (1), F.H.M. Derkx (2), R. Bouillon (3), A.M. de Bruijn (1), A Hofman (1).
(1) Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics,
(2) Department of Internal Medicine I. Erasmus University Rotterdam. The Netherlands.
(3) Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Catholic University of Leuven. Belgium.
In a double-blind controlled trial. 91 middle-aged and elderly women with mild to moderate hypertension who were
486mg.mg
not on anti-hypertensive medication were randomlv assigned to treatment with magnesium aspartate-HCI (20 mmol
magnesium per day) or placebo for 6 months. Magnesium aspartate-HCI in the given dose was well-tolerated and
was not associated with an increased frequency of diarrhoea compared to placebo. At the end of the study. systolic
blood pressure had fallen by 2.7 mmHg (95% confidence interval -1.2 to 6.7) and diastolic blood pressure by 3.4
mmHg (1.3 to 5.6) more in the magnesium group than in the placebo group. The presence of a low plasma renin or
a high plasma parathyroid hormone level at baseline enlarged the effect on systolic but not on diastolic blood pressu-
re. Urinary magnesium excretion significantly increased in the magnesium compared to the placebo group. No
changes were seen in other biochemical parameters. The findings suggest that oral magnesium supplementation
with magnesium aspartate-HCL may be a safe and effective measure for lowering blood pressure in subjects with
mild to moderate hypertension. who are not receiving anti-hypertensive treatment.
17
The role of Magnesium in Glucose Intolerance and Insulin Resistance in Patients with Essential Hypertension
K. Sebekova, V. Spustová, R. Dzürik
Dept. Clin. Pharmacol: Inst. Prev. Clin. Medicine: Bratislava. CSFR
Decreased free erythrocyte magnesium (fErMg) concentrations associate with and even appear to be a common
cause of both essential hypertension and glucose intolerance and/or insulin resistance (GI/IR). The prevalence of GI
in patients with essential hypertension (n=98) could be predicted (95% confidence limits) to 26-35%. and rose even
to 39-59% if both GI/IR were considered. The parameters characterizing Mg metabolism [Mg-S, Mg-U, total
(atomic absorption spectrophotometry). fErMg (31P NMR spectroscopy) and bound Mg (calculated) were studied in
25 patients with essential hypertension during standard oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) under basal conditions
and aftr i.v. load of 2 g Mg sulfate. It was found that GI/IR was significantly more frequently associated with low
fErMg>200, chi2. p<0,001. No difference was found in other parameters of Mg metabolism, therefore the shift of
fErMg towards the bound fraction seemed to result from its increased intracellular binding. I.v. Mg load prior to
oGTT improved GI/IR in patients with low fErMg. and 3/7 patients completely normalized their glucose tolerance.
It is concluded. that low fErMg associates with GI/IR and both improve after acute i.v. Mg load.
CARDIOLOGY IV
18
Magnesium Reduces Mortality in Acute Mvocardial Infarction Patients Unsuitable for Thermbolvtic Therapy
M. Shechter, H.Hod. E.Kaplinsky, B.Rabinowitz.
Heart Institute. Sheba Medical Center Tel-Hashomer and Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
The effects of intravenous magnesium (Mg) were evaluated in 181 pts with acute mvocardial infarction (AMI) un-
suitable for thrombolytic therapy, in a randomized. double-blind placbo controlled study. Gr L 98 pts received
48-hour Mg infusion while 83 pts. Group II, received isotanic glucose as placebo. In-hospital mortality was signifi-
cantly reduced in Gr I pts compared to Gr II 12 Dts (2.2%) vs 12 ntc (15%). D<0.021 Thirty per cent of pts (51/181)
were > 70 years old (range: 71-86. mean 77±4): 24 pts from Gr I (subgroup A) and 27 pts from Gr II (subgroup B).
Analysis of multiple factors showed good randomization.
Results
Gr I
SubGroup A
Gr II
SubGroup B
N
=
98
N = 24
N 83
N = 27
N (%)
N (%)
N (%)
N (%)
Major arrhythmias
21(21)
11(46)
34(41)
19(70)
Conduction disturbances
8
(8)
5(20)
12(14)
5(19)
Heart failure
15(15)
5(20)
18(22)
10(37)
Mortality
2 (2)
2 (8)
12(14)
6(22)
No significant side effects were seen during the trial. We found that intravenous Mg is an effective alternative the-
rapy in AMI pts unsuitable for thrombolysis and is associated with reduced in-hospital mortality. possibly by re-
duction in major arrhythmias and in incidence of heart failure. These effects are particularly seen in patients > 70.
19
Leicester Intravenous Magnesium Intervention Trial (LIMIT-2): A Double Blind Study of the Use of
Magnesium Sulphate in Suspected Acute Mvocardial Infarction.
Woods K.L., Fletcher, S., Roffe C., Haider, Y.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Leicester. Coronary Care Unit. Leicester Royal Infir-
mary. Leicester. England
Magnesium salts have been reported to protect myocardial tissue in experimental model of ischaemia and reperfu-
sion. Several small clinical trials in suspected acute myocardial infarction. have suggested thatearly mortality can be
reduced by intravenous magnesium salts in the acute phase. but none have been of sufficient size to be conclusive.
The Leicester Intravenous Magnesium Trial (LIMIT-2). a double blind placebo controlled study was undertaken
randomising 2316 patients with suspect acute mvocardial infarction. Patients recieved either intravenous magne-
1774mg.
sium sulphate (8 mmol over 5 min followed by 65 mmol over 24 h) or physiological saline. This protocol was
mg
designed to double serum magnsium on admission to the coronary care unit in order to maximize benefit of treat-
ment.
The primary outcome of interest was 28 davs mortality, by intention to treat. which is not susceptible to bias provi-
ding good randomization and high follow up was acheived. These criteria were met. The result showed on analysis
of morality from all causes. a reduction of 24% in the magnesium group (95% confidence interval 1. 43%). The
overall morality in the magnesium group was 7.8% and 10.3% in the placebogroup (2p = 0.009). The two groups
were well matched in all aspects. Mvocardial infarction was confirmed in 65% in both groups with similar cardiac
enzyme elevations. No differences were found between the groups in antiarrhythmia treatments. heart block direct-
current cardioversion or temporary pacing.
Side effects of magnesium treatment were transient flushing related to the speed of injection of the loding bolus and
an increased incidence of sinus bradvcardia (2p = 0.02). Experience in a large and representive group of patients has
shown that is a simple and safe treatment which can be generally used for suspected myocardial infarction. The
efficacv of magnesium sulphate in reducing early morality of myocardial infarction is comparable to. but indepen-
dent of. that of thrombolytic therapy or antiplatelet therapy.
20
Die Ermittlung der therapeutischen Wirksamkeit von Magnesiumadipat bei Patienten mit einem akuten
Myokardinfarkt
Th. Hildebrandt R. Thiele, K. Winnelfeld und H. Dawczinski
Universität Jena, Germany
In eine placebokontrollierte Doppelblindstudie wurden 51 Patienten mit einem akuten Myokardinfarkt (34 Männer
und 17 Frauen von 49 bis 80 Jahren) über einen Zeitraum von 1/4 Jahr integriert. Von diesen Patienten erhielten 25
(49%) täglich 2 X 150 mg Magnesiumadipat (Verumgruppe) der Firma APOGEPHA Arzneimittel GmbH Dresden
und 26 Patienten (51%) ein entsprechendes Placebopräparat (Placebogruppe) per OS. Die mittels Atomabsorptions-
spektrophotometrie am 1., 2., 3. und 20. Tag sowie nach 1/4 Jahr gemessenen Magnesiumkonzentrationen im Se-
rum. im Vollblut und im Erythrozyten zeigten bei Patienten der Verumgruppe ein gutes Resorptionsverhalten des
Pranarates. Dabei ließen sich bei diesen Patienten im Vergleich zu denen der Placebogruppe insgesamt deutlich
den. Dem Präparat Magnesiumadipat kame generell bei Herzinfarktpatienten bereits in der vorgenommenen Dosie-
rung eine kardioprotektive Funktion zu.
21
Plasma Mg. Zn and Cu in Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
C. Zeana, Z. Chirulescu, A. Suciu, R. Pirvulescu. C. Carseli, C.C. Zeana
Medical Clinic. Emergency Hospital (1. 5. 6) and Medical Clinic Colentina Hospital (2. 3. 4). Bucharest. Romania.
150 AMI cases were studied in comparison with a control lot of 50 healthy individuals. Magnesemia was repeatedly
determined using Merck kits in 50 patients not receiving Mg supplements. Zn and Cu plasmatic levels were deter-
mined by atomic absorbtion spectrophotometry and ceruloplasmin level was determined enzymatically in all 150 pts.
In AMI. a lowering of Mg was registered especially within the first week of infarction: 0.76 ± 0.09 versus 0.92 ±
0.06 mmol/l. In the same time Zn level went down from 96.56 ± 15.96 to 85.02 ± 47.34 µg/dl. Cu raised from
100.22 = 15.96 to 161.3 = 61.14 µg/dl. The Cu/Zn ratio which is close to I in normal people grows up to 2.5 in AMI
(greatest values about 6) and becomes normalised during convalescence. The Cu/Zn ratio has not only a diagnostic
but also a prognostic value.
The serum ceruloplasmin level goes down to approximatively half of the normal level in some cases, becoming
normalised during the next 3 to 4 days and then tends to overtake the normal level Plasma ceruloplasmin in control
lot: 26 = 1.2 mg/dl. Ceruloplasmin in plasma within the first 3 days: 16±4.05 mg/dl, AMI lot.
CARDIOLOGY V
21
Oral Potassium/Magnesium Therapy in chronic stable ventricular ectopy.
K. Glänzer and D. Stolberg
Med. Univ. Poliklinik. University of Bonn. 5300 BONN
Potassium and magnesium supplements are effective in cardiac arrythmias in acute mvocardial infarction and in
definitiviv magnesium-depleted states. The antiarrhythmic effect of magnesium and/or potassium supplements in
chronic stable ventricular ectopy is still controversial. Methods: We investigated in this open. not blinded pilot study
the antiarrhvthmic effects of potassium/magnesium aspartate (Trommcardin Forte 2 tabl tid) in patients on benign
ventricular arrhythmias in a total of 13 patients (mean age 48.8 vears). Other antiarrhythmics drugs were not allo-
wed. All patients suffered from ventricular premature ectopic beats since many weeks or vears. Exclusion criteria:
known malignant ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibriliation and other states of successful cardiopulmonary
resuscitation. Two 24-h-ECGs were recorded in two consecutive days before and after 14 davs of treatment with
magnesium/potassium aspartate. Statistical evaluation of the data was done by Wilcoxon- Rank- sum- test. Results:
Mean serum potassium and magnesium values remained unchanged during treatment. The frequency of ventricular
ectopic beats was reduced in almost all patients, but due to the large mean variation the difference was not statisti-
cally significant. All patients noted a marked relief of their complaints under therapy. Conclusions: Magne-
sium/potassium supplements may be useful in patients with PVC's. Therefore larger. controlled studies should be
carried out to prove these preliminary results. Since there is no risc in therapy. harmless ventricular ectopy should
be treated with Mg/K- supplements before treatment with conventional Class I and II antiarrhytmics.
23
Möglichkeiten und Grenzen des Einsatzes von Kalium und Magnesium bei Erkrankungen des Kreislaufes Ein
Überblick
и: Zidek
Medizinische Fakultät Poliklinik Münster
Die Wirkungen von Kalium- und Magnesiumionen auf die Kreislaufregulation sind sowohl aus experimentellen
Untersuchungen als auch aus klinischen Beobachtungen gut bekannt. Sowohl Kalium als auch Magnesium wirken
vasodilatierend. Die gefässerweiternde Wirkung von Kaliumsalzen wurde bereits 1929 in Untersuchungen an es-
sentiellen Hypertonikern nachgewiesen und seither mehrfach bestätigt. Der Mechanismus der vasodilatierenden
Kaliumwirkung besteht möglicherweise in einer Stimulation der Natrium-Kalium-Pumpe Dieser Vorgang führt zu
einer Senkung des intrazellulären Natrium und zu einer Zunahme des intrazellulären Kalium. Die Abnahme des
intrazellulären Natrium in der Gefässmuskelzelle führt zu einem verminderten Calciumeinstrom über den Natrium-
Calcium-Austausch. Durch die verminderte Calciumaufnahme nimmt auch die cytoplasmatische freie Calciumkon-
zentration in der glatten Muskelzelle ab. Dies dürfte ein wesentlicher Mechanismus der vasodilaterierenden Kali-
umwirkung sein. Hinsichtlich des Magnesium ist die vasodilatierende Wirkung vor allem bei Patienten mit Präe-
klampsie klinisch bekannt. Im Vergleich dazu ist die blutdrucksenkende Wirkung bei essentiellen Hypertonikern
wesentlich geringer ausgeprägt. Die Mechanismen der Magnesiumwirkung auf das Gefässystem können unter ande-
rem in einem der Calciumwirkung entgegengesetzten Effekt auf das kontraktile System der glatten Muskelzellen
liegen. Ferner ist bekannt. dass bei hoher extrazellulärer Magnesiumkonzentration vermehrt Calcium aus den Zellen
ausgeschleust wird. Da Magnesium auch ein notwendiger Kofaktor der Natrium-Kalium-ATPase ist kann auch ein
Mechanismus wie oben für das Kalium dargestellt für die Vasodilatation eine Rolle spielen
24
The Role of Potassium and Magnesium on Cardiac Glvcoside Toxicity in the Human Myocardium
R.H.G. Schwinger and E. Erdmann
Universität München. Medizinische Klinik 1. Marchioninistr. 15. 8000 München 70
Electrolyte alterations may be due to the pathophysiological conditions seen in the heart failure state and due to the
complications of drug therapy with diuretics. ACE inhibitors and cardiac glycosides. Several studies have documen-
ted lower Mg in patients with heart failure. Mg²⁺ is essential for maintainance of intracellular K⁺. In
patients with low Mg -levels. the treatment of heart failure with cardiac glvcosides is complicated by an increased
incidence of arrhvthmias. In addition to extracardiac actions. Mg2 mav also have direct effects on the mvocardium.
We studied the miluence of Mg²⁺ (1-3 mM) on contractility and on force-frequencv-relationship (FFR) as well as
on the positive inotropic (PIE) and toxic effects (TOE) of ouabain (OUA) on electrically driven human right auricu-
lar trabeculae (AUT. aortocoronary bypass operation. nonfailing. no cardiac glycoside treatment. n = 16. age = 60.1
± 1.7 years). The maximal PIE of OUA (+5.9±0.9 mN, 1 mM Mg²⁺) was preserved after increasing Mg²⁺
(+5.8±0.9 mN, 2 mM Mg²⁺). Time until TOE occurred after OUA was significantly (p<0.05) longer with higher
Mg²⁺-levels. In AUT the force of contraction increased with increasing frequency (0.5-3 Hz) of stimulation (2 Hz.
146+8% basal). The FFR becomes negative after elevation of extracellular Ca²⁺. Mg²⁺ was effective to restore the
normal- FFR in the presence of enhanced concentrations (2.4 mM Ca²⁺. 2 mM Mg²⁺; 2 Hz: 145 ± 16%
basal). Mg²⁺ increased concentration-dependently the affinity of 3H-ouabain to its receptor (p<0.05).
In conclusion: (1) Mg²⁺ acts directly on human mvocardium to diminish OUA-induced toxicity but preserves the
maximal PIE of OUA: (2) the antagonistic action of Mg²⁺ is not due to a reduced receptor-binding. but may be due
to an alteration of the sensitivity to intracellular Ca²⁺ -changes. Therefore. when treating congestive heart failure.
one must take care to prevent depletion of electrolytes or to replete K⁺ and Mg²⁺ in deficiency states.
25
The Influence of Aspartate Anions on Contraction of Isolated Myocytes
R. Meyer, B. Reufels. O. Zimmermann
Institute of Physiology. University of Bonn. Wilhelmstr. 31. D-5300 Bonn 1. FRG
External Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ have opposite effects on the contractile force of the heart muscle (Ca/Mg-antagonism).
But only little is known about the influence of the anions applied together with Mg²⁺. Thus the aim of this investi-
gation was to test the effect of aspartate-anions in combination with Mg²⁺ on contraction of isolated ventricular
myocytes of the Guinea pig. Shortening of isolated cells was measured optically in an inverted microscope. Increa-
sing of external MgCl₂ decreases shortening in a dose dependent way (from 120% at 0 mM MgCI₂ to 25% at 20
mM). The influence of external MgCI₂ is especially pronounced in the physiologically relevant concentration range.
The negative inotropic effect of MgCI₂ is superimposeable to that of MgSO4. But if CI- is exchanged for
DL-hydrogenaspartate (MgAsp). the negative inotropic effect of Mg²⁺ is largely suppressed in the concentration
range between 0 and 5 mM. Only at concentrations higher than 5 mM a negative inotropic effect can be recorded.
To suppress shortening by about 30% 15 mM Mg-Asp are necessary but only 5 mM MgCl₂. The difference betwe-
en MgCI₂ and Mg-Asp can be explained by a positive inotropic effect of DL-aspartate itself. In the case of
B-stimulation the negative inotropic power of Mg-Asp exceeds that of MgCl₂ by a factor of two i.e. 5 mM Mg-Asp
have a stronger suppressing effect than 10 mM MgCl2. In isolated ventricular cells stimulated with adrenaline
application of 5 mM Mg-Asp result in an effect comparable to 10 -15 nM propanolol. Thus exchanging the Cl⁻ for
aspartate-anions transforms a antagonistic substance to one with B-antagonistic force at low concentrations
and Ca²⁺ -antagonistic force at high concentrations.
26
Parenteral Application of Magnesium and Potassium as an Adjuvant Treatment-Possible Clinical Approaches
R. Hardi, M. Hubmann, E. Lang
Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien, Carl-Korth-Institut für Herz-Kreislaufforschung. Erlangen
There are various reasons for the lack of intracellular potassium and magnesium in patients treated in intensive care
unit. Acute mvocardial hypoxaemia or mvocardial infarction are followed by a loss of both cations. States of cardio-
pulmonary resuscitation and hypoxic metabolism are often accompanied by a dereasing serum potassium level,
especially after substitution of sodium bicarbonates. In the diuretic therapy of chronic heart failure substitution of
potassium is usual. while the depletion of magnesium often remains unregarded. The benefit of magnesium is al-
ready well known in the treatment of "torsade de pointes", a special form of ventricular tachvcardia. Clinical experi-
ence shows. that parenteral application of potassium and magnesium improves the effect of antiarrhythmic drug also
in other forms of ventricular and supraventricular arrythmia, especially when a deficit must be taken into considera-
tion. So in one of the reported cases defibrillation of a patient with ventricular tachvcardia was not successful until
35
500 mg of potassium/magnesium aspartates were administered intravenously In other patients with atrial fibrillati-
on a stable sinus rhvthm could be achieved after magnesrum/potassium-aspartate was added to the standard therapy
with digoxin verapamil and quinidine.
27
Mg-Deficiency and the Effects of Mg-Protection of the Heart. a Problem of Quantative Evaluation
O. Leder
Anatomisches Institut der Universität. D-7800 Freiburg i. Br.
It is frequently assumed that Mg deficiency induces several morphological damage of heart muscle. On the other
hand it is likewise supposed that Mg protects the heart against catecholamine and other damage. Such effect should
never be denied. However. reports may be of minor significance or even risky if there is no quantative evaluation.
For such efforts stereological techniques have been developed years ago. Using such methods it comes out that all
morphological damage of heart muscle is modest in comparison to biochemical alterations and possible acute
disturbances in excitation. Because Mg deficiency is highly critical. when catecholamines are applied. Il is not im-
probable that some of the morphological effect might be caused rather bv an additional stress than by the Mg de-
ficiency per se. Likewise. even so-called infarct-like. isoprenaline inducible necroses consist in the rule only of some
volume percent of heart muscle. where repeated lower doses are more effective than one mighty injection. The
necrosing effects of Mg in experiments is not very impressive. Functional aspects may be more important than
histological effects. In addition, it should be pointed out that a quantative experimental evaluation of the pathologi-
cal anatomy of B-sympathomimetics could help to avoid such long term side effects of antiasthmatics that were
noticed recently in some countries.
STRESS
Noradrenergetic Activity in Panic Disorder: The Effect of, Magnesium Salt Administration
Martigoni, Blandini. .Sances. Fizotti, G.Sandrini, G.Nappi
Dept. of Neurology III. Neurological Institute "C. Nondino", University of Pavia. ITALY.
Panic disorder (PD) is a syndrome characterized by unexpected and unprovoked attacks of psychic and somatic
anxiety symptoms. Although the exact pathogenesis of PD is unknown. the existence of an unbalanced noradrener-
gic activity has been suggested. On the other hand. panic attacks can easily occur in patients suffering from neuro-
nal hyperexcitability syndrome (NHS). the so-called "spasmophilia". whose pathogenesis may be related to a primi-
tive magnesium (Mg) deficiency. Thus. a clinical (and pathogenetic?) overlapping of these two pathologies could be
hypothesized. In this study we evaluated the influence of magnesium administration on the noradrenergic activity in
10 patients suffering from PD. For this purpose. we measured the plasma levels of Norepinephrine (NE) in response
to a Cold Pressor Test (CPT): immersion of one hand in ice-cold water for 5 minutes) and to the infusion of sodium
lactate (Lactate Test. LT). highly effective in inducing a panic attack in PD sufferers. The same tests were perfor-
med in a group of 10 age-matched healthy controls. In the PD patients. the tests were repeated after a two-month
treatment with Mg pidolate (4.5 g/die per os): they were also studied from a neurophysiological point of view by
evaluating the basal and after-treatment skin conductance response (SCR), used as an additional index of autonomic
excitability.
As regards CPT. PD patients showed significantly higher NE levels than controls in basal conditions (m+/-sem:
210+/-30 VS 131+/-18 pg/ml: p<O.05). a reduced response to the stimulation and the absence of a recoverv phase.
The LT had no effect on the controls. whereas it induced a panic attack in 9 out of 10 patients. with a significant
rise in NE levels. that maximized at the 20th minute of lactate infusion (O' VS +20': 217+/-42 VS 328+/-48 pg/ml:
p<0.00]). Mg therapy determined a normalization of the NE response to the CPT and a decreased Moradrenergic
response to LT. although the lactate infusion induced a new panick attack in the same 9 patients. Moreover, the
treatment induced a significant increase of the SCR threshold (2.4+/-0.5 vs 4.0+/-0.9 mA; p<O.05). The treatment
was able to significantly reduce the number of spontaneous panic attacks per month (10.6+/-2.9 VS 5.2+/-1.8:
p<O.05).
These data. while confirmEing the existence of a noradrenergic hyperactivity. show' a dysregulation of the sympa-
thetic stress response in PAD patients: they also suggest that Mg pidolate may play a role in correcting this dvsfun-
ction determining. at the same time. a clinical amelioration.
american College of nutrition Handwrogy Sun Diego
PLENARY SESSION II. SATURDAY
Abstract 36
MAGNESIUM, MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND ARRHYTHMIAS. Brodsky M.4. Cardiac Arrythmia Service.
University of California. Irvine. College of Medicine, Orange. CA 92668 USA.
Magnesium (Mg) IS the fourth most abundant cation in the human body
in total. documented a 35% reduction in the odds of death ID the group
and the second most abundant cation in intracellular fluids. It has an
given Mg therapy. The principal mechanism of action was through 4
important role in the activation of many enzyme systems. Mg deficiency is
reduction in the incidence of ventricular tachvarthvthmia. MR has both
estimated to occur in 20-80% of the population. Yet M8 is commonly
primary and secondary electrophysiologic action. By itself Mg delays AV
ignored by clinicians because its level IS not usually measured: its deficiency
nodal conduction and decreases early afterdepolanzation and triggered
is not always revealed: the association of its deficiency to pathology is not
activity. It interacts with potassium ions and may allow for repletion of
always obvious: and its use in research and clinical situations is not
hypokalemia with secondary benefits in reducing arrhvthmia. Intravenous
commonly promoted.
Mg was initially reported to have antiarrhythmic action in 1943. Since then
Ms has an important role in cardiovascular pathophysiology. The
multiple reports have detailed its efficacy in supraventricular tachvcardia.
development of experimental atherosclerosis is potentiated by magnesjum
and fibriliation. ventricular premature depolarizations. both mono-
deficiency through many different mechanisms. The level of M8 is also
morphic and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrilla-
related to coronary vascular tone. and hypomagnesemia Has been associated
tion. It has also been beneficial in treating arrhythmia related to digitalis
with clinically significant angina secondary to coronary vasospasm. In the
toxicity and coronary artery spasm.
setting of acute ischemia and/or myocardial infarction. magnesium therapy
In conclusion. Ms is an important component in cardiovascular patho-
has been shown to reduce the incidence of life-threatening ventricular
physiology. Recognition of its therapeutic potential should help reduce
tachyarrhythmia. Seven séparate trials evaluated T301 patients and, taken
morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease.
PLENARY SESSION II, SATURDAY
Abstract 39
LOW MAGNESIUM: A COMMON DENOMINATOR IN PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES IN DIABETES MELLI-
TUS, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND ECLAMPSIA. Seelig MS, Altura BT, Resnick LM, Handwerker SM.
Altura BM. Community and Preventive Med. NY Med Coll. Valhalla. NY and Nutrition, Sch of PH, Univ of N Carolina.
Chapel Hill, NC: SUNY. Bklyn. NY, Cornell Univ NY Hosp. NY. NY. Booth Mem Med Ctr, Flushing. NY USA.
Microcirculatory disorders of diabetes mellitus (DM)-a disease that when
production of prostacyclin (PGI)-the vasodilating. antiageregating pros-
poorly controlled was early identified with Mg loss-have characteristics in
lanoid. mediating its activity. and increases release of thromboxane
common with those of experimental Mg deficiency. Low blood Mg (in
(TXA)-the vasoconstricting. platelet aggregating prostanoid. Other endo-
concert with high Ca) increases platelet aggregability and blood coagula-
themal derivatives (endothelium-derived relaxing Tactor [EDRF]. endothe.
tion-which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of DM. mvocardial
lin. and fibronectin may also be affected by Mg. Low Mg favors a high
infarction (MI) and eclampsia. Low serum M& though present at phases of
TXA/PGI ratio. It is suggested that imbalance of the prostanoids and that
the disorders ID many cases. is an unreliable index of Mg deficiency. Low
of the other endothelial derivatives may be linked to the low Mg reported
ionized Mg in ervthrocytes (determined by utilizing nonmagnetic reso-
in these diseases. With the new Mg ion-selective electrode. which uses a
nance) is present in all. as well as in hypertension (HT) unrelated to DM
neutral carner-based membrane to provide readings in 60-90 seconds. it
or toxemias of pregnancy. Using a new ion-selective electrode specific for
will be possible 10 resolve the problem of laboratory diagnosis of Mg
the Mg 10n. we have found that low levels of the biologically active ionized
deficiency. With growing recognition of the roles of the endothelia) lactors,
MR is present 10 whole blood. as well as in plasma and serum, of patients
this should improve understanding of the vulnerability of diabetics. to HT
with HT. with or without DM. of patients scheduled for open-heart surgery.
and other vasospastic and structural arterial diseases. and to cardiomyopa-
and of preeclamptic patients. Recent studies by others have shown that
thy and MI and other thromboembolic conditions, as well as to preeclamp-
there is also endothelial damage in DM. and in cardiac and preeclamptic
sia.
patients. Low Mg concentration influences endothelial integrity and its
POSTER SESSION II, SATURDAY
Abstract 40
ADVERSE STRESS REACTIONS IN MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY: PREVENTIVE AND THERAPEUTIC IMPLI-
CATIONS. Seelig MS. Community and Preventive Medicine. New York Medical College. Valhalla. NY: Department of
Nutrition, School of Public Health. University of North Carolina. Chapel Hill. NC USA.
Stress hormones (catecholamines and corticosteroids) that evoke responses
and by secretory granules at nerve endings and in the myocardium Low
allowing for increased survival in life-threatening situations. can increase
MR also increases output of mineralocorucoids. which in turn directly
the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the presence of Mg deficiency.
enhance unnary excretion of Mg and intensity cardiopathogenicity of both
They mediate release and utilization of substrates for production of energy
M8 deficiency and calecholamine excess. Furthermore. reduced arterial
and for improved skeletal and cardiac muscle performance. and mobilize
tissue M8 can lead to coronary constriction-directly and through humoral
tissue Mg. The resultant (transitory) increase of serum Mg protects against
vasopressors. Reduced myocardial Mg increases vulnerability to cardiac
arrhythmias and intravascular coaguiation in the short-term. However,
damage. With marginal Mg intakes. athletes undergoing exhausting physical
plasma Mg at levels exceeding the renal threshold is excreted. and free fatty
exertion and athleuc competition. experiencing stress-induced Mg loss can
acids that are released through the lipolytic effect of catecholamines. inac-
exhibit impaired performance and endurance. and muscle cramps. Adoles-
tivate Mg. Both stress hormones mobilize bone minerals, with resultant
cent athletes may be at high risk because they require more Mg for
increase in the plasma Ca/Mg ratio. which increases risks of both intravas-
development and growth. Genetic differences in Mg homeostasis may be
cular coagulation. and arrhvinmia. High Ca/Mg ratios also stimulate. and
responsible for differences in susceptibility to pathologic reactions to stress.
high Mg/Ca ratios suppress catecholamine secretion by the adrenal medulla
MR deficiency and stress mutually enhance one another.
POSTER SESSION II. SATURDAY
Abstract 41
MAGNESIUM STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE ADMITTED TO NEW HANO-
VER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. Montano CE. Seelig CB. Ranney JE. Internal Medicine Training Program. New
Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington, NC and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Chapel
Hill, NC USA.
Retrospective chart review of 98 consecutive patients. admitted with known
dl). with an mean of 1.5 mg/dl (SD = 0.5). Potassium level was significantly
coronary artery disease (CAD). 10 New Hanover Regional Medical Center
associated with Mg level. Mean potassium ID the hypomagnesemic patients
(NHRMC). a 500-bed community teaching hospital (in a low Mg-water
was 19 mEq/l: It was 4.4 mEq/l in the normomagnesemic patients (p <
area). from January to June 1991. was undertaken to ascertain the behavior
0.001). Eleven of the 19 hypomagnesemic patients 157c) received subop-
of practicing physicians with regard to surveillance for. and treatment of,
timal treatment. with an average dose or of intravenous M8SO4.
hypomagnesemia. Patients with creatinine >2.0 mg/dl or with acute mvo-
The remaining 8 patients received no Mg. Only 3 hypomagnesemic patients
cardial infarction were excluded. Patients averaged 65 years of age. Twenty-
(87) had a second determination. m conclusion. despire the known im-
six were diabetic. 3 alcoholic: 24 were on digitalis. 22 on diuretics. and 7
portance of MR. It was only rarely determined by physicians at NHRMC.
on antiarrhythmics. Thirty-nine had arrhythmias (18 ventricular. 26 atrial).
When checked. there was high prevalence of hypomagnesemia (38%). Even
Sixty-cight were admitted by cardiology: 34 had cardiac surgical consulta-
when identified. hypomagnesemia was not treated ellectively. nor were
tion. Nine were admitted for cardiac surgery. Twenty-one were admitted
follow-up determinations requested. In contrast. potassium was checked on
by others. Serum magnesium (Mg) was ordered only for 49 patients (50%).
admission in 100% of patients with only 4 being found to be mildly
Thirty-nine (79%) were ordered by cardiac surgeons. 8 (16%) by cardiolo-
hypokalemic (3.3-3.4 mEq/l). Our study indicates that determination of
RISTS). and 2 (45) hs others. All but two were ordered on a routine tasts
serum Mg should be considered for inclusion in the routine panel of tests
Nineteen patients (387 of those tested) were hypomagnesemic (<1.8 mg.
ordered for patients admitted to the hospital.
HARVARD HEART LETTER
November 1992
the Effects of Aging in Middle-Aged Women,"
program, a walking regimen that will reduce
they were not suggesting that walking can turn
cardiovascular risk may be the best way to start.
back the clock. However, perhaps regular physi-
And once they are walking a couple of miles a
cal activity can make the clock go more slowly.
day, they may even stop to smell the roses. J
For many who wish to embark on a new exercise
Heart Line
More on Magnesium
Evidence regarding the importance of magne-
the Second Leicester Magnesium Intervention
sium for cardiovascular health continues to
Trial. Lancet, June 27, 1992, pp. 1553-1558.)
accumulate (see the Harvard Heart Letter, Au-
gust 1991). Seven previous trials involving a
Smoking After Bypass Surgery
total of 1,300 patients with suspected heart at-
Some cigarette smokers who undergo coronary
tack showed that magnesium supplements
artery bypass grafting (CABG) refuse to quit
reduced the number of deaths. Now, a large
after their operation, perhaps believing that the
study from England has confirmed this finding:
treatment has cured them. However, vein grafts
when magnesium was given during the early
placed during CABG tend to fail more readily if
hours after suspected heart attack, survival im-
the patient keeps smoking. Now a long-term
proved by 24% over the first four weeks.
study has shown that regardless of whether they
have undergone CABG, patients with coronary
At the Royal Leicester Infirmary, 2.316 patients
disease who continue to smoke have a higher
admitted to the coronary care unit were ran-
mortality than their nonsmoking counterparts.
domly assigned to receive either intravenous
1774mg.
1774
magnesium or a placebo. Heart attacks were
During the 1970s, in a trial called the Coronary
ultimately diagnosed in 65% of the patients.
Artery Surgery Study, 780 patients with coro-
After 28 days the death rate was 10.3% among
nary artery disease were randomly assigned to
those receiving the placebo and 7.8% among
either medications or CABG to relieve their
those given magnesium. This difference indi-
symptoms. After ten years, patients who were
cates that magnesium might lower mortality by
initially randomized to medical therapy with the
about 25 deaths per 1,000 patients treated.
option of later bypass surgery had a somewhat
Moreover, magnesium therapy reduced the inci-
higher survival rate if they quit smoking than if
dence of left ventricular failure an important
they continued to smoke.
predictor of survival and long-term quality of life.
However, after CABG, a large difference was
The use of other drugs, such as aspirin or throm-
noted in survival rates between quitters and
bolytic ("clot-busting") agents, did not diminish
smokers. Those who gave up cigarettes had a
magnesium's benefits. Although in some cases
ten-year survival rate of 84% compared with 68%
the magnesium infusions caused side effects,
for those who continued smoking. In other words,
such as flushing of the skin or a slowed heart
giving up cigarettes after CABG decreased
rate, none of these problems were serious.
deaths by about half.
Based on this study, magnesium may become
Compared with persistent smokers, people who
routine therapy during heart attacks, especially
gave up cigarettes were less likely to have angina
since the benefits of magnesium infusion are
and more likely to be employed. In addition, they
about the same as those afforded by other heart-
were in better physical condition. Continued
attack medications (such as aspirin or beta
smoking is harmful for anyone with coronary
blockers) but with less risk involved. Additional
disease, but this study emphasizes that people
research will be needed to determine the mech-
who give up cigarettes after CABG are especially
anism responsible for magnesium's beneficial
likely to get a new lease on life. (Cavender JB, et
effects and how this mineral may interact with
al: Effects of smoking on survival and morbidity
other proven therapies in order to target specific
in patients randomized to medical or surgical
patient populations likely to be helped. (Woods
therapy in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study:
KL, et al: Intravenous magnesium sulfate in
10 year follow-up. Journal of the American Col-
suspected acute myocardial infarction: Results of
lege of Cardiology, August 1992, pp. 287-294.)
November 1992
Enclosed Magnesium Tangress abstract
19
Covers Leicester Trial
7
4 Atlantic Street.
Charleston, SC 29401
November 3, 1992
James O. Mason, M. D., Dr. P. H.; Assistant Secretary for Health
Head of U. S. Public Health Services
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S. W. Room 716-G
Washington, D. C. 20201
Dear Dr. Mason,
I enjoyed very much both hearing your really excellent closing address at the 8th
International Symposium on Cancer Research; and briefly meeting you immediately
afterwards as we happened to be seated together. I had just mentioned an apparent
provocative relationship between cancer and rheumatoid arthritis; and had pulled some
letters from my coat pocket when Doctors Layton McCurdy and Peter Fischinger
understandably whisked you from the room.
Those attending this conference were certainly as you stated the giants in cancer
research around the world; and you indicated your job was to clear the path and help
translate their findings into better health for all people. You expressed however,
disappointment by the way we use our don't use what we already know.
The local newspaper that day featured Dr. Bruce Ames' previous days talk which
had emphasized that peroxidative attacks on DNA were major factors in cancer generation;
when one's antioxidant supply or antioxidant capabilities were insufficient to beat back
the attack. With Dr. Ames and others very substantial contribution and influence in this
area over the past decade, we now realize the truly major health importance of
deficient, RDA, or higher levels of antioxidants (particularly Vitamin C, E, beta-carotene
and selenium). This now provides such potential for rapid and effective progress in control
of cancer and other degenerative diseases, if you and others in public health adequately
support this area.
The trials using beta-carotene and other antioxidants against cancer are certainly
a good start; but so much more financial support, based on benefit to cost ratios and lack
of toxicity, now seem merited.
I am attending the Adjuvant Nutrition in Cancer Treatment conference in Tulsa on
Friday and Saturday of this week sponsored by the American College of Nutrition and
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (program enclosed). The American College of
Nutrition annual meeting in San Diego was also attended the week-end before the
rheumatology and your conferences.
On returning to Charleston after attending the American College of Rheumatology
meeting in Atlanta, Bruce Ames' newspaper story was noted; and I immediately attended
the last afternoon sessions, not realizing until afterwards that it was an invited conference.
My attendance at the Rheumatolo Conference that week and my spontaneous
move to pass on to you the enclosed underlined stapled letters I had taken to that
conference was because twelve years ago I was the first in this county (perhaps the fifth
in the world) to cure very severe rheumatoid arthritis by use of gamma-linolenic acid the
precursor of the anti-inflammatory cellular hormone Prostaglandin E-1. On Monday in
Atlanta Dr. Robert Zurier, head of Rheumatology at the University of Massachusetts
Medical in Worchester, presented the first double-blind trial in this country successfully
using gamma-linolenic acid on 37 rheumatoid arthritis patients and his abstract is shown
just below.
TREATMENT OF PHEIMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) MITH ACID (CLA).
EVIDENCE FOR PROFOUND ANTIOXIDANT DEPLETION IN THE
Lavrance J. Leventhal, Eric G. Boyce, Robert B. Zurier. Dniv. of PK,
SYNOVIAL COMPARTMENT IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITS (RA). 'A.Rd.
Presby. Med. Cent., Phila. Coll. Pharm., Philadelphia, PA. 19104 and
C.Chaloser. D.Schofield, G.Mcl, AH.Thompson, JM.Bragan, PJL. Holt.
Dniv. MA, Morcester, MA 01655.
University Departments of Whenmatology & Medicine (Gastroeaterology). Royal
A randomized, double-blind, placebo (Picottonseed oil)-controlled,
Infirmary. Manchester, U.K.
24-week trial of GLA (as harage seed oil) treatment of active RA "vas
Oridative strees, has besa proposed as a pathogenetic mechanism in RA. We
conducted to detarmine its clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety.
have analysised a free redical marker and 4 microsutrient authoridasts in paired
Patients (pta) maintained pre-entry dose of MSAID and/or low dose
mmples of synovial this (3F) and serves from 11. patients with classical BA
corticostarcide. No pts took 2nd-line agents within 3 months of entry,
(Table). MR% a the moist ratio of 9 dr-11 trace Enolek add to the parent
37 pts enrolled (19-GLA. 18-P). Demographic, pre-study treatment,
9 cla-12 ch fatty add, a validated marker of free redical activity. in
PRA
clinical. and laboratory variables for the 2 groups were similar. 5
sera, a shortfall in ascorble acid ackl and selenites-comferred and-oxidant
pts in each group withdrew from the study due to: inefficacy (3-GLA,
prometion E accompanied by sekenced free radical activity. is oxidative street
2-P), todcity (1-P), and protocol violations (2-each). No pt vent
prevails. The problem is magnified in their SF by 50% decrements to
Thus antioxident supplementation
into remission. In intention-to-treet analysis, GLA demonetrated
salentum, =-tocophers) and
should amellorate the inflarsmation.
improvement from baseline in platelet count, joint tenderness and
melling scores (p .05). Compared with P, GLA vas superior in
Material
MR(W)
Selenium
Ascerbic
e-Tocopheral
6-caratere
(uM)
Acid (uM)
(uM)
(uM)
physician global assessment, pt global pain assessment, joint smalling
Control
1.80
1.43
02
22
LEO
score and platalet count reduction (p .05). or the study completers
Serum
(0.80
(0.76
(29-89)
(13-34)
(71-473)
(GLA-14, P-13) GLA demonstrated improvement from baseline in physician
-3.90)
-2.04)
global assessment, pt global pain assossment, morning stiffness, and
RA
3.20°
0.93*
23*
25
128
both joint tenderness and swelling counts and scores, and platalet
count reduction (D .05). Compared with P. GLA showed improvement in
Serum
(2.15
(0.72
(2.80
16-33
(15-417)
-5.29)
-1.27)
-59)
physician global assessment, pt pain assessment, and both tenderness
and swelling counts and acores (p .05). No GLA pt. withdrew from the
RA
3.15
0.46b
31
12b
48°
Synovial
(2.14
0.17
(0.80
8.0-20
(9-205)
study due to adverse reaction. 1 P pt withdrew due to rash. Adverse
-6.05
-0:33
-53)
effects included soft stools (GLA-2, P-1), constipation (P-1),
Fluid
flatulence (GLA-1) and beiching (GLA-1). conclude that GLA is a
Medians with ranges; a - p<0.05 vs controls: - p<0.05 vs RA serum;
safe, well-tolerated and effective treatment for active RA.
- p<0.10 vs RA serven.
The other rheumatology conference poster abstract shown just above presents really
striking evidence of the profound depletion of antioxidants and the enhanced free radical
activity found in both the serum and the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Under such conditions the gamma-linolenic acid produced in synovial and other cells by
delta-six desaturation of cellular linoleic acid would be decidedly reduced. This highly
unsaturated acid which is precursor of the PGE-1 cellular hormone that inhibits cellular
division would also tend to be oxidized and destroyed. As I understand it the cells in
these joints (synovium) are not supposed to begin dividing, but do before we run into
rheumatoid arthritis problems.
My substantial supplementation for the past decade of gamma-linolenic acid present
at 9% levels in authentic evening primrose oil (EFAMOL); plus high levels of ascorbic
acid, beta-carotene, Vitamin E and selenium now seems (as discussed in the enclosed
letters taken to the rheumatology convention) to make even more sense.
The enclosed 1981 one-page "memory jogger" on my presentation Pertinent Inter-
Relationships Between Cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis, The Evening Bloomin. Primrose and
The Green-lipped Mussel now seem to stand up well. Also relevant is the enclosed Jan.
17, 1985 letter to Doctors Linus Pauling and Ewan Cameron on the five year bone-cancer
experience of an atomic scientist, who was a very major contributor as to the time
achieved and the very small size of our first real thermonuciear bomb. He controlled his
pain and cancer with 24-35 grams of Vitamin C per day throughtout this five year period
with the additional use of gamma-linolenic acid in the last two years.
MEDLINE search last week on my home computer turned up 42,177 medical papers
on rheumatoid, 4,046 on antioxidant and only 29 combined. These abstracts were printed
out (half since 1988) and were very supportive. MEDLINE on cancer turned up 161,915
medical papers; and when combined with antioxidant showed only 115 medical papers.
These abstracts were again printed out with two thirds since 1988 and again extremely
supportive. Cardiovascular had 63,379 medical papers and with antioxidant combined again
gave only 29 medical papers. Twenty-four of the 29 abstracts were since 1988 and all
were since 1984. Heart at 359,662 showed 328 when combined with antioxidant and was
not checked further.
There has properly been considerable treatment in the media in the past year on
the decidedly beneficial effects of vitamins, antioxidants and magnesium on the heart;
and were going to see a lot more because it is right.
Yesterday the New York Academy of Science Vol. 669, Beyond Deficiency, New
Views on the Function and Health Effects of Vitamins, was received in a surprisingly
short time since alwand I attended that superb conference on Feb. 9-12, 1992. This book largely
covers studies the world on the beneficial use of vitami.)as and antioxidants at higher
than usual (or the RDA level). in this country. It is very up-to-date, pertinent, often
surprising and certainly merits serious consideration by public health leaders in our country.
Another serious but little realized health problem in this country has been the
chronic detrimental effect of magnesium deficiency on the heart, cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular artieries of most of us. The enclosed additional letter written last week
to Doctors Lee, Edwards, Gazes, and Spann contains very pertinent information from the
latest European Magnesium Conference which may prompt you to consider the need and
benefits of personal and hospital magnesium supplementation, if you don't now.
In hopes this too long letter might possibly get through to you and prove of some
value in moving toward such simple and inexpensive approaches to improved health.
Most sincerely,
Frank I. Ball
Frank J. Ball
CC: December 15, 1992
Those copied on October 29, 1992 letter to Doctors Burton Lee, James Edwards
Peter Gazes and James Spann
Frank J. Sall
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, S. C.
PERTINENT INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CANCER, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
THE EVENING BLOOMING PRIMROSE AND THE GREEN-LIPPED MUSSEL
(Memory Jogger for Presentation: May 19, 1981)
CANCER TISSUE
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS JOINTS
Completely different from normal cells in that 60-99% of
Involved joints produce high lactic acid levels which may be
nutrients are termented to lactic acid rather than almost total
one cause of pain.
oxygenation to carbon dioxide.
Cancer invasivness promoted by:
Joint problems partially involve:
1.
High continual release of collagenase enzyme by cancer
1.
Collagenase release attacks the collagen lining of the
tissue breaks down the external collagen ropes that
joint.
enmesh near-by cells-
2.
The semi-rigid gelled water which binds together adja-
2.
Detrimental thinning of the jelled joint lubricant by
cent cells and collagen ropes is made fluid by release of
depolymerization of the dissolved hyaluronic polymer
hyaluronidase enzyme which can depolymerizes the sol-
gell.
uble hyaluronic polymer gell.
Recent evidence indicates cancer tissue is composed of up to
Macrophages activated by injesting uric acid crystals in joints
85% activated, but incompetent defensive macrophages (very
appears to be the cause of gout. High levels of activated
farge white cells). These produce collagenase, hyaluronidase,
macrophages, which live for months are in rheumatoid joints.
lactic acid, and toxic superoxide; and could be a major part of
the problem.
Recently found that the protective enzyme (SOD) that de-
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme from cattle gave reduced
stroys superoxide was very low or absent in cancer cell
inflamation and pain on rheumatoid patients.
mitochondria where nutrients must be oxidized.
Cancer patients exhibit extremely low Vitamin C blood levels
Rheumatoid patients run quite low in Vitamin C levels and
and are low in zinc.
their blood is often one-third down in zinc and histidine.
Prostaglandin E, (PGE2, an inflamatory cellular hormone) runs
Inflamatory PGE2 in the joints is generally acknowledged as
quite high in cancer patients. Cancer cells appear to lose the
the main cause of swelling and pain in rheumatoid arthritis.
capacity to convert polyunsaturated fats to gammalinolenic
Pain reducing aspirin and similar drugs inhibit the oxygenation
acid. This precursor of PGEI, appears to be needed to inhibit
of arachidonic acid which otherwise is converted to the
excessive PGEZ formation.
Inflammatory PGE2.
Evening Blooming Primrose Seed Oil
Dr. David Horrobin, a leader in prostaglandin research and thinking, showed PGEI can Inhibit PGE2 formation and may correct immune T
lynphocyte defects, but its half life is only about a minute and its effectiveness occurs only over a precise ultra low concentration range..
He postulated beneficial use of the only available gammalinolenic source (Evening Primrose Oil) to boost continuous PGEI formation in
possible treatment of arthritis, scleroderma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, or selected collagen and autoimmune diseases.
Dr. Robert Zurier, Chairman of Rheumatology, Univ. Pennsylvania Medical, demonstrated the ability of PGEI to reverse the severe
symptoms (identical to the arthritic disease, systemic lupus) which are spontaneously generated in the hybrid cross of New Zealand black
and white mice (NZB/W). He also showed that the presence of PGEI could prevent the usual arthritic symptoms developed in mice on
Injection of Freund's adjuvant.
Horrobin and others showed that at physiological blood concentrations Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, zinc, histidine and ethyl alcohol selectively
promote formation of PGE1 from gammalinolenic acid. There is significant research and medical literature suggesting some benefits
from each of the first four of these in rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin C also appears most important in promoting cancer control.
Vitamin C strongly inhibits collagenase formation, is required for collagen fiber formation, is a necessary cofactor in over 50 enzymes and
decomposes toxic superoxide. Promotion of PGEI formation, however, may constitute a major mode for many of its beneficial actions.
Extract of the Green-Lipped Mussel (Perna Canaliculus)
Last month, on an Australia-New Zealand trip, a freeze dried extract (SEA TONE), which was produced from a local mussel extract was
noted to be marketed in drug stores as a food supplement. The 1979 book "Relief from Arthritis A Safe and Effective Treatment from
a surprising beneficial response in two patients taking it.
the Ocean" covering this green-lipped mussel extract gave no convincing evidence, but a reliable physiotherapist there reported observing
A computer search of the medical literature turned up no pertinent literature studies on shell fish extract In control of arthritis, but some
Impressive demonstrations of cancer control in animals using extracts from clains (mercenaria mercenaria). Clams had been selected for
evaluation as they were found surprisingly free of any cancer growth. Clinical studies were not conducted, but experiments on various
cancer cells and oral use in various animal cancer studies seem to show quite encouraging efficacy.
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, SC 29401
April 29, 1992
Dr. J.J.F. Beich, University Medical School, Dundee, Scotland
Dr. J. Booyens, Semi-retired, MEDUNSA, Pretoria, South Africa
Dr. Wilbur H. Caney, Retired, Vermont and upper South Carolina
Dr. David Horrobin, Efamol Research Institute, Kentville, Nova Scotia
Scotia Pharmaceuticals, Surrey, England
Dr. E. Carwile LeRoy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Dr. R. D. Sturrock, Center Rheumatic Diseases, Glasgow University Medical, Scotland
Dr. Robert B. Zurier, University of Massachusetts Medical, Worchester, Mass
Dear Doctors Beich, Booyens, Caney, Horrobin, LeRoy, Sturrock and Zurier,
I would like to pass on to you one additional small personal experience that occured
this month in my twelth year of completely súccessful control of severe rheumatoid
arthritis using authentic evening primrose oil without other drugs. Results have been
very satisfactory over the past three years using 15 gelcaps (7) g.) per day of evening
primrose oil, as discussed in my long Jan. 23rd, 1989 letter sent to you.
That letter was prompted when I successfully controlled the pain and swelling of
my 1988 relapse without the usual 12-14 aspirins and 4 Motrins needed throughout 1980;
and during the months required to initially build up adequate gamma-linolenic acid products
in my membranes during initial control at the end 1980, and also following my first relapse
in 1984. As discussed in my 1989 letter; the 1988 gamma-linolenic build up without aspirin
or Motrin was achieved by tripling my normal 12 gelcaps of EFAMOL to the 36 used in
South Africa by Doctors Booyens and Van der Merwe in their effective control of certain
acute cancer patients for a period of three years.
As discussed in the 1989 letter; both the 1984 and 1988 relapses apparently were
caused by inadvertent lack of gamma-linolenic acid for about a month during which time
my pain, swelling, and locomotion capability returned to the severe 1980 status.
This month I induced in my low back; muscular or joint pain and spasm, which had
happened only several times before in my life. This was painful standing, lying down or
getting up and decidedly limited activity to prevent spasms. Over several days it
progressively worsened in both spasms and pain; and very seriously interfered with sleep.
After several days the knuckles on my hands swelled up to the extent observed whenever
the 12-14 aspirins were reduced one-third for a day or two throughout 1980, or when
reduced in a similar manner during the 1980 and 1984 months while gamma-linolenic
products were being built up.
As my back spasms and pain seemed to be detrimentally interacting with my rheumatoid
and getting worse; I tripled the level of evening primrose oil after a sleepless night from
15 to 45 gelcaps per day. Fortunately this was very effective in reducing knuckle swelling,
pain and spasms within 24 hours. When dropped to the 36 used in the 1988 relapse for
the following day, the knuckles went down to almost normal by the next day and back
problems were significantly reduced further. With use of 25 to 15 per day the spasms
were stopped and my situation has returned to about normal in a week at 20 and will be
reduced to 15. In my few previous low back pain and spasms, increasing pain and spasm
-2-
wasn't evident; but the serious pain and spasms lasted very much longer despite available
drugs.
The last paragraph of the enclosed March 29, 1992 letter to President Bush covered
some most encouraging information obtained in the past month on the striking success of
one retired doctor, Dr. Wilbur H. Caney, over the past five or more years in helping
control arthritis on over 200 personal contacts having arthritis problems in the Southeast,
New England, and Bermuda by their use of evening primrose oil, some vitamins and
mágnesium. His interest had been stimulated by the success first on his wife's arthritis
and then on friends and retirement contacts.
My letters to the president and his physician over the past year involved my six
year realization that heart arrythmia and heart attack problems can be decidedly caused
by stress-induced, diet-induced and running-induced magnesium loss from the heart,
cardiovascular and cerebrovascular arteries. The enclosed Feb. 5, 1992 letter to the
president and Dr. Burton Lee, his personal physician, also discussed in the middle paragraphs
of The Executive Summary; my experience and the recent progress and understanding in
the use of gamma-linolenic acid for control of rheumatoid and other arthritis. It was
my hope this provocative area might increase the odds of the letter getting through and
being considered.
It is thus of possible future interest that our newspaper reported on April 19th
during the president's Maine visit that following a vigorous morning walk, he had indicated
to reporters that he would feel it in his right hip joint at 2 AM; but had asked at his
recent physical if he would eventually have to have the hip replaced, and was told "not for
a long time.'
Over all these years it has been most impressive that no detrimental side effects
have been caused by such extensive and successful use of gamma-linolenic acid in various
difficultly handled diseases. It has been a God-send to me for the past decade; and
hopefully large numbers with various inflammatory and bone degenerative problems will
get to benefit during this decade.
All the best,
Frank J. Ball
FJB:kaj P.S. april 30,1992
my Feb. 6th and Mar. 19th letters and attachments to the presiden
emphasized recently demonstrated very marked health benefits from
high level antioxident supplements, particularly beta-carotine;
thus the even more concese and definitive presentation on this
subject in the just received may 5th u.s. news and World Repor
is enclosed.
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, SC 29401
32
December 22, 1980
Dr. Martin Eastwood
Wolfson Gastrointestinal Laboratories
Western General Hospital
Edinburgh, Scotland
Dear Martin:
Had one hell of a year, but informative and finally encouraging. Came down with
rheumatoid arthritis in January, following a severe throat infection while on a trip;
and was in hospital and at home about six weeks. Spent the rest of the year on 12-16
coated aspirins (Ecotrin) and 6 (2.4g) Motrin with pain mainly in hands, wrists and
varied in feet (earlier all over); and in all joints and muscles if tried to lower
these. Read about as much in this area and prostaglandins as I did cancer in past
two years, and some surprising similarities. Protected collagen and hyaluronic acid
in joints, I hoped, with high C and B-complex vitamins; and joints progressively
improved over the year. Terribly tired and was 1/2-2/3 time at work until about 3-4
months ago when went to full time. Took on my own, zinc and histidine throughout
year, since these seem to be about one third down in blood of rheumatoid patients.
-Blood sedimentation rate went down progressively from 50 range to normal, but stamina
very low an buldn't take down aspirin and Motrin. Tried during Summer to convert
to higher oleic in my lecithin using polyunsaturated fats and did get the Motrin
down. For the past 3 1/2 months I have been taking 1-6 capsules (0.4g each) a day
blooming primrose (Efamol, which I bought in Canada); and which contains about 10Z
(in addition to the vitamins, zinc, and histidine) of the seed oil of the evening
gamma linolenic acid. It comes from England and is called "Naudicell" there. J. N.
using 2g per day for 3 month's, in the Lancet, Sept. 3, 1977, P. 508. I called him
McCormick and W. A. Neill at Northern General reported encouragment on rheumatology
but he was on a months vacation and I succeeded in getting in touch with Dr. Robert
Horrobin in Montreal, a brilliant doctor who has written extensively in this
related sity of to prostaglandins; and Dr. Robert Zurier, now head of Rheumatology at area Univer- as
didn't oil in inhibiting induced arthritis in rats. Horrobin told
with this Pennsylvania Medical, who had worked with Prostaglandin E1 and subsequently
the first get money for his planned additional tests. Tell him about 3 weeks me McCormick
8 because and have taken no re aspirin. Never before was I able to bring aspirin it to
12 to 0 time, I succeeded over a three-day period in bringing down the ago, for from
ment in of increased swelling and pain in the joints. Horrobin knew of encourage- down
Me Indonethacin, too!! etc. and thus not on rheumatoids. He seemed interested and aspirin, pleased.
Copenhagen and Barcelona on arthritis, but felt not if taking
The glandin gamma linolenic acid is converted by the cells of the body as needed
E1 which Horrobin indicates apparently controls the excessive to Prosta-
We Prostaglandin E2 which is very excessive in rheumatoids and a factor in formation of
generating arthritic problem.
may run low or out of Prostaglandin E1 in the joints and thus get into inflammation. this self-
recent enclosed Haven't written any further letters in cancer area this year you get the
chance. Best of luck in your work in Edinburgh and stop by Charleston again when a
Vitamin C one to Senator Hollings; and it looks like the hydrazine except sulfate and
understood are really demonstrating efficacy and being progressively accepted and
for cancer control without toxicity.
Sorry so long, but thought you would be interested. With hope!
Merry Christmas.
FJB/dr
Frank J. Ball
Enclosure
May 12, 1992
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Dr. Burton J. Lee, III Physician to the President
The White House
Washington, DC
Dear Dr. Lee,
Many thanks for your thoughtful letter responding to my March 29th letter to the
president that strongly reemphasized the serious cardiovascular dangers of stress-induced
and diet-induced magnesium deficiency; and the major health benefits possible from
substantial magnesium and anti-oxidant supplementation.
I most enjoyed reading the really superb long interview The President's Physician
Speaks Out, in the April 1 - April 14 INTERNAL MEDICINE WORLD REPORT covering
your White House Medical approach, very positive assessment as to the health of the
president, and your quite active thoughts and participation relative to the U. S. Health-
Care System. One certainly left it mighty impressed and much better informed.
The very next issue of INTERNAL MEDICINE WORLD REPORT contained the attached
very convincing section on the extent and the major health effects of magnesium deficiency
on chronic diseases; from Part 3 of a series on Chemical Sensitivities by Sherry A. Rogers,
M.D. Reading the underlined part of the section, Magnesium Leads the Way, (less than
five minutes) certainly strongly suggests both the need and the wisdom to daily replace
the major fraction of dietary magnesium removed by industrial processing of our foodstuffs.
In a phone call from Senator Hollings after the last letter to the president, he felt the
president would now be taking magnesium, but many people do not like any extra pills
particularly long term.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote the enclosed letter and attachment to six U.S. and
foreign physicians familiar for most of the past decade with my completely successful
control of severe rheumatoid arthritis without drugs by use of adequate gamma-linolenic
acid present in authentic evening primrose oil. This polyunsaturated fatty acid is supposed
to be adequately produced in all our cells as precursor of a critically important prostaglandin
cellular hormone. When inadequately produced in our joint cells then inflammation, arthritis
and other problems such as bone degeneration can occur; and adequate oral supplementation
then appears most desireable. The end of that letter included the president's comment on
his right hip joint at 2 AM following vigorous morning walking; and his recent question
about his hip.
My letter P. S. and the attached US News and World Report covering recent major
benefits from natural antioxidants, was topped this past week by the study showing that
several hundred milligrams daily of Vitamin C may increase the lifetime of men by five to
six years and women one year. Women now live seven years longer, but their plasma
Vitamin C levels are as high as men taking 400-500 mg more Vitamin C than women. This
is seen in the attached 1987 graph by P.G. Garry et al, and would thus seem wise for men
to catch up.
Most Sincerely,
Frank J. Ball
FJB:kaj
March 29, 1992
4 Atlantic St.
Charleston, SC 29401
President George Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President
The TV presentation this week of you and Dr. Burton Lee leaving your annual physical
with an overall perfect health report was truly great news; but I believe it was also great
a year ago about a month before your atrial fibrillation. The brief newspaper report on
your check-up referred three times to Dr. Burton Lee's concern that you need more "time
off from his stress-filled job", he had recommended without success "him to go away for
three weeks" and was trying to protect Bush from the pressures of the job because "stress
hurts everybody". You owe it to Barbara, yourself and the country to take his advice;
which I surely hope also included adequate daily (500mg) of oral magnesium to replace
stress-induced magnesium lost most particularly from your heart, cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular arteries that can decidedly induce heart arrythmias, vasospasms, heart
attack and stroke.
Attached is a convincing page taken from the January 1992 medical journal Circulation
supplement on Sudden Death, in a paper ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES UNDERLYING
LETHAL AND VENTRICULAR ARRYTHMIAS BY Leonard S. Gettes, M.D. at UNC Chapel
Hill. Lethal arrythmias generated by magnesium deficiency and its correction by magnesium
supplementation are briefly but well treated. Sixty percent of acute myocardial infarction
patients die before reaching the hospital; but the last of seven large overseas double-
blind tests showed that the half of the AMI patients who got 2225 mg of magnesium on
arrival had in-hospital mortality one-sixth of the placebo patients. In all these hospital
trials arrythmias and mortality showed very major reductions with intravenous magnesium.
Therefore it certainly seems very likely that the double-blind half of the 40-50,000 acute
myocardial infarction patients about the world who will fortunately get 2000 mg of
intravenous magnesium when they arrive at the hundreds of hospitals participating in the
Fourth International Study of Infarct Survival (ISIS-4) will definitively demonstrate the
critical importance and efficacy of sufficient magnesium when this trial is completed at
the end of 1992.
You have had a personal arrythmia warning which likely means your heart magnesium
level was low at that time partially due to stress and partially to upset thyroid. It is
terribly easy to remove the danger of magnesium deficiency; and all important to keep
you healthy. Fritz Hollings' recent letter indicated he surely hopes you are following
the advice; and on sitting next to Representative Arthur Ravenel at a recent South
Carolina Society dinner; he mentioned he now regularly takes magnesium. He had told
our newspaper at the time of your atrial fibrillation that he also had an atrial fibrillation
problem; and we discussed magnesium and the heart at that time.
Last night at our supper club I met a delightful guest couple from Boston. When
magnesium deficiency came up she told of the daughter of a doctor friend who was a
very ardent runner and in the progessive festivities before her marriage had an arrythmia
which was checked, ceased and she went on with the marriage plan. On the honeymoon
flight to Hawaii over the Pacific she had a heart attack and died. This tragic event seems
to me very likely due to magnesium deficiency from both running and sustained stress.
From West Germany I have seen an estimate of 4000 heart attack deaths per year among
their runners; which they estimate would be reduced very substantially by adequate
Congenital folic acid deficiency resulted in the spinal bifida of Ezra Adkins who
you were hugging in my Feb. 11th letter; and probably caused the lack of the baby's brain
in this past week's TV newsstory on planned baby death and organ supply. The New York
Academy of Science is having a San Diego conference in May on Maternal Nutrition and
Pregnancy Outcome which deals mainly with the terrible effects of folic acid deficiency;
but discusses the decidedly detrimental effects of zinc, selenium, and Vitamins A, B6 and
B₁₂ deficiency.
This month a retired M.D., Dr. Wilbur H. Caney and his wife visited with some most
encouraging news relative to arthritis control using authentic oral evening primrose oil;
discussed earlier in the middle of the Executive Summary of the Feb. 6th letter to Lee,
Sununu, and Bush. The Caneys first visited a few years after my sustained success with
oral evening primrose oil on severe rheumatoid arthritis; and she left taking the oil with
Vitamins B6, B₂, C and magnesium to try and control her severe arthritis. I wo years later
on passing through she was in great shape; and he reported 20-30 others with arthritis
had found similar relief. Now several years later they reported over 200 with arthritis in
the Southeast, New England and Bermuda had followed this same advice with 8 - 9 out
of every 10 succeeding. Their only payment was theirs and their contacts satisfaction;and
it went from a terribly pleased vascular surgeon to 8 Bermuda friend who went from her
wheelchair back to tennis; and this convinced a number of arthritic contacts to try
successfully.
With the hope and belief that by one means or another your health will continually
improve with minimal stress degradation; and that the health of our country likewise
continually improves over the next four years under your extremely able direction.
Most Sincerely,
Frank J. Ball
ps/
April 2, 1992
The attached April 6, 1992 TIME cover story The Real Power of Vitamins, just
in is another surprisingly powerful presentation that speaks to the basic
significance that has been increasingly evident ever since my 1983 letter was
briefly discussed with you in Charleston. The TIME cover story should convince
many Americans to improve their health by increased supplementation; and with
hope that it may also beneficially influence Barbara and you.
FJB:kaj
CC: Barabara Bush
Senator Strom Thurmond
Vice-president Dan Quayle
Senator Ernest F.Hollings
Secretary Louis W. Sullivan
Representative Arthur Ravenel
Dr. Burton Lee
Dr. John Sununu
Shirley M. Green
February 6, 1992
Dr. Burton J. Lee
The Honorable John Sununu
President George Bush
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This letter was initiated to reinforce and transmit additional evidence about stress-induced
magnesium loss and the resulting heart arrythmias sent to the Governor eight months ago
(pages 1 and 2). 1 was concerned that despite the comments in Dr. Lee's letter to me,
our high-stressed president might not be supplementing with magnesium.
Enclosed are December letters and literature trying to get the Medical University in
Charleston, SC to quickly join the Fourth International Study of Infarct Survival definitively
assessing the clinical efficacy of intravenous magnesium in heart attacks (page 2). The
last of seven foreign double-blind studies just in covering patients treated on the day of
their acute myocardial infarction showed a drop in the mortallity to one sixth among the
magnesium treated as compared to the placebo patients.
Since the May and June 1991 letters to the Governor also covered the recently established
marked benefits to the heart from high level oral beta-carotene, additional evidence of
similar benefits from high levels of Vitamin E and Vitamin C; and the program of a New
York Academy of Science Conference covering these opportunities next week in Arlington
are discussed on pages 2 and 3.
As I happened to have collapsed and had to spend at doctor's orders a month in the
hospital and at home blamed on sustained extreme exhaustion (page 3), 8 possiblity is
suggested that stress and exhaustion might also have been a contributing factor in the
president's collapse.
I happened to be the first in this country (1980) and perhaps the fifth in the world to
correct very severe rheumatoid arthritis with no further use of high level drugs by oral
use of evening primrose oil. My situation and recent successful demonstration in double-
blind studies are covered on pages 3 to 5. The likely medical reason for success and
subsequent use on cancer are covered on pages 5 and 6.
The present encouraging status of several effective, available and non-toxic cancer
therapies that were briefly discussed and given to the vice-president during his Charleston
visit in 1983 is covered on pages 6 and 7.
An existing provocative potential to inexpensively and relatively quickly reduce the major
burgeoning health costs of the elderly by massively supporting further clinical demonstration
of the considerable effectiveness of pharmacological levels of certain vitamina, antioxidants
and other micronutrients on various major degenerative diseases of the elderly is discussed
on page 9.
3
Dr. Virgil Brown's courageous comments are striking; and I have over most of the past
decade been taking daily 800 units of Vitamin E, six grams of Vitamin C, 45 mg of beta-
carotene, and 500mg of magnesium; in addition to a powerful multi-vitamin with minerals,
because the evidence of benefit seemed sufficient to me.
Today Dr. George C. Rios' (Chairman Medicine, George Washington Medical) CARDIAC
ALERT, (Feb. 1992) arrived and the eighth page under the title Breakthrough - Vitamin
C Against Cholesterol Plaque dealt with Dr. Jiaial's findings just above. Vitamin E, beta-
carotene, and Vitamin C were reported respectively 45%, 90% and 95% effective in stopping
the growth of LDL plaque in the laboratory; with Dr. Jialals' conclusion that "these dietary
antioxidants prevent cholesterol accumulation and plaque build up."
Also today I was sent the enclosed two pages from a "recent" HARVARD HEALTH LETTER,
which I have underlined, as reading this is very likely to further convince anyone our age
to promptly start building up our antioxidant levels if you haven't already.
BEYOND DEFICIENCY: NEW VIEWS ON THE FUNCTION AND HEALTH EFFECTS OF
VITAMINS
Enclosed is the rogram of a very pertinent New York Academy of Science Symposium
being given in Arlington on February 9-12, 1992. Dr. Charles Hennekens is chairing a
session, Effects of Vitamins on Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
and is speaking on Beta Carotene Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. I. Jialal's
presentation Influence of Antioxidant Vitamins on LDL Oxidation (see clipping above) is
in the same session, and I have made my reservations to attend.
Dr. Gladys Block (discussed middle of page 7), who examined 90 epidemiological studies
on the role of Vitamin C and Vitamin C-rich foods on prevention of cancer and found the
vast majority showed statistically signifigant protective effects; is speaking on Vitamin C
and Cancer: Epidemicologic Evidence of Reduced Risk.
Incidentally, Dr. Charles Hennekens just above is also U.S. National Coordinator of the
Fourth International Study of Infarct Survival assessing the efficacy of intravenous
magnesium in acute myocardial infarctions, as discussed on the middle of page 2.
HOSPITALIZATION PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF SUSTAINED EXCESSIVE STRESS, COLLAPSE AND
Of possible relevance to the president's collapse in Japan, at one time in my life in April
1979, I collapsed at work and spent a week in the hospital and three weeks at home at
doctors orders; after a diagnosis of bradycardia of the heart blamed on sustained extreme
exhaustion. This is mentioned on page 22 of my enclosed May 1980 "memory jogger" for
presentation, Two years trying to aid in the understanding and presentation of natural
generation and natural control of human cancer. I never had any heart problems before
then or subsequently, other than a possible mid-systolic click. The increase in excessive
stress and effort that apparently brought this on was that in addition to my job, (directing
for thirty years a research laboratory of 100 plus, with 20-25 Ph. D.'s and 10-15 M. 5.'s)
I became involved in an overwhelming spare time effort trying to help understand and
encourage certain non-toxic cancer therapies as evident in the enclosed memory jogger.
These therapies were summarized in the 1983 letter that was very briefly discussed and
given to the vice-president during his visit to Charleston at that time. That 1983 letter
was attached to the Governor's letter with hopes it might improve the chance my letters
would get through to the Governor.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND ITS CONTROL USING
NATURAL GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID WITHOUT DRUGS
In January 1980 in the month following a very severe throat infection on a business trip,
I came down with very acute rheumatoid arthritis. Following hospitalization, partial
4
control of my arthritis required 12-14 aspirins (ECOTRIN) and 6 Motrins per day throughout
1980 to reduce the pain and swelling; but I still could not drive 8 car or tolerate more
than two hours per day at work.
Very fortunately, I was apparently the first in this country and perhaps the fifth in the
world to completely correct my rheumatoid arthritis in December 1980 without continued
use of any aspirin and Motrin by continuous use of EF AMOL evening primrose oil containing
gamma-linolenic acid along with an equal amount of Vitamin C. This same oil was
subsequently shown by Doctors J. Booyens, C.F. Van der Merwe and I.E. Katzeff in South
Africa to effectively control 8 large number of human cancer cell lines and to have an
amazing effect against primary liver cancers. This was discussed in my 1983 letter to
the vice-president and my enclosed 1983 letter to Dr. Jan Van Eys at M.D. Anderson. I
later met Doctors Booyens and Katzeff at the 1984 George Washington Medical International
Symposium on Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes in Washington.
Incidentally, the Mother Superior Emeritus with intestinal and liver cancer, on the last
page of the 1983 letter to the vice-president and discussed in more detail in the enclosed
1983 letter to Dr. Jan Van Eys; continued further improvement using gamma-linolenic acid
and high Vitamin C. She lived happily for an additional three more years, well into her
eightles. She was sister-in-law of my wife's cousin, Rodney de Kay, who mentioned at
the time he was a year ahead of George Bush at Andover and Yale, and is a cousin of
Senator Pell.
Before coming down with rheumatoid arthritis, when looking for reasons why Vitamin C
might be effective in cancer, I had come across 8 paper by Dr. David Horrobin relating
Vitamin C and gamma-linolenic acid; and discussed it on page 25 of an August, 1979 letter
to Doctors Ewan Cameron, Joseph Gold, and Harry Gregorie, shown in my enclosed May
1981 "memory jogger" on the presentation Pertinent Interrelationships Between Cancer,
Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Evening Blooming Primrose. When searching the medical
literature in August 1980 for possible approaches on rheumatoid arthritis, I happened to
note a short 1977 paper in the The Lancet where a Dr. J.N. McCormick in Scotland had
used evening primrose oil and claimed to have achieved apparent success after three
months on four rheumatoid arthritis patients. I called there, but he was out for a month
and had not gotten support for further work, so I called Dr. David Horrobin in Montreal
and got him to send me this "vegetable oil for experimental purposes".
Dr. Horrobin however did not believe the gamma-linolenic acid in the evening primrose
oil would help me unless I could very substantially reduce my quite high levels of aspirin
and Motrin. I wouldn't agree to do this because 1 felt I couldn't do it and still spend my
two hours per day at work. These particular drugs are now known to inhibit the excessive
conversion of arachidonic acid (which we obtain from meat and fish) to our inflammatory
cellular hormones (two-series prostaglandins) which keep us from bleeding to death on
injury, etc. The same drugs however also inhibit the conversion of gamma-linolenic acid
to the one-series prostaglandin, PGE-1 which resists inflammation.
Fortunately the EFAMOL evening primrose oil in conjunction with equal Vitamin C, and
with the same level of drugs; to my surprise progressively increased my stamina so that
full time at work was achieved after a month. One third reduction in aspirin for a day;
however would markedly increase pain and swelling by the next day so was not reduced.
After three and a half months; elimination of all aspirin and Motrin was achieved over
a week with no swelling or pain at the end of 1980.
Two very severe relapses occured in 1984 and 1988. In both relapses I apparently
inadvertently did not get the gamma-linolenic acid for a period of about a month. In
the 1984 relapse I again required the same high level of drugs to partially reduce the
5
renewed severe arthritis symptoms, but was able to reduce the drugs to zero again after
three months; but required somewhat higher levels of evening primrose oil. In the 1988
relapse the same high levels of drugs were required, but were so unpleasant on my stomach
that I called South Africa and tried using the very high levels of gamma-linolenic acid
that they used in control of primary liver cancer; as described in my 1983 letter. This
controlled both pain and inflamation without drugs; and was successfully reduced back
after about three months; but again somewhat higher levels were required.
I attended a presentation in London in November 1986, by J.J.T Belch, R.D. Sturrock et al
at the annual British Society of Rheumatology meeting covering the first successful double-
blind trial on 49 rheumatoid patients; where EF AMOL evening primrose oil (and that along
with fish oil) were demonstrated to be fairly effective in controlling the arthritis compared
to a placebo in an 18 month trial. Dr. Robert B. Zurier, Chief of Rheumatology at
University of Massachusetts School of Medicine in Worchester, was also at that meeting;
and has actively studied the effects of gamma-linolenic acid and PGE-1 on cells, animals
and rheumatoid patients for more than a decade. He has just completed but not yet
published, a very successful double-blind trial evaluating gamma-linolenic acid compared
to placebo on 27 rheumatoid arthritic patients Dr. David Horrobin, who initiated and
pushed the potential use of gamma-linolenic acid in arthritis, cancer and other diseases
has now just started a multi-location double-blind trial on 500 rheumatoid arthritis patients;
but results may not be available for two years.
It may also be of interest to a highly stressed president and his physician that oral gamma-
linolenic acid in evening primrose oil has been shown to attenuate stress response as does
oral or intravenous magnesium. Several chapters in David Horrobin's 1990 book, discussed
just below, deal with this opportunity. I found that the magnesium and evening primrose
oil must be taken at different times of the day to achieve adequate absorption.
PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING AND USE OF GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID IN THE MEDICAL
FIELD
Dr. David Horrbin, a truly brillant and dynamic metabolic research scientist who postulated
and pioneered this whole area, sent me the 600 page book, Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids;
Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical Medicine, that he edited in 1990. There are 44
chapters that mainly cover the beneficial effects of oral intake of gamma-linolenic acid
in evening primrose oil in an increasingly wide number of difficultly cured diseases.
This critically important gamma-linolenic acid is supposed to be produced in all our cells by
6-desaturation of the essential linoleic acid that is present in the polyunsaturated fats
that we must eat. The cells convert the gamma-linolenic acid ( X-linolenic acid, GLA)
to dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (dihomo-X -linolenic acid, DGLA) which is incorpated at
low levels into the cellular membrane. This latter vital organic acid when needed is
released in the cell and reacts with oxygen in the cell's cyclo-oxygenase enzyme to form
the one-series cellular hormone, prostaglandin El (PGE-1). If PGE-1 or other cellular
prostaglandin hormones (such as the two-series prostaglandins produced from arachidonic
acid) leak from the cells into the blood they are immediately destroyed on passing through
the lung, to minimize any effect on other cells.
Arachidonic acid in the platelets that swirl about in our blood are converted under certain
stresses to the two-series prostaglandin, thromboxane (TXA2). This causes the platelets
to clump together and the arteries and capillaries to contract thereby preventing our
bleeding if injured. We take aspirin and Motrin to inhibit the detrimental excessive
conversion of arachidonic acid to thromboxane or other two-series prostoglandins (cellular
hormones). PGE-1 that cells can produce from gamma-linolenic acid has an effect directly
opposite to thromboxane. As PGE-1 leaks into the blood, it causes the platelets to
disaggregate and the arteries and capillaries to dilate.
6
PGE-1 thus influences aspects very important to us such as inflammation, vascular tone,
cellular function, and cellular division. Certain cells of ours however can lose or partially
lose the capability to make gamma-linolenic acid which can be directly influenced by
our aging, our particular genetics, certain retroviral invasions, cancer, diabetes, etc.
Adequate oral intake of gamme-linolenic acid then seems mighty smart when particular
cells and tissue are deficient. This natural fatty acid has very little if any detrimental
effect on cells that produce normal levels of gamma-linolenic acid; but has a tremendous
effect on those cells whose activity has changed because of its deficiency.
In rheumatoid arthritis, certain cells in our joints start dividing (that shouldn't be dividing)
before we encounter pain or swelling. Most of the cells in our body only divide several
times in our lifetime; nerve and heart cells never divide; while skin, gut and blood cells
divide constantly. I apparently was taking enough aspirin and Motrin to cut back stimulated
arachidonic conversion to inflammation prostaglandins in my cells by perhaps 85%, which
may have been required because of inadequate gamma-linolenic acid production in certain
joint cells. I take orally about as much gamma-linolenic acid from evening primrose oil as
the amount of arachidonic acid that I would be expected to injest as a carnivore. À
research scientist, Dr. L.J. Zeitlin, from Scotland, who spent about six months in research
studies at our medical university, controlled his previously severe psoriatic arthritis by
completely giving up all meat or fish in his diet.
In retrospect, I now believe that gamma-linolenic acid deficiency may have been brought
about by a retrovirus which could have caused my very sore throat infection just prior to
my progressive development of acute rheumatoid arthritis over the following month. When
I was put in the hospital, an in depth look was made by an infectious diseases M.D. for
evidence of a viral infection; but none was found. Retroviruses can however, take over
the genetics and transform certain cells so they begin continually dividing without leaving
any evidence of the virus. PGE-1 produced from gamma-linolenic acid is a stand-out
performer in kicking up cyclic-AMP, which at increased levels inhibits cell division.
Whatever the reason there is certainly considerable satisfaction from the enjoyment of
good health instead of being severly crippled for the past decade, and I have no doubt
where to give credit.
After five successful double-blind placebo controlled trials, that tested oral evening
primrose oil, the British Health Service now pay's for evening primrose oil (EPOGAM) to
effectively control the very troublesome childhood and atopic eczemas which are very
inadequately controlled with available drugs. EPOGAM has already become the most used
prescription for that purpose in England and Germany; and its use is now underway in
several other European countries and Australia. I know what a benefit that would be to
both the child and family; since I had a brother (nine years younger) who had but grew out
of severe childhood eczema.
PRESENT STATUS RELATIVE TO 1983 LETTERS TO BUSH AND VAN EYS
Although there has been extremely little government support over the past decade for any
of the effective, available, and non-toxic cancer therapies discussed nine years ago in
my 1983 letters to the vice-president and Dr. Van Eys; it has been satisfying to see that
some substantial progress has nonetheless occured.
Inexpensive hydrazine-sulfate shown to be beneficial by Dr. Joseph Gold is now used all
across Russia to prevent cachexia weight loss on chacer patients after 8 Phase II study
on 740 patients in Russia. There are now the first indications of NIH acceptance in
this country; despite the very negative comments made by the NIH as indicated in my
December 27, 1979 letter to Senator Hollings (pages 32 thru 34 in "memory jogger") and
subsequently.
7
An earlier successful double-blind study on lung cancer by Dr. R.T. Chlebowski at Harbor
UCLA Medical; and a recent Phase III double-blind trial headed by Dr. M.P. Kosty (at
Scripps Clinic in San Diego) on 290 advanced lung cancer patients indicated survival of
patients receiving hydrazine-sulfate was "fer superior" to those not using it and side
effects were "negligable".
David Horrobin now has various people conducting pertinent encouraging studies in England
on the effects of gamma-linolenic acid on cancer; and there are forty pages discussing
this area in his above book.
Lack of support stopped the very encouraging directed-hyperthermia treatment of cancer
by Dr. Harry Le Veen in Charleston; although he is a featured lecturer at Cancer
Hyperthermia Conferences overseas including Italy and Russia recently. His physician son,
Dr. E.G. Le Veen is just now setting up in Charleston his father's highly effective
hyperthermia equipment which Dr. Le Veen designed, built and used at MUSC. This will
permit needed treatment of an eight year survivor following her hyperthermia treatment
of inflammatory breast cancer which this same equipment treated way back then. I heard
recently that Senator Cranston's prostate cancer is being treated at Stanford University in
a research program studying the effects of directed-hyperthermia on cancer.
Following my retirement in 1984, for various personal reasons, I progressively disassociated
myself from the extremely active spare time interst and too close involvement as to the
beneficial effects of quite high Vitamin C, gamma-linolenic acid, hydrazine sulfate, and
directed hypethermia on cancer patients covered in my 1983 letters. While still attending
meetings and reading that literature, my interest, activity and computer searching shifted
to the apparent, very detrimental health effects on our hearts and arteries resulting from
chronic deficiencies of magnesium or various antioxidants; and the apparent striking benefits
of supplementation.
PERSONAL RECENT EXPOSURE TO VITAMIN C AND CANCER
Dr. Ewan Cameron, a cancer surgeon for thirty years and a brillant metabolic scientist
(Hyaluronidase and Cancer, 1966) first demonstrated twenty years ago that high levels of
intravenous or oral Vitamin C were markedly beneficial for terminal cancer patients. Dr.
Linus Pauling aided in getting the work published in the Proceedings of National Academy
of Science and both have worked dedicatedly over this period to get governmental support
and acceptance from the medical establishment. Considerable progress has been made
considering the level of resistance to medical publication and government support of
Vitamin C and cancer. The last time I talked on the phone with Dr. Cameron he had
completly rewritten the book, CANCER AND VITAMIN C (1979) but hadn't a suitable
publisher. His death in 1991 is a real tragedy and setback; but his impact will live on
as bowel-tolerance levels of Vitamin C takes it proper place in the control of human cancer.
In December a Supplemental Issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition came in
to the medical library with all 219 pages completely devoted to forty papers covering:
"ASCORBIC ACID: BIOLOGIC FUNCTIONS AND RELATION TO CANCER" from a September
1990 conference at the National Institue of Health and sponsored by the National Cancer
Institue. This conference and its complete publication permitted by the new NCI head,
Dr. Samuel Broder, is by far the most encouraging step I've seen in the past decade since
it might result in it now being respectable to conduct studies using Vitamin C on cancer;
and also that the NCI might start providing truly adequate support to accelerate such
studies.
The Forward to this compilation of papers relating Vitamin C and cancer is by Gladys
Block, Donald E. Henson and Mark Levine of the National Cancer Institute and contains
an amazingly encouraging statement to have come from the NCI.
8
"Evidence is presented on the role of ascorbic acid in cencer, including its effect
on delaying tumor onset, delaying tumor growth, prolonging survival, reducing toxicity
as a result of treatment, and increasing the efficacy of concomitant treatment"
Early last week I was in California and heard Gladys Block (who is now at the University
of California at Berkley) make a presentation on her current work with Vitamin C to Dr.
Linus Pauling and his staff as part of an interesting exchange of recent developments at
both institutions, as indicated by the enclosed copy of that program. Discussions at the
Institute about Vitamin C and AIDS with R.J. Juriwalla; and Vitamin C and human mammary
tumor with C.S. Tsao followed up their presentation on these subjects at the above NCI
conference.
A two hour lunch the next day with Gladys Block at Berkley left a most favorably
impression and a belief that she may have been the major, but quiet sparkplug that brought
to effective fruition this historic meeting that Doctors Pauling and Broder initiated.
A January 17, 1985 letter is enclosed that deals with a retired nuclear scientist who had
severe bone and later spinal cancer; who had approached me five years earlier. He had
visited Dr. Cameron in Scotland, took 10 grams per day of Vitamin C, and was quite
pleased when this stopped his pain. Sometime later when the pain returned he called
from Huntsville, Alabama and said Dr. Cameron had suggested that he visit me if he got
into further trouble. I suggested that we just talk on the phone; and that he use his
scientific skills to spread out his Vitamin C as much as possible so he could maximize it;
and to use tasteless crystals of the half sodium salt of Vitamin C dissolve in orange juice.
Fortunately as discussed in the letter, he got to 25 g of Vitamin C; and thus effectively
controlled his pain and cancer for three years.
Unfortunately, he called me after he had just become bedridden with paralysis of the
legs; and in our discussion of his situation it turned out he had reduced his Vitamin C to
half. He shortly found that he could take his spread-out Vitamin C up to 35 0 without
bowel problems; and also took evening primrose oil. This stopped the pain and improved
the quality of his life again; but unfortunately didn't correct the paralysis of his legs.
He lived at home with his sister and over the next two years over the phone he still
sounded great.
PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL APATHY ABOUT ACUTE RUSSIAN THREAT
I happened to have seen the above H-Bomb scientist for the first time in October 1984 on
a Dan Rather news program dealing with atomic-radiation induced cancer, which didn't
mention that he had been taking Vitamin C. Three months later as discussed in my
January 1985 letter, I again saw him on a Dan Rather program discussing his long term
success with a gram per hour of Vitamin C every hour of the day. This was on the day
the Mayo Clinic declared for the second time that Vitamin C was without question
worthless on cancer. During the following year his sister wrote to me when he died in bed
at home of an acute kidney infection brought on by catheter treatment.
I was very pleased to have possibly assisted this research scientist and also SO inexpensively
for more than five years. In our phone chats as two chemists, I came to the conclusion
that his independent approach to the H-Bomb using Lithium 6 (he had gotten his Ph. D
20 years earlier on its isolation and properties) may have aided in a truly major and
timely way in our very close race with the Russians for the H-Bomb in 1952-53. Very
many called our participation in that race immoral; but we only beat the Russians to an
H-Bomb by months, which is mighty scary in retrospect.
Twenty-five years after that explosion, almost inexcusable presidential and congressional
apathy about the acute danger from Russia's greater and much faster growing thermonuclear
January 17, 1985
Doctors Linus Pauling and Ewan Cameron
Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine
440 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Dear Doctors Pauling ano Cameron,
Last night, as you know, NBC's Tom Brokew reported that the
Mayo Clinic had once again shown in this weeks New England
Journal of Medicine that Vitamin C was worthless against cancer:
while Dan Rather's CPS news program additionally reported that
this depate was not yet over, as some doctors think it can help
cure cancer. Their interview of a patient with cancer =- the
spine, who took 24 grams CT Vitamin C per day; and of Dr.
Pauling, who stated the Mayo Clinic study was not a test of the
value of Vitamin C against cancer, were most encouraging
I was particularly intrigued to see that the patient
interviewed was a retired atomic scientist in Alabama, who
called me five years ago about the use of Vitamin C for control
of Done cancer Pain. By going to 24 grams spreac eventy over the
day. he was able to control the pain. This and subsequent events
were described in the last paragraph on page 4 of the 1983
letter to Dr. Jan Van Eys, in the last paragraph on the opposing
page(1932 1982 letter), and on the second page of last months letter
to Dr. Dathcart.
Although he and I chatted on the phone many times over these
years. I first haopened to see him a TEW months back in a Dan
Rather news program concerned with cancers induced by exposure
to atomic radiation. That CBS interaction presumably prompted
their use of this provocative Vitamin C aspect and angle at this
time. H15 expressed conviction of the cancer contol and better
feeling, while dissolving his gram of "C" per hour; plus the
Zoom blow-up of him reading the Cameron-Pauling CANCER AND
VITAMIN C presents one side of the picture. It was surprising to
also hear CBS estimate that over 100,000 cancer patients in
America now take Vitamin C; but If some are doing it in place of
traditional treatment, that could be a mistake.
This cancer patient and the mother with inflammatory breast
cancer (also discussed in the came three letters) apparently 50th
seriously reactivered cancer growth or worsened immunological
control after 00109 well ? one or more years or hish "2") when
they Icwered the dose from around 25 grams a day to about half.
Subsecuently reraising the "C" to previous levels or
dearath 35g.
higherizione WITH some gamma gamma-linclenis acid) apparently induced
and meintained = second marked dreast cancer regression in the
mother. out did not acequately control her induced Drain
metastasis. This also seems a likely reason why the cancer
years. induced spinal paralysis has not advanced for the last couple of
Dr. Peter Greenwald, Director
December 15, 1992
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
National Cancer Institute
4 Atlantic Street
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Charleston, SC 29401
Dear Dr. Greenwald,
I appreciated very much your response to my Nov. 3rd letter and attachments to
Dr. James O. Mason, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Affairs, that had followed
my contact with him after his concluding talk at the 8th International Symposium on
Cancer Research in Charleston. Your discussion of dietary approach and studies on cancer
prevention in your letter; and in your opening talk that I heard in Tucson in June at the
4th International Conference on Nutrition and Chemoprevention were certainly informative
and encouraging. The 2nd International Conference in 1989 was in Charleston.
Almost all studies and particularly recent ones seem to indicate increased intake of
antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium) reduce cancer,
cardiovascular and other degenerative diseases; with progressive improvements up to
substantial multiples of our Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)values.
The supplemental 25mg per day of beta-carotene taken for six years by a random
half of the 22,000 physicians (earlier also' on aspirin in Dr. Charles Henneken's study)
proved stunningly beneficial in lowerering to half the heart attacks, cardiac deaths, strokes
and by-pass operations among the 12% of these physicians whose double-blind was broken
in 1990 instead of 1995. This higher level of beta-carotene added to check its decided
beneficial effect against cancer, is fifteen times as much carotene as the rest of us
average in our diet. I and many others have however, taken almost twice this amount of
beta-carotene for years.
Extremely few of us, as you know, consume sufficient levels of the pertinent foods
to even reach our RDA values. It is thus hard to understand why our public health
officials do not now also encourage further beneficial use of available inexpensive vitamins
and micronutrients; which particularly improve the health of the elderly.
Superoxide, Superoxide Dismutase and Cancer
This month's Scientific American has nine pages on Why Do We Age with decided
emphasis on the critical importance of oxidative free radical attack. As seen in the
enclosed two underlined pages, the main detected difference in fruit flies recently bred
to survive twice as long was in the capability of their antioxidant enzyme, superoxide
dismutase. Doctors Michael Rose and Thomas Johnson pictured and featured in this
enclosure on the genetic interaction between survival increases and superoxide dismutase;
and Dr. Bruce Ames, whose presentation Oxidants and Antioxidants in Aging and Cancer
was discussed in the letter to Secretary Mason, were quite active participants in a 1988
conference The Biological Basis of Aging that I attended in San Francisco. Dr. Richard
Cutler on the bottom of the second enclosed page, headed that conference and showed
that among mammals; humans exhibit both the longest maximum life span potential and
decidedly the highest superoxide dismutase levels.
Enclosed are some pages from a 1979 twenty-six page letter on Superoxide, Superoxide
Dismutase, and Cancer written hopefully to assist in our understanding of why ten to
fifty grams per day of oral Vitamin C administered by Dr. Ewan Cameron in Scotland to
large numbers of terminal cancer patients had proven so surprisingly effective in control
of pain, tumor growth, quality of life and time to mortality.
This literature search and letter evolved over a two week vacation (a very tolerant
wife); largely prompted by L. Oberley's publication that had just showed very marked
reduction of the superoxide dismutase levels in the energy producing mitochondria of
cancer cells.
Copies of this letter were sent to well over a hundred scientists and physicians; and
Dr. Linus Pauling kindly wrote back thanking for the letter copy and its references. Three
months later he sent a brief publication covering his discovery of the superoxide radical
in 1933. He had brillantly deduced based on quantum mechanics, that an oxygen molecule
with an extra electron should have enough stability to exist. A. student was told how to
prepare and isolate it; and how to demonstrate its validity by paramagnetic measurements.
Pauling named it superoxide and his student E. W. Neuman published the findings which
were largely ignored for almost twenty-five years. The 1968 discovery of our antioxidant
enzyme, superoxide dimutase; demonstrated the extreme importance of superoxide dismutase
in protecting us from released superoxide radicals everywhere in our body; and in aerobic
cells throughout all life processes. Vitamin C also protects us by reducing released active
superoxide radicals back to oxygen.
Enclosed are some underlined pages from that 1979 letter with pertinent points that
are still not common knowledge in the cancer field. Also the table showing precipitate
drop of Vitamin C levels in our various tissues as we age; and the graph showing drop of
our white blood cell ascorbate down to scurvy levels in conjunction with various cancers
(with resulting severe collagen degradation to hydroxy proline) still merit serious
consideration.
Fortunately for me, the botton half of page 25 was picked up just before sending
out that letter; as it later turned out to be the key lead (beneficial interaction between
increased levels of gamma-linolenic acid and Vitamin C to increase depleted anti-
inflammatory cellular hormone, Prostaglandin E-1) that at the end of 1980 cured; and has
continued to completely control my earlier extremely severe rheumatoid arthritis without
drugs. Very severe relapes in 1984 and 1988 were apparently caused by month long
inadvertent lack of the 9% gamma-linolenic acid in authentic evening primrose oil.
Dr. Robert Zurier's abstract (on page two of the letter to Secretary Mason) first
demonstrated in the U. S. the double-blind efficacy of natural oral gamma-linolenic acid
in control of rheumatoid arthritis. It was among only eleven of about 350 poster
presentations that day picked at the American College of Rhematology meeting of 3000
rheumatologists for oral presentation and questions in the final 90 minute period in the
auditorium.
With hope that rheumatoid arthritis and cancer patients in the coming decade might
progreessively get to effectively use high level, non-toxic ascorbic acid and gamma-
linolenic acid to help control their devastating diseases. I surely appreciated simple, non-
toxic complete control of my severe arthritis with no side effects over the past decade;
and even more when I noted poster studies at the Atlanta meeting showing severe
rheumatoid arthritis actually increases mortality comparable to severe heart problems.
Most sincerely,
9
Frank J. Ball
CC: Those copied on October 29, 1992 letter to Doctors Burton Lee, James Edwards,
Peter Gazes and James Spann
other evolutionary hypotheses will lie
in identifying the genes, perhaps hun-
dreds of them, that actually control the
molecules that thwart or promote se-
nescence. Many laboratories are now
ABC
busy attempting to tease out some of
the more influential genes.
Genetic Clues
ABC
Several investigators-among them
Rose, Jazwinski and Thomas E. John-
son of the University of Colorado-are
meeting that challenge by seeking genes
that can prolong life in relatively sim-
ABC
ple organisms. "Aging is a puzzle you
can understand only if you can compare
normal with postponed aging," Rose
says. "That tells you what the normal
MICHAEL R. ROSE of the University of California at Irvine has significantly extend-
animals are missing. With humans, you
ed the life span of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (far left) by selective
don't have a control group."
breeding. The insect here, shown in flight, was tethered to fishing line by a drop of
After Rose created his hardy fruit
Duco Cement for an experiment in which Joseph L Graves, now at Irvine, demon-
flies, he and his colleagues compared the
strated that the long-lived flies are stronger than normal specimens: they can keep
proteins made by the experimental and
themselves airborne longer under a range of temperatures and humidity levels.
normal insects. One clear difference
turns out to be that many of the long-
store more fat. (Rose says the insects
lived flies produce an unusually active
prolong life in the species by generat-
are so hefty that they spray fat in all di-
version of the antioxidant enzyme su-
ing random genetic mutations.
rections if they are touched even light-
peroxide dismutase, which means they
Like Rose's group, Johnson's team is
ly.) The flies are also less likely to dehy-
harbor a variant of the normal enzyme-
attempting to identify the genes that are
drate, in part because they stow more
specifying gene. Specifically, they pro-
differentially expressed in long-lived
of the carbohydrate glycogen.
duce a highly efficient version of the
and normal groups (differentially tran-
"The work on Drosophila is trial-run
form of the enzyme typically found in
scribed from DNA into messenger RNA,
stuff for doing the same thing in mice,"
the cytoplasm of cells. In fruit flies, as
which is then translated into protein).
Rose says. "If we can create long-lived
in humans and other organisms, super-
In 1988 he reported that mutation of
mice, specific genes, enzymes and cell
oxide dismutases defend against oxida-
a single gene called age-1 can increase
processes involved in longevity should
nve damage by helping to neutralize a
the average life span of C. elegans by
be revealed." As mammals, mice are ge-
dangerous free radical called superox-
about 70 percent. Strikingly, the mu-
netically closer to humans than are fruit
ide. The genetic difference implies that
tant worms produce elevated levels of
flies, and so they should have more
one reason normal fruit flies age more
antioxidants (both cytoplasmic super-
to reveal about how people age. Mouse
quickly is that their free radical defens-
oxide dismutase and an enzyme called
research should be more informative,
es are not as effective as those of the
catalase) and are more resistant to the
that is, if someone will foot the bill for
specially bred flies.
toxic effects of paraquat, a herbicide
long-term studies, which Rose estimates
Of course, the variant of superoxide
that leads to generation of the superox-
would cost about S10 million.
dismutase manufactured by fruit flies is
ide radical.
Findings related to Rose's are coming
sure to be just one of many factors that
The mutation in the age-] gene seems
out of Johnson's laboratory at Colora-
influence how quickly such flies age.
to inactivate that gene, which means the
do. Johnson and his colleagues have
Rose and Joseph L. Graves and their
encoded protein is no longer made. If
wielded selective breeding to produce
co-workers at Irvine have found, for in-
the protein's elimination leads to in-
long-surviving versions of a tiny soil-
stance, that the long-lived flies are more
creased production of antioxidants, then
dwelling worm known as Caenorhabdi-
resistant to starvation because they
it is possible that the normal protein
tis elegans. They have also managed to
inhibits production of those substances.
134
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN December 1992
er longevity assurance genes along with
LAGI to see whether the combined ef-
fects are additive, synergistic or, possi-
bly, destructive. And he expects to eval-
uate several other genes that his group
has reason to believe might influence
life span.
Radical Discoveries
Although the function of LAGI re-
mains a mystery, the discovery that the
antioxidant superoxide dismutase seems
to affect longevity in both Rose's fruit
flies and Johnson's worms dovetails in-
triguingly with growing enthusiasm for
Harman's free-radical theory. Johnson
THOMAS E. JOHNSON of the University of Colorado, who is examining petri dishes
notes that 25 years ago the theory was
with a technician in his laboratory, has prolonged the life of another multicellular
accepted as "an interesting hypothesis,
organism: the small, soil-dwelling worm Caenorhabditis elegans (far right). John-
perhaps true." Now increasing num-
son and his colleagues achieved the feat in two independent ways-by selectively
bers of investigators are seriously en-
breeding for longevity and by introducing a mutation in a single gene, called age-1.
tertaining the possibility that free rad-
The group is now attempting to clone the age-1 gene.
icals might indeed be a significant fac-
for in aging.
Much of the evidence for free radi-
Why would an organism deliberately
Jazwinski, aware that we have many
cals is still based more on correlation
inhibit synthesis of such critical com-
genes in common with an even more
than on clear demonstrations of cause
pounds? "I don't think its purpose is to
primitive, single-celled organism, has
and effect. For instance, if unrepaired
kill the worm at a certain age," Johnson
focused his attention on baker's, or
damage caused by free radicals were a
says. Rather he speculates that the in-
brewer's, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisi-
cause of aging, animals with a high
hibition may well be an undesirable ef-
ae). He has identified several genes that
metabolic rate-that is, who burned
fect of some other important function
prolong the yeast's life. The best stud-
oxygen relatively quickly-would likely
that has not yet been discovered. In oth-
ied of these, LAGI (longevity assurance
have shorter life spans than would spe-
er words, he thinks antagonistic pleio-
gene 1), is more active in young cells
cies that consumed oxygen more slowly.
tropy is probably operating.
than in old ones. Inducing extra LAGI
The faster metabolizers, after all, would
Once Johnson has cloned the age-1
activity in older cells, after expression
produce free radicals more rapidly. In-
gene-which he hopes to accomplish
has normally declined, extends their
deed, the basal, or resting, metabolic
soon-he plans to search for a counter-
life by about a third. Most important,
rate of a species is inversely related to
part in mice. If mice harbor a similar
elderly yeast cells bearing the extra-ac-
its life span; mice have a much higher
stretch of DNA, he might be on the
tive gene do not become immortal (as
rate than do humans, and they rarely
track of a specific gene that could also
cancerous cells in multicellular organ-
live more than three years.
be involved in human aging. Johnson is
isms do); they simply operate youthful-
Cutler of the National Institute on
fond of a line from Thus Spoke Zara-
ly longer.
Aging has uncovered other support. He
thustra, by Friedrich Nietzsche: "You
Jazwinski does not know the func-
finds that tissues of humans and other
have made your way from worm to man,
tion of the corresponding protein yet.
long-lived species produce more super-
and much in you is still worm." He is
Nevertheless, he has discovered that a
oxide dismutase overall and are more
hoping Nietzsche's observation extends
similar gene is expressed in certain hu-
resistant to oxidation. Cutler thinks he-
literally to the genetics of aging, although
man cells. He is now isolating the hu-
mans age in part because their superior
he realizes that the causes of senes-
man gene to determine whether it af-
protection against oxidation is nonethe-
cence in C. elegans may be quite differ-
fects the life span of any human cells.
less insufficient to protect them forev-
ent from those in humans.
He also intends to overexpress two oth-
er. The reactive oxygenated molecules
SCIENTITIC AMERICAN December 1992
135
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, South Carolina
August 13, 1979
Dr. Ewan Cameron, Linus Pauling Institute of Sci. & Med. Calif.
Dr. Joseph Gold, Syracuse Cancer Research Institute, New York
Dr. Harry B. Gregorie, 37 King Street, Charleston, S. C.
Dear Doctors Cameron, Gold and Gregorie:
As. you know, last summer and fall I wrote and distributed a
series of letters discussing some biochemical literature evi-
dence that seemed to help explain the decided efficacy of oral
Vitamin C in cancer control that Dr. Cameron has been demonstrat-
ing in Scotland since 1972. Major attention was directed at the
little realized extensive collagenase release characteristics
of cancer tissue since ascorbic acid inhibits collagenase re-
lease and promotes new collagen formation. The two-page summary
on Collagenase and Cancer, which was at the beginning of sixty
typed pages and graphs in two of the letters. to Dr. Gregorie,
is attached for possible referral. All subsequent reading seems
to support the thoughts expressed in this summary, but since it
now appears that animal cancer tissue can consist of half or
more unsuccessful defending macrophages, particularly in the
growth zone, then the detrimental collagenase release may be
largely coming from them, as will be discussed later. It would
thus be even more important to provide adequate ascorbic acid
to the defensive cells, since i't has been quite definitely
established that although macrophages already concentrate rela-
tively high levels of ascorbic acid, they become progressively
more successful with increasing blood levels of ascorbic acid.
It is very. satisfying to note during 1979 the increasing accep-
tance of the significance and medical value of oral Vitamin C
in cancer and other applications; and the beginnings of highly
merited grant support.
Literature evidence indicated cancer cells are progressively
more damaged in their capability to produce energy by oxygena-
tion; consequently from 60% to 99% of their nutrients end up
in the blood as lactic acid, instead of the usual carbon dioxide.
I had thus looked for any control approaches that recognized and
took effective advantage of this situation. Dr. Gold's approach
which used relatively nontoxic levels of oral hydrazine sulfate
to decidedly prevent the continuous energy draining cyclic
reconversion of lactic acid to glucose in the liver; and thus
reversed the drastic weight loss (cachexia) of cancer patients
seemed the most ingenious and most effective. Particularly now
that Russian medical reports also show cachexia reversal using
hydrazine sulfate on two-thirds of 225 evaluable patients with
metastatic cancer (where all other therapy had failed) it seems
totally inexcusable that Dr. Gold's grant requests for continued
basic studies have not been approved or supported; and no support-
ed clinical trials are underway in this country.
Doctors Cameron, Gold, and Gregorie
August 13, 1979
Page Two
Dr. Manfred Von Ardenne's opposite approach which induced the
cancer tissue to produce extremely high levels of lactic acid
by raising the glucose level of the blood five fold for several
hours had seemed equally brilliant. The resulting more than
ten fold increase in the acidity of the cancer cells and their
blood capillaries when combined with tolerable increases in
body temperature resulted in cancer kill throughout the animal;
and clinical follow-up was apparently getting underway in Dresden,
East Germany. When what seemed our already critical and very
seriously worsening military situation; prompted me this winter
to twice send long concerned letters to all Senators and Represent-
atives, it then seemed prudent, in consideration of Dr. Von Ardenne,
CO discontinue any further contact. This was most regretted
as he sent English translations and his techniques, approach, and
productivity in cancer metabolism were perhaps the most advanced
I noted in the literature.
When looking up the Cameron-Pauling excellent 19-page review paper,
"Ascorbic Acid and Cancer, in the February Cancer Research, I
also came across L. W. Oberley and G. R. Buettner's seemingly
very significant paper in the March issue of that journal.
The latter paper clearly demonstrated that cancer cells no longer
possess the protective superoxide dismutase enzyme in their
mitochondira. This was intensely interesting; since as indicated
in last year's letters, cancer cells have lessthan half as many
mitochondria as the cell from which they were derived. Progressive
damage to a cell's mitochondira would result in a progressive
loss of the cell's ability to oxidize to carbon dioxide all of
the pyruvic acid which is produced from glucose sugar or fatty
acids in the cytoplasm of the cell. Since the cytoplasm can
convert any excess pyruvic acid to lactic acid, this acid would
then be excreted into the blood, as happens with all cancer cells.
Progressive destruction of the protective superoxide dismutase
in the mitochondria, by various feasible methods would result in
a build up of superoxide radicals in the mitchondria. These
radicals can reduce and thus inactivate the ferric iron in all
the oxidative enzymes of the mitochondria, but they can be
decomposed by reacting with ascorbic acid,
Earlier interest in superoxide and superoxide dismutase was briefly
covered on page 16F of my July 24, 1978 letter to Dr. Gregorie; so
I distributed some copies of this superoxide dismutase paper by
Oberley with appended handwritten comments.
My somewhat excessive spare time reading was stopped when I
collapsed at work; and spent a week in the hospital and three
weeks at home during April at doctor's orders, with a diagnosis
of bradycardia of the heart from sustained extreme exhaustion,
In the month or so before then, using recent books, I had
attempted to simultaneously understand the relative metabo-
lism and hormonal aspects of 1) cancer cells which continu-
ally divide, 2) brain cells which never divide, as compared
to 3) certain body cells and most plant cells which can
fluctuate wildly in division or energetics. I was then mainly
interested in brain energy metabolism and the relative effects
of the major hormones, such as the epinepherines (Adrenalin) and
Doctors Cameron, Gold, and Gregorie
August 13, 1979
Page Seven
6. The epithelium of the eye is exposed to higher oxygen levels
and exhibits higher dismutase levels. Cataracts seem to form in
this region and analyses of eyes with cataracts seem to be lower
in dismutase. You may also remember last year an indication
that eyes with cataracts appeared to have low ascorbic acid
contents. Both superoxide dismutase and ascorbic acid convert
superoxide radicals to hydrogen peroxide which is decomposed by
our catalase enzyme.
Absence of Superoxide Dismutase in Cancer Cell Mitochondria
1. Early analysis methods assessed the superoxide dismutase
level of cells by the efficacy exhibited for destruction of
superoxide radicals. Conversion of normal cells to cancerous
form did not change the indicated dismutase level very much; and
it might either increase or decrease.
2. When it was realized that the superoxide dismutase in the
cytoplasm contained copper-zinc catalyst, as opposed to manganese
catalyst in the mitochondria dismutase; methods were devised to
determine them separately.
3. Oberley's paper (Cancer Research 39, 1141; April 1979) now
gives clear indication that the manganese superoxide dismutase
is diminished in all tumors analyzed. The manganese dismutase
has been indicated to be actually absent in the tumor cell lines
of rat H 6 hepatoma, mouse L 1210 leukemia, mouse C 3H mammary
carcinoma, mouse S 91 melanoma, and Morris hepatoma 3924 A.
Human leukemia cells in Japan also exhibited low levels or
absence of manganese superoxide dismutase.
4. Isolated mitochondria fragments from cancer cells gave indirect
indication of substanial superoxide radical formation which was
reduced to zero by superoxide dismutase addition. Superoxide
dismutase will not penetrate through cell membranes, but when
added does decompose any superoxide in the serum.
5. Since the superoxide radical appears to be an intermediate
in many enzymatic oxygenation reactions, superoxide dismutase
control of leakage or excessive concentrations that might damage
other portions of the mitochondria should be most important.
It would be expected that as mitochondria lost their superoxide
dismutase capability, the superoxide and resulting hydrogen perox-
ide or hydroxyl radicals could attack the mitochondria membrane
phospholipids, DNA, or RNA. If the cells which were being sub-
jected to sustained slow mitochondrial damage had progressively
built up sufficient capability to produce energy by glycolytic
conversion of pyruvic acid to lactic acid in the cytoplasm, they
might then survive and become cancer cells. This generally seems
to take a long, long period involving at least 30 - 50 divisions
over the years for most of our body cells, which derive their
energy basically from the mitochondria.
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 84: 147-153 (1988)
3 Kluwer Academic Publishers - Printed in the Netwerlands
147
Invited Paper
Role of antioxidant enzymes in cell immortalization and transformation
Larry W. Oberley¹ and Terry D. Oberley2
Radiation Research Laboratory, Department of Radiology, 14 Medical Laboratories, The University of
Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; 2Pathology Service, William S. Middleton Veterans Memorial Hospital,
2500 Overlook Terrace, Madison, WI 53705, USA
Accepted 29 May 1988
Key words: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, immortality, cancer, mitochondria
Summary
The role of antioxidant enzymes, particularly superoxide dismutase (SOD), in immortalization and malignant
transformation is discussed. SOD (generally MnSOD) has been found to be lowered in a wide variety of tumor
types when compared to an appropriate normal cell control. Levels of immunoreactive MnSOD protein and
mRNA for MnSOD also appear to be lowered in tumor cells. Tumor cells have the capacity to produce super-
oxide radical, the substrate for SOD. This suggests that superoxide production coupled with diminished
amounts of MnSOD may be a general characteristic of tumor cells. The levels of MnSOD in certain cells corre-
lates with their degree of differentiation; non-differentiating cells, whether normal or malignant, appear to
have lost the ability to undergo MnSOD induction. These observations are used to elucidate a two-step model
of cancer. This model involves not only the antioxidant enzymes, but also organelle (particularly mitochondria
and peroxisomes) function as a dominant theme in carcinogenesis.
Introduction
tionship between free radicals and cancer have
focussed on measurements of antioxidant enzyme
The hypothesis that free radicals are important in
activities of normal and tumor cells. These enzyme
carcinogenesis is not a new one. Enthusiasm for this
activities will give an indication of how well a cell is
idea has waxed and waned over the years. Definitive
protected against active oxygen species. Moreover, in
evidence on this hypothesis has been difficult to ob-
normal cells, since the antioxidant enzymes are indu-
tain because of the elusive nature of free radicals. Re-
cible, the levels of the antioxidant enzymes reflect
cent advances in techniques and understanding have
the levels of their substrates - the active oxygen spe-
resulted in a clearer picture of the role of free radicals
cies. As we will see later, the latter assumption may
in cancer. It is the purpose of this paper to critically
not be true in tumor cells.
review the current state of our knowledge as well as
The data on the levels of antioxidant enzymes in
suggest new avenues of study.
tumor cells has been reviewed a number of times [1,
2, 3]. The general picture that has emerged is that
tumor cells have abnormal activities of the antiox-
Antioxidant enzymes in tumor cells
idant enzymes when compared to an appropriate
normal cell control. In this paper, antioxidant en-
Because of the difficulty in accurately measuring
free radicals in living cells, investigators of the rela-
zymes will mean the superoxide dismutases (SOD),
catalases (CAT), and peroxidases, of which
Doctors Cameron, Gold, and Gregorie
August 13, 1979
Page Thirteen
7. As mentioned in the previous letters, J.U. Schlegel (Tulane
Medical et.al., J. Urol., Baltimore 103: 155-59 (1970) believed
that the irradiation from chemilumiscent urine might be a factor
in bladder cancer; and found that ingestion of 1-2 g. of ascorbic
acid stopped chemiluminesence; and was beneficial in the prevention
of bladder carcinoma. This irradiation was accelerated by bladder
carcinogens, such as nitrosoamines or the natural 2-hydroxy
anthranilic acid. It would now appear the observed chemiluminesence
probably came from superoxide released as the body attempted to
oxygenate carcinogens or from macrophages attempting to handle
incipient cancer nodules. Sufficient ascorbic acid should
remove escaped superoxide radicals in solution and stop chemi-
luminesence. Cancer prevention and control may also have come
from improved macrophage vitality and kill capability which
accompanies high blood ascorbic acid levels (Book 6, pages 81-82)
8. This chemiluminescence recalls a book by Albert St. Gyorji
related to bioelectronics and cancer which was perused last year.
This twenty year old book described and interpreted a series of
simple but ingenious experiments where he dissolved into solvents
various vitamins, biological CO factors, biologically active
chemicals such as 2, 4-dinitrophenol, etc. that he felt were
involved in electron transfer reactions. By freezing the solvent
solutions to the very low temperatures of liquid nitrogen; he
was able to excite electrons to high energies by irradiation,
and then follow the return of the sufficiently slowed electrons
to their normal state by observing the immediate fluoresence
or delayed phosphoresence in varying colors. His interpretation
of these phenomena and their relationship to life processes and
animal experiments was quite fascinating. Superoxide radicals
would be right in line with his bioelectronic thinking, but I.
am not up on that area.
Potential Cause and Significance of Falling Ascorbic Content of
White Cells and Increasing Ascorbic Content of Cancers
1. The level of ascorbic acid in the white cells of cancer
patients progressively drops Eo quite low levels as is partially
indicated in the graph on the following page from my July 7, 1978
letter to Dr. Gregorie.
2. This graph plots the increasing level of hydroxyproline excreted
in the urine of mainly cancer patients compared to the decreasing
ascorbic acid content of their white blood corpuscles. Hydroxy-
proline comes basically from decomposed collagen fibers; and
apparently results in cancer patients, because the collagenase
enzyme released from growing cancer tissue breaks down the collagen
fibers that enmesh the cells of adjacent normal tissue. Hydroxy-
proline release would be expected to rise much faster when the
collagenase releasing cancer cells grow on the bone, as the bone
is mainly collagen fibers and mineral.
3. The dramatic effect of 1 g. ascorbic acid in reducing
hydroxyproline excretion is shown in Table Z, alongside the
graph. This is presumably due Eo the capability of ascorbic
acid to turn off collagenase release; and promote collagen
Doctors Cameron, Gold, and Gregorie
RELATIVE LEVELS OF LEUCOCYTE ASCORBIC ACID AND URINARY HYDROXYPROLINE
(with effects of lg. ascorbic acid injestion on urinary hydroxyproline levels)
Basu, Raven, Dickerson, and William's Data
European Journal of Cancer 10, 507-09 (1974)
Table 2. Urinary excretory levels of hydroxyproline
after a loading dose of ascorbic acid
LAA level
UHP level
Case
Site of
(µg/10'
(hours after a dose of
no.
turiour
W.B.C.)
ascorbate)
0
4
8
12
1. Breast
9.8
84
50
46
52
2. Breast
6.0
160
72
54
49
3. Breast
5.8
260
65
13
22
280
4. Breast
7.2
112
78
56
42
5. Breast
10-3
91
47
43
33
6. Larynx
30.2
35
32
32
36
*
7. Pancreas
22.0
50
46
6+
57
8. Bronchus
27.3
38
35
30
30
9. Rectum
20.2
40
32
30
30
10. Rectum
23.2
20
12
12
18
240
One gram of ascorbic acid was administered to each
patient. Urine was collected at four-hourly intervals
for 12 hr after the vitamin intake. Urinary excretory
levels of hydroxyproline were expressed as mg/g. crea-
tinine.
200
HYDROXYPROLINE excreted in urine, mg./g. of creatinine
Averaged Patient Values
- Breast Cancer with Bone
Metastases (22 Female)
160
X
- Other Malignant Cancer
(15 Male, 11 Female)
- Non-malignant Bone (?)
Diseases (6 Male, 4 Female)
X
- Normal Individuals
(7 Male, 3 Female)
120
Individual Patients
*
- Breast Cancer
- Other Malignant
80
X
40
0
10
20
30
ASCORBIC ACID, Micrograms per hundred million white blood corpuscles
Doctors Cameron, Gold, and Gregorie
August 13, 1979
Page Sixteen
FALLING VITAMIN C CONTENT OF VITAL ORGANS AND CELLS WITH INCREASING AGE
Book (4) Pages 78-79
Table 4.1. Ascorbate content (mg/kg wet weight) of human tissue (averaged
values from the references)
Newly
Old
Tissue
Fetuses
born
Children
Adults
people
Reference
Adrenals
1190
Bessey and
King (1933)
1820
700
500
400
100
Giroud (1938)
780
760
Ingalls (1939)
581
540
393
230
Yavorsky et al.
(1934)
(4000 5000, unspecified age)
Roston (1962)
Leucocytes
(250 - 350, unspecified age)
Masek and Hruba
(white cells)
(1964)
(250 - 350, unspecified age)
Lowry et al.
(1946)
Brain
460
310
110
Yavorsky et al.
-
(1934)
(For contents of cerebral cortex and cerebellar cortex see section 4.6)
Pituitary
889 (0-9); 950 (10-14) 770 (20-29 yrs)
(yrs)
(yrs)
488 (30-39 yrs)
447 (40-49 yrs)
521 (50-59 yrs)
Schaus (1957)
511 (60-69 yrs)
497 (70-79 yrs)
455 (80-89 yrs)
(Hypophysis)
750 (24 yrs. female); 650 (48 yrs, male)
Melka (1936)
Eye lens (5-55 with cataracts)
310
Euler and
Malmberg
(1936)
(For extensive analysis of eye tissues see Tables 4.2 and 4.3)
Pancreas
365
265
152
95
Yavorsky et al.
(1934)
300 (20 mnths)
Thymus
304
255
46
Yavorsky et al.
(1934)
Kidney
153
110
98
47
Yavorsky et al.
(1934)
350
100
70
50
30
Giroud (1938)
Liver
149
155
135
64
Yavorsky et al.
(1934)
370 (20 mnths)
Bessey and King
(1933)
200
150
40
Giroud (1938)
385
-
Ingalls (1939)
Spleen
155
135
127
81
Yavorsky et al.
(1934)
Myocardium
73 (0-9 yrs) decreasing to 49 (80-89 yrs)
Schaus (1957)
The blood level stays around 10mg/kg in health even on aging.
Increased ascorbic acid intake increases its level in vital organs.
Doctors Cameron, Gold, and Gregorie
August 13, 1979
Page Twenty-five
Vitamin C and immunity: an assessment of the evidence
W. R THOMAS & P. G. HOLT* of Immuning Medicane. Chanal Contre. Road,
Harrow. Middleser. and Department of I witersity of " CHEER Autralia. Parth Medical Centre. Shewian
Park, 11 estern Austraisa
Clin. exp. Immunol. (1978), 32, 370-379
SUMMARY
The high concentration of ascurbate in leucocytes and its rapid expenditure during infection and
phagocytosis suggests a role for the vitamin in the immune process. Evidence published to date
shows an involvement in the migration and phagocytosis by macrophages and leucocy as well
as the induction and expression of delayed hypersensitivity. Its effect on antibody production and
complement levels is controversial but probably minimal. This study suggests there is roum for
further investigation into the effect of ascorbate on immunity, particularly with defined poper
lations, but cautions the use of megadose therapy.
300
Bacterial equipients - marriphage
250
200
0
01
25
1.2
(94)
(73
(47)
Ascorbate time)
Fic. 1 Phagocyne activity of personal microphages sfter incubation with media supplemented with -
hate. Monolayer cultures of mouse personesi mas cophares were incubated for 20 hr with the concentration of
assendate shown Media containing fresh ascoriate was then suded and after I hr their ability to
heat-killed radiolabelled Preudomanas accurated "" measured. Results are the nicht of three cultures and
show the amount of redioactivity. in hacterial courvalents. accumulated after 2 hr incubation in media contain.
ing 18.8x 10' bacteria per ml. Details of the method used have been published (Thomas, Holt & head. 1974)
parentheses. Some cell death occurred during the incuhation and the percentage viability of the cultures is shown in
Vitamin C Regulation of Prostaglandin El Hormone Formation
While looking for the latest information on macrophages in human
cancer, I looked into the August 1979 issue of Medical Hypotheses,
and found (p. 849-58) an article by D. F. Horrobin, et. al., entitled
THE REGULATION OF PROSTAGLANDIN EL FORMATION: A CANDIATE FOR ONE
OF THE FUNDAMENTAL MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN THE ACTIONS OF VITAMIN C.
Dr. Horrobin is at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal and
wrote the book, Prostoglandins: Physiology, Pharmacology and
Clinical Significance (1978). He reviewed in this paper as indicated
in the abstract below the potential significance of his recent
publication (Prostaglandins Med. 3: 129-37, 1979) which showed
that ascorbic acid enhances the formation of prostaglandin hormones,
such as PEG1.
ABSTRACT
Vitamin C stimulates the formation of PGE1 in human platelets." The effect
occurs over the physiologically relevant range of concentrations. PGE1
of required for T lymphocyte function and plays a major part in the regulation is
and immune responses. PGEI is also important in the regulation of collagen
of ground substance metabolism, in cholesterol metabolism and in regulation
PGEI could account for many of the features of scurvy and for of
responsiveness to insulin. It is proposed that defective formation of
reported therapeutic effects of vitamin C. If correct, vitamin many C will the of
value only in conjunction with an adequate supply of dihomogamalinolenic be
all required to achieve this.
acid, the precursor of PGEI. Essential fatty acids. pyridoxine and zinc are
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, S. C. 29401
May 12, 1983
The Honorable George Bush
The Vice President of the United States
Executive Office Building
Washington, D. C. 20501
Dear Mr. Vice President:
The level of dynamic movement, short-term clinical potential, and increasing
public awareness of certain effective, available, and nontoxic cancer therapies
(which are based on sound scientific and medical principles) have now reached
such a degree of medical and possibly political significance that proper execu-
tive understanding and handling of this vitally important situation actually
merits your attention.
Just reading the enclosed one and a half-page letter to Dr. George Keyworth II,
will briefly aquaint you with earlier attractive nontoxic cancer therapies which
are being tragically neglected. It will also permit some understanding of the
enclosed astounding clinical results on liver cancer obtained this week from
South Africa, which resulted (as postulated several years previously) from oral
administration of an available nontoxic natural fat containing gamma-linolenic
acid.
This week on May 11 the Public Broadcasting System TV presented for one hour a
very different "War on Cancer" than is normally seen. I fortunately got to see
the second half, which presented both the clinical potential of Dr. Joseph
Gold's hydrazine sulfate for control of cancer cachexia (acute weight loss) and
Dr. Ewan Cameron's approach using very high oral Vitamin C to restore immune
capability and quality of life in terminal cancer patients. Nobel Laureates
Linus Pauling and Albert Szent-Gyorgyi emphasized the National Cancer Institute's
sustained acute deficiency in recognizing or supporting attractive nontoxic
approaches to cancer therapy. Dr. Vincent DeVita pleasantly kept trying to
justify NCI decisions. I heard the first half presented convincing biostatisics
to demonstrate that the NCI's ten-year massive toxic approaches were largely
losing not winning the cancer war, while causing extensive needless patient
distress.
During this week exactly five years ago, the enclosed three letters were written
to Dr. Ewan Cameron in Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Joseph Gold in Syracuse, New York,
and Dr. Manfred Von Ardenne in Dresden, East Germany. These letters were to
encourage what had seemed the three most hopeful nontoxic cancer therapies noted
in the medical literature; and to send each of them the medical literature of
the other two. Dr. Cameron had pioneered the use of very high oral levels of
Vitamin C to stimulate the immune system and thereby improve the quality of life
and longevity of 500 terminal cancer patients per year in a Scotland District
General hospital. Dr. Gold, Director of the Syracuse Cancer Research Institute,
had brilliantly deduced the actual simple cause of the drastic and accelerating
weight loss (cachexia) that kills more than half of cancer patients; and discovered
that nontoxic levels of available hydrazine sulfate minimized weight loss and
thereby benefited thousands of cancer victims. Dr. Von Ardenne was a very noted
German atomic physicist with his own Institute, who had shifted his emphasis to
become the most advanced European scientist in both local and whole animal body
hyperthermia, which specifically killed just cancer tissue with properly induced
heat. He also ingeniously combined both high body heat with five times normal
blood glucose levels for some hours. This caused both the animal cancer and its
more effectively destroyed.
metastases to produce such excessive cancer derived lactic acid, that they were
The Honorable George Bush
-2-
May 12, 1983
These nontoxic cancer therapies (high oral Vitamin C, hydrazine sulfate, and
hyperthermia) are being specifically brought to your attention at this time,
because they constitute both available and effective nontoxic approaches to
cancer therapy which separately and in combination seem to offer such striking
present clinical potential to the 450,000 Americans who each year discover
serious cancers, and the roughly similar number who die of it. If you get to
look at the attached letters sent to Doctors Wyngaarden, Keyworth and DeVita and
the thirty senators on the committees that control the funding and activity of
the National Cancer Institute, I hope you will appreciate why they are being
repeatedly approached.
Since these relatively effective and nontoxic cancer therapies (Vitamin C,
hydrazine sulfate, and hyperthermia) have been tragically undersupported, often
condemned, and thus underutilized over the past five years I, like others, have
persistently attempted to arouse greater understanding and support at Senatorial,
National Cancer Institute, and Executive levels. Senator Hollings has also
written letters during this period relative to the NCI's total lack of support
of Dr. Joseph Gold's grant requests to extend his brilliant studies on cachexia
control. The NCI's consistent refusal of scientific or clinical support on
hydrazine sulfate and their negative interpretation of successful Russian studies
seriously retarded acceptance of this available and effective nontoxic product.
The American Cancer Society, however, removed Dr. Gold and hydrazine sulfate
from their "unproven methods" blacklist in 1980 and their recent financial
support of studies underway at the UCLA School of Medicine has resulted in the
positive paper, Association Between Improved Carbohydrate Metabolism and Weight
Maintenance in Hydrazine Sulfate Treated Patients with Cancer Cachexia, (enclosed
summary), by R. T. Chlebowski et al, to be presented at the May 22-24 meeting of
the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Senator Hollings also wrote Dr. Vincent DeVita and HHS Secretary Richard Schweiker
about the NCI's continuing refusal of grant support to Dr. Harry H. LeVeen, who
pioneered nontoxic clincal hyperthermia therapy in this country throughout the
past decade; and who in conjunction with Dr. Ronald Pethig in England developed
the most advanced and successful radiofrequency hyperthermia equipment, clinical
techniques, and electronic prediction and evaluation methods. With the removal
of hyperthermia from the American Cancer Society's "unproven methods" blacklist
in 1980, NCI support was markedly increased over the next two years, as discussed
in the letters to Dr. Wyngaarden and others. Dr. LeVeen's and the Medical
University of South Carolina's brilliantly advanced proposals, equipment, and
clinical techniques, were presented in their responses to the five-year NCI
Phase I Request for Proposals - Evaluation of Equipment for Hyperthermic Treatment
of Cancer awarded to five separate centers by the end of 1982; and the follow-up
five-year RFP - Hyperthermia Quality Assurance Program being now awarded; but
these were totally rejected. This occured despite the fact that his equipment
and techniques were the most advanced and successful in this country for treating
deep cancers, such as lung, and his sustained effort without any NCI support was
a major factor in medical acceptance of the clinical potential of cancer hyperthermia-
therapy.
The enclosed letters to Doctors Wyngaarden, Keyworth, and DeVita, and a visit
last October to Dr. Chabner at the NCI also implored support for the grant
request of Dr. Nicholas DiLuzio, Chairman of Physiology at Tulane Medical, to
accelerate broad acceptance in cancer control of his highly encouraging nontoxic
natural immune stimulant, beta-1,3-glucan, but this grant request has just also
been turned down by the NCI.
The Honorable George Bush
-3-
May 12, 1983
Finally, these letters and one to Dr. Jan Van Eys were to bring to their specific
attention the likely major nontoxic cancer control potential inherent in natural
and available gamma-linolenic acid which is the precursor of our "one" series
prostaglandins (cellular hormones). Since October 1982, five medical reports
and letters have been published on test tube studies in three South African
medical universities that clearly demonstrated the striking capability of natural
gamma-linolenic acid to induce "reversibility" or marked growth inhibition on
both mouse and seven human cancer cell lines with no effect on comparable normal
cells.
Now the enclosed published letter (mentioned at the beginning of this letter)
shows major shrinkage of distended cancerous livers in liver cancer patients
following use of oral gamma-linolenic acid for just one day or for two months,
plus substantial pain reduction. In this first clinical test, both patients
still died quickly like the 46 other liver cancer patients. On the other side
of this "reversibility of cancer" letter is copied the INTRODUCTION and SUMMARY
from the section on liver cancer in the definitive 1982 book on cancer, which
realistically presents the almost complete lack of effective medical therapy for
liver cancer. Of interest, a Mother Superior Emeritus with earlier intestinal
cancer was told she apparently had developed metastatic liver cancer a year ago,
but right away she took high oral levels of Vitamin C and evening primrose oil,
which contains gamma-linolenic acid. This week, a year later, she is apparently
in much better shape.
With one-fourth of us now expected to get cancer, we deserve much more executive
consideration and encouragement of these viable nontoxic cancer therapies to
more quickly minimize our extensive personal financial costs and grief and to
reduce the likely tremendous federal health care expenses due to cancer. Four-
fold reduction in our earlier worst cancer killer from increased use of Vitamin
C is now widely acknowledged, as discussed in the letter to Dr. Van Eys; so why
not promote much more extensive and quicker. evaluation of such approaches in
cancer therapy.
Since the odds are low that this letter will get through to you, it is also
being sent to others with some potential and interest in beneficially influencing
this situation.
Most sincerely,
thank I. Ball
Frank J. Ball
FJB/dr
Enclosure
cc: Pres. J. B. Edwards
HHS M. Heckler
Sen. O. G. Hatch
Gov. R. W. Riley
Dr. H. H. LeVeen
Mr. L. Mosedale
Sen. E. F. Hollings
Sen. C. Pell
Dr. Ewan Cameron
Sen. S. Thurmond
Dr. N. R. DiLuzio
Dr. B. Chabner
Sen. L. Weicker
Dr. Jan Van Eys
Dr. V. T. DeVita
Dr. Joseph Gold
Dr. D. R. Horrobin
Senators on Full and Appropriations
Dr. W. P. Leary
Committees on Health & Human Services
Dr. Linus Pauling
Dr. Ronald Pethig
Dr. G. A. Keyworth, II
Dr. J. Booyens
Mr. Armand Hammer
Dr. J. H. Foster
Dr. C. F. van der Merwe
Dr. William P. Longmire
Dr. Mille H. Wiley
Dr. John A. Montgomery
May 24, 1991
The Honorable John H. Sununu
Chief of Staff to the President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D. C. 20500
Dear Governor,
Enclosed is a letter written today to Senator Hollings and a series of letters written in
haste to Senator Thurmond, Senator Hollings, Representative Arthur Ravenel, and Dr.
James E. Edwards, President of the Medical University of South Carolina. These letters
all deal with the distinct possibility that President George Bush's atrial fibrillation and
hyperthyroidism may have been brought on by chronic magnesium deficiency which was
induced by sustained high-level stress and further aggravated in the short term by greater
exercise than normal. Today's letter to Fritz also brings up recent evidence of the
interaction of thyroxin and Vitamin C, and the recommendation that all patients with
Grave's Disease be given ascorbic acid supplements.
Sustained stress thus not only can cause decidedly increased urinary excretion of your
critically needed magnesium, but also consumes our limited body supply of ascorbic acid.
How much you're affected by such losses is influenced by your own biochemical individuality,
but it sure seems wise to have increased levels of such critical co-factors when there are
no negative side effects.
In 1983 my wife and I met George and Barbara Bush at a reception for 50 couples at the
home of Dr. John Hawk around the corner from US. Barbara and her sister attended
Ashley Hall in Charleston, as did Mib. The Charleston visit may have been a screen since
I believe [ later heard he went directly to the Caribbean and helped arrange the Grenada
success. The only reason I payed $500 to attend was to meet him and briefly bring up
cancer control opportunities and to pass on the enclosed letter. He expressed interest
and put the letter in his coat pocket, and I got the satisfaction of trying.
I hope these letters might possibly get through to you since you too may want to read
about and give consideration to the likely potential cardiovascular benefits from high oral
beta-carotene.
With the hope and belief that some good may come from all this,
Frank J,Bald
Frank J. Ball
CC: Senator Ernest Hollings
Dr. James E. Edwards
Senator Strom Thurmond
Dr. Marcus Newberry
Representative Arthur Ravenel
Dr. Peter Gazes
Feb 6. 1982 letter to Doctors Burton Iee and John sunume and President Bush
9
capability prompted acute fear and my first ever letters to Congressmen (top of page 1
and pages 39-46 of "memory jogger" Two Years Trying to Aid...) These long letters to
Senator Hollings which discussed mainly the Russians threat, but partially on cancer, were
sent to all Congressmen and hand delivered to very many Senator's offices; and got a
much greater response than expected. This week a Senator Moynihan Letter To New York
on Payback Time came in which got started coming down here way back then.
Courageous executive assessment and adroit marshalling of support to solve by far the
most acute problems of the past decade, were magnificently handled by Presidents Regan
and Bush. Almost the whole world. now benefits from their determined and sustained
steps with just adequate Congressional support that solved our acute Russian Communist
and Mid-East problems. It was never truer: NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND HAS
SO MUCH BEEN OWED BY SO MANY TO SO FEW.
POTENTIAL FOR REDUCTION OF BURGEONING HEALTH COSTS FROM DEGENERATIVE
DISEASES IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION
The President in his State of the Union message to congress has just focused on the mind-
boggling 800 billion and expected 1600 billion annual health costs; and particularly the
critical need to reduce present costs and restrain rapidly rising costs.
The biggest cost and the biggest opportunity to reduce cost will likely be among the
various degenerative diseases which cause such havoc and cost to the elderly population.
The cost to die of cancer in the US is now astronomical and you are subjected to much
unpleasant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We elderly are also smitten with a number
of other degenerative diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis, heart attacks, strokes,
diabetes, arteriosclerosis, emphysema, etc. These are generally brought on by metabolic
derangements induced by aging and by deficiencies that accompany aging. Such diseases
have been minimized by proper supplementation with inexpensive micronutrients.
Recent studies indicate that in most degenerative diseases a peroxidative attack on the
cell membranes of the tissue involved is occuring which makes them leaky. Other essential
parts of the cell are also being attacked by the excessive oxidants. High levels of various
anti-oxidants which are generally low in the elderly then usually seem to be decidely
beneficial.
You won't find many medical professionals in this country who believe in or even know
about the effective use of the micronutrients discussed in this long letter. However, if
what is presented is valid (and it seems to be) and if the clinical demonstrations were
supported to the extent they deserve (based on its evident potential) then very significant
reductions in private and public health costs should be achievable with a much happier
elderly population. Pharmacological levels of natural supplements are low cost; and when
demonstrared effective do not have to wait a decade or more for approval as is the case
with drugs.
It may even be worth while for a very busy president to look over parts of the information
enclosed; to make up his own mind whether certain areas discussed (some of which are
just now receiving some public attention) may merit consideration for personal use by
himself and his wife. Executive support, if justified, would very materially shorten the
time to widespread proper use, could substantially reduce health care costs, and improve
public health.
If you just briefly look over the titles of the enclosed program (behind the stressed donkey)
that is being given next week in Arlington covering the health effects of pharmacological
levels of vetamine and antioxedants quickly appraiseth state of astend
its possible relivances.
1/11/93 for you Two was given at The white three gate to Dr. Bentom Lis secretary, along with handwritten letter
This is discussed on last page of James mason letter; and a copy 7 the program and abstracts
to president relative to story W dayson and boywith opinal tifida during comference. tgo
+ allintic St.
Charleston, SC.29>
(Typed copy of handwritten letter)
August 8, 1992
Dear John and Molly,
Many thanks for your August 2 letter which enclosed 8 copy of the New York Times
July 29 story on selenium deficiency; and the much higher levels of stroke deaths for men
and women that is so evident across the South. The stroke death rate is also twice in
the lower half of Georgia and South Carolina compared to the upper; likely because the
vital minerals selenium and magnesium have been washed from the soil and waters.
This identical presentation (New York Times Service) ran the same day in our Post
& Courier and featured Dr. Curtis Hames in Georgia who I happen to know; but did not
include the last paragraphs discussing Dr. Herbert Langford. I had met him several times;
but did not know he had died from stroke last year. Also the Charleston paper did. not
include the great maps showing state death rates in all states.
This story really brought back memories of the past decade since it was attendance
after my retirement at 8 1985 lecture by Dr. Herbert Langford at the Medical University
on Calcium, Potassium, Sodium and Hypertension; that happened to progressively spark my
later consuming interest in magnesium deficiency and the heart. After his talk I met and
talked with Dr. Langford about some studies in Scotland and Japan; where low calcium
markedly affected the properties of desmosome cells in the gut lining, resulting in increased
colon cancer. This was his first talk at the Medical University; and we had never met.
He amazingly remembered we had dated the same girl; and he wrote requesting my
information as he was pushing the possible importance of low calcium on hypertension.
When digging into the medical literature on calcium and magnesium using computer
searching the detriments of low magnesium seemed really important; so he was called and
pertinent medical literature sent up to Dr. Langford, who was head of Endocrinology at
Mississippi Medical.
The MUSC library 1963 book The Role of Magnesium in Biological Processes by J.
Aikawa was copied and read. Then his 1972 The Relationship of Magnesium to Disease
in Domestic Animals and in Humans and his 1982 Magnesium: Its Biological Significance
were found in the library in Denver (where visited a son on fellowship) copied, read, and
then Aikawa visited in Denver in early 1986. He gave me the 1980 Royal Society book,
Environmental Geochemestry and Health from which 1 have copied page 195; which very
clearly indicatres the importance of selenium which you two had stopped taking.
Dr. Curtis Hames, featured in The Times story, introduced himself to me at a 1987
Conference on Cardiovascular Epidemiology; because Dr. Peter Gazes, MUSC head of
Cardiology, had sent him a copy of my thirty page 1986 letter on the serious dangers to
our hearts from our chronic dietary magnesium deficiency and almost no magnesium in
our water. We had 8 long discussion and some subsequent interchange of literature. He
had won the MacArthur Award back then; and usefully pushed the real danger of selenium
deficiency particularly in the South and on increased stroke death.
It was most upsetting to see about Dr. Lengford's stroke death; since he and his
charming wife seemed so vibrant and healthy when I last saw them at the 1990 Hypertension
Conference in Jackson. He had invited Dr. Edward J. Rocella (quoted in this story) and I
to supper at their home the night before the conference.
Local physician
on front lines in
cancer research
TAXOL ON WAY: Dr. William T. Creasman's
research efforts have brought about the federal
approval of the cancer-fighting drug taxol. which will
be available this week.
gynecologic cancer meetings all
By LYNNE LANGLEY
Of The Post and Course staff
over the globe
Ilis list of awards and honors fills
If not for Charleston oneologist
two pages and includes recognition
Dr. William T. Creasman, the new
as one of this country's best physi-
cancer-fighting drug taxol might
cians by magazines such as Town
still be confined to laboratories and
and Country and Good Housekeep-
a few research centers Instead. the
ing. as well as books wich as the
drug will begin flowing to doctors
1992 volume, "The Best Doctors ⑉
and patients this week
America
In record time. the federal gov.
Born in Miami, Art. Creasman
ernment approved the use of taxel
graduated from Raylor University
based In large part on research by
College of Medicine in 1960. He be
Creasman and a medical group he
came interested in gynecologic on-
founded.
cology all the cancers of the (if
Studies by Creasman and the Gy
male pelvis, and specifically
necologic Oncology Group have
surgery during his residency at the
revolutionized the treatment of en.
University of Rochester Medical
dometrial and vulvar cancer Less-
Center
deforming operations helped as
in those days. less than 1 percent
many women as radical surgery
of residents pursued a fellowship
Medicine gained a new understand-
He tackled a series of fellowships
ing of the disease process.
and advanced study at Rochester
His studies paved the way for CH-
and later at the University of Tex-
dometrial cancer patients to take
as MD Anderson Hospital and Tu-
once-feared hormones. which can
mor Institute III Houston
relieve menopausal symptoms and
Ilis wife and two children 1ook it
prevent osteoporosis and heart dis-
in stride. he said with a smile
ease, he said.
"There was a running joke around
The professor and chairman of
our house What's one more
the Medical University of South
year
Carolina Department of Obstriries
He returned to Rochester 10
and Gynecology credits the work of
teach III 1966. then to the tumor in-
the entire group rather than his
stitute to teach surgery
own. Some studies have made ma-
In 1970. he became director of
jor contributions and others will
gyneridagic oncology at Doke Um
have a major impact. he said
versity Medical Center. served as
Staff Photo by Cameron Yamell
"You are happy to see something
full professor and ran the gynero
Charleston oncologist Dr. William Creasman talks with a nurse recently at
you do come to fruntion You do not
logic oneology division
hit a home run every name " is
He could have spent his eareet
MUSC.
nice to think about the successes).
there, he sand Then with a smile II..
but you do not dwell on them You
added, "I need a new challenge now
Taxol offers promise in cancer battle
go forward"
and then
And be has
Be looked at medical centers
had. At this point. taxol is equiva-
Most women are or become re-
He helped plan and develop the
around the country and in 1986
By LYNNE LANGLEY
lent to platin. Whether or not it will
comprehensive cancer center at
chose MUSC. he said, because her
sistant to platin and no chemother-
(X The Post and Counter staff
Duke University and 18 helping 1.1
liked Chan leston and prospects at
work out in the end awaits studies
apy had been found to help them.
Taxel expert Dr. William T.
It may very well be an extremely
be said.
found the Hollings Oneology Center
MUSC
Taxol is not a cure but does give
al MUSC He has written 240 pub
"I saw the potential for this place
Creasman is looking for more an-
important drug, but the data is pre-
swers
liminary."
a patient more time. he said The
lished scientific papers. 13 bank
10 take all In the last form years. "
"Everyone has jumped on taxol
Studies he conducted at MUSC
drug is expensive and has side ef-
chapters, six abstracts and 10 all
has been expensatial
as the silver bullet," the Medical
showed taxol markedly shrank to-
feets. including possible heart and
dio-visual productions
"Being on the ground floor of two
mors in one-third of ovarian cancer
bone marrow problems, he added
lie has served as a chairman III
cancer centers has been exciting
University of South Carolina pro-
patients. That is very good, he said,
Ovarian cancer has been called
officer in a long list nf medical and
It's also be Jun"
lessor said.
"In the last 20 years. platin was
considering none of those patients
scientific organizations and has ad
the most exciting cancer drug we
was improving on platin
Please see TAXOL. Page 4-B
dressed or inoderated international
Please see DOCTOR, Page 4-0
Cinto workers earn
- notion cook
DOCTOR
now has accepted about three doz-
gynecologic cancers. Therapies
en institutions. including Duke and
have been changed considerably.
from Page 1-B
recently MUSC.
"For me. the advantage of be-
A single center might need eight
longing to the group is I have ac-
Creasman helped Duke plan for
or 10 years to complete a study
cess 10 drugs that are not
and gain the coveted National Can-
but a cooperative group like COG
available." he said. adding that
cer Institute designation as a com-
helps institutions work together
1v NCI has supplied taxol
prehensive cancer center one of 28
and gain information much more
now "That puts us on
in the nation. Now he serves on the
quickly. he said. That means 3 new
edge It allows us to do things
steering committee as MUSC seeks
drug might be available years
could not do otherwise"
that designation for the Hollings
sooner or a new surgical treatment
Lowcountry patients benefi
Oncology Center.
tested and accepted much fastel.
receiving medicine and treath
MUSC's bid only can be helped by
he said.
offered only at a few places ID the
his taxol research and membership
The GOG taxol studies on ovari-
country. he pointed out.
in the Gynecologic Oncology Group
an cancer, in which he takes part.
"Some people might say. 'You
he helped found 20 years ago, he is
played a key role in the U.S. Food
are experimenting.' But it gets us
convinced. The studies here prove
and Drug Administration's approv-
further along the information
MUSC IS on the cutting edge of
ing and releasing the drug so quick-
curve. That is why we are as far
cancer work. he said. "It shows we
ly for treatment of resistant ovari-
along with taxol. because of the
have a track record. That is ex-
an cancer, he said.
GOG studies. Hopefully. the pa-
tremely important."
"The group has made a major,
tients of tomorrow will benefit
The group. sponsored by NCI,
major impact on the way we treat
from the patients of today."
TAXOL
manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb
Creasman then began'a Phase 3
Co He had no figures for a course
study of newly diagnosed
from Page 1-8
of treatment. but doctors have esti-
NCI. the sole source of tax
mated it might run $24.000 to
time. authorized the study b:
the silent cancer." Creasman said
$36.000
Creasman and other institutions b.
of 20 000 to 21 000 cases diagnosed
Taxol will 50 available iv physi-
longing to Gynecologic
in this country each year
cians in Charleston and across the
Group which be helped found
Because symptoms such as indi-
country by Tuesday. Mogelever
Results from MUSC and the
gestion and pelvic pressure are
said There IS and will continue to
er centers went to GOG
subtle. most cases are not diag-
be enough taxol to meet the de-
computer IS analyzing the
nosed until they are very advanced.
mand 01 patients and clinical stud-
running quality control checks. R
he said That means the cure rate
ies such as Creasman IS conducting.
sults will be announced when GOG
is very low and up to three-
Mogelever added
meets early next month. he ex-
quarters of patients die. he said.
In the 1960s. the National Cancer
pects.
Taxol also may fight other types
Institute first tested a crude ex-
Last spring. he began a study to
of cancer Creasman noted MUSC
tract from the bark of the relative-
compare the success of taxol with
15 studying taxol in endometrial
ly rare Pacific yew tree and saw
other drugs in newly diagnosed
cancer. breast cancer and solid tu-
anti-cancer activity in the rest
ovarian cancer patients he said
mors. he said
tube. "It has a unique mechanism
The first 150 of 600 expected pa-
So far. studies have shown taxol
of action. completely different
tients are being treated with vari-
only effective against resistant
from any we had seen. Creasman
ous combinations of drugs includ-
ovarian cancer. cancer that has not
said.
ing platin. its compounds and tax
responded to state-of-the-ar: drugs
The extract was tremendously
Answers from one study form
such as platin and its compounds.
toxic and in short supply he said
questions for the next one. a pt
he said.
Phase 1 studies in humans. which
cess Creasman calls leap-froggin:
In four to SIX weeks. Creasman
usually demand 12 to 18 months.
He also IS looking at taxel dos
hopes 10 know whether taxel will
instead took 10 years
Higher doses affect bone PLATT
help newly diagnosed ovarian can-
NCI began Phase 2 research on
he said. but molecular technology
cer patients as : "first-line treat-
specific cancers in the late 1980s
has provided a new drug that sum-
ment."
The studies. including Creasman's
ulates bone marrow and could h.
First-line treatment now is not
work at MUSC. tested only cancer
fight that side effect A dout...
justified. he said. because of toxici-
patients who had failed on other
0: taxol appears more promises
tv. thus side effects. expense and
treatments. The studies. completed
than anything yet seen. he said
potentially limited supplies
in late 1991. showed the drug par-
We have not found the magn
The average cost of a cycle of
ticularly promising in ovarian can-
bullet (for gynecologic cancers
taxol IS $695.25 according 10 Ber-
cer. with a 30 percent to 35 percent
But taxol is one step along the
nie Mogelever. spokesman for taxol
success rate in resistant cancer
way
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, S. C. 29401
February 4, 1983
Dr. Jan Van Eys, Chairman
Department of Pediatrics
M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston
The University of Texas
Houston, Texas 77030
Dear Dr. Van Eys:
I very much appreciated the opportunity in December to talk with you in Houston about aspects of
your 1982 publication Tumor-Host Competition for Nutrients and the timely 1982 book, Molecular
Interrelations of Nutrition and Cancer that you co-edited. Your comment in the preface that
thirty years had elapsed since one of these annual M. D. Anderson Symposiums on Fundamental
Cancer Research had earlier focused on Nutritional Factors in Cancer Research seemed quite
germane.
Our discussion, which was shortened by needs relating to the tragic shooting at M. D. Anderson,
briefly covered a series of topics involved with nutrition and cancer. It seemed worthwhile to
emphasize some of these in more detail, since better understanding may increase the potential for
earlier broad acceptance. Since my spare time scientific interests over the past five years have
been deeply involved in the metabolic interactions of ascorbic acid, hydrazine sulfate, or gamma-
linolenic acid with human cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes our discussion with reference to
your book and paper touched on these interrelationships as covered below.
The Effect of Dietary Vitamin C Levels on Carcinogenesis
The increasingly informed acceptance that Vitamin C, particularly from uncooked vegetables and
by direct supplementation, may have been of major importance in the progressive four fold drop
over the past fifity years in the death rate of the earlier worst cancer killer (stomach) seems most
encouraging. There has been a steady drop in the death rate for men from stomach cancer, which
in 1930 was about twice that of the next worst cancer killer (colon and rectum), and is now almost
one-third of colon and rectum cancer, even though there has been no drop since 1930 in the high
case fatality rate if stomach cancer occurs. Deaths from colon and rectal cancer in men and
women rose steadily and substantially from 1930-45, then remained about the same for men, but
have dropped steadily by about one fourth for women since 1945.
It was thus most encouraging to see the enclosed couple of pages of comments from the chapter,
Th- Influence of Nutrition on the Development of Cancer Immunity and Resistance to
Mesenchymal Diseases, by Dr. Robert A. Good (Research Director of Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center) making the case, that stomach cancer has likely been dramatically reduced by
increasing levels of dietary Vitamin C and possibly Vitamin E. Cancer forming nitrosoamines,
which result from microbial conversion of dietary nitrite constituents may be scavenged by Vitamin
C in the diet, as postulated by J. H. Weisburger et al in 1977. Robert Good's recommendation that
Vitamin C trials, alone or combined with Vitamin E, be conducted in China and elsewhere in the
Far East where stomach cancer is still the number one killer (about ten times our present stomach
cancer rate); and where oesophageal cancer may be their second cancer killer thus seems most
appropriate. His favorable comments were also noted on the potential prophylatic importance of
W.R. Bruce's findings that the mutagenic nitrosamines were present in the feces and colon
contents of about 40% of the persons tested on the usual American or Canadian diet; and the
indicated ability of Vitamin C to completely eliminate these nitrosamines from the gut contents
and feces if larger amounts of Vitamin C (400-1000 mg/day) are taken. W. R. Bruce's chapter, On
Early Measures of the Effects of Diet Change with Relation to Cancer Incidence indicated a
number of provocative approaches he is employing to clarify in a short time the effect of fecal
mutagens on colon cancer formation and the effects of intervention with Vitamin C and Vitamin E
on this development. His studies following the appearance of colonic polyps reminds me of Dr. J.
U. Schlegel's studies of the development of bladder polyps and their control with oral Vitamin C.
76 NUTRITION AND CANCER AND MESENCHYMAL DISEASES
In the book molecular Interrelations of nutrition and Cancer (1982), MS. amott, J. I/BA Eyo, and Y-M Wang-Colitors
1 that A. good (Rusanch Derects), fernandes, and N.K. Day - memorial Pancer center
NUTRITION AND CANCER AND MESENCHYMAL DISEASES
77
malignancies, and spontaneous malignancies. Dietary restriction, however,
must be understood in fundamental molecular, cellular, endocrinological, or
of both esophageal and stomach cancers. Surely this very safe and inexpensive
immunological perspective if these dramatic experimental observations are to
nutriment, often in short supply in the regular diet in Eastern countries, could
be translated to practical application in man. Already, progress is being made
be tried as prophylaxis against one or two of the most common cancers in
in this direction.
the world. Hopefully, if this approach is taken, the attempt at prophylaxis will
Dietary manipulations that of themselves may be useful in addressing cancer
be made in the form of a properly controlled clinical trial.
are those in which a nutriment or dietary constituent may be added to the
Recent studies by W. R. Bruce in Toronto have generated another set of
diet. One example is vitamin C. Vitamin C administration may provide a powerful
observations (Bruce et al. 1977) that might be translated into an effective prophy-
approach to cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Before the mid-1930s, stomach
lactic approach to the most common cancer in America-colon cancer, Bruce
cancer was the most frequent cause of death from cancer in the U.S. Almost
discovered that feces and colon contents of persons on the usual American
miraculously, in the mid-30s stomach cancer began to decline in frequency in
(or Canadian) diet frequently contain a somewhat labile N-nitroso compound-
the U.S., until, at present, it represents a cancer of relatively low frequency.
a nitrosamine-that he has shown to be mutagenic. This substance can be com-
When it occurs. however, it is still a highly lethal cancer, having essentially
pletely eliminated from the gut contents and feces if larger amounts of vitamin
the same case fatality rate that it did in the early 1940s.
C (400-1000 mg/day) are taken as part of the diet. Vitamin E supplementation
The dramatic decrease in deaths from this form of cancer and the increase
is also effective in inhibiting formation of this potential carcinogen. It is thought
in deaths from lung cancer represent the most dramatic change to occur in
that, as oxidizing agents in sufficiently large amounts, these substances can
cancer incidence in modern medical history. There is little question that, if
inhibit the formation of the potential carcinogen that is usually produced by
cigarette smoking could be stopped, most cases of lung cancer would gradually
action of the microbial flora. If this is the case, prevention of polyp formation,
abnormal differentiation of the gut epithelium, and cancer formation should
lisappear. However, in spite of solid knowledge concerning the etiological role
follow appropriate nutritional therapy.
of cigarette smoking in pathogenesis of lung cancer, little progress has been
nade in decreasing the carcinogenic habit-the smoking of cigarettes. This would
Perhaps trials to prevent cancer by these nutritional manipulations could
nvolve deprivation of something considered desirable by some, and it is not
be carried out in families with high frequencies of colon cancer. Alternatively,
patients with primary immunodeficiencies who have high frequencies of cancer
occurring, at least for the population in general.
In contradistinction to that pertaining for lung cancer is the situation with
of the upper as well as lower GI tract and in whom action of microorganisms
might be pathogenetically important, or even patients who have been subjected
espect to stomach cancer. The case can be made that stomach cancer has
to partial or complete gastrectomy or vagal nerve operations for treatment of
cen dramatically influenced by a dietary additive, vitamin C. The decline of
tomach cancer in the U.S. began about 10-15 years following the advent of
peptic ulcers, would be good subjects. GI cancers occur in very high frequency
in these populations. Thus, it can be reasoned that sound dietary approaches
iniversal refrigeration and the introduction of widespread refrigerated shipping
to inhibition of cancers may be developed and that this line of inquiry can
if food. These changes made possible the present American diet, which puts
generate much important information in approaching several cancers of high
resh fruits and vegetables on most American tables at almost every meal. This
frequency in different parts of the world.
ictary change, coupled with promulgation of widespread use of vitamin C as
routine for children by pediatricians and general practitioners, may have led
the decline of stomach cancer.
NUTRITION AND IMMUNITY
By inhibiting the formation of nitrosamines high in the gastrointestinal tract,
The relation of immunity to nutritional state has received much attention
itamin C may have led to the prevention of stomach cancer (Weisburger et
in recent years. Indeed, considerable concern has focused on the immunodeficien-
I. 1977). This postulate can and should be tested in controlled studies in China
cies associated with the protein-calorie (PC) malnutrition syndrome, which is
nd other areas of the Far East where stomach cancer is still rampant. In the
widely distributed over the world (Kulapongs et al. 1977). In most settings,
ar East and in China in particular, stomach cancer continues to be the number
protein and PC malnutrition have regularly been associated with profound de-
killing cancer. Further, over all of China the number 2 or number 3 killing
fects of cell-mediated immunities. By contrast, hyperglobulinemia and hypergam-
incer is esophageal cancer. Here too, formation of nitrosamines from dietary
maglobulinemia, quite regularly found in these syndromes in most areas, have
instituents by microbial catalysis of nitrosamine formation may be the crucial
been taken as evidence of a relative sparing of humoral immunity during protein
bw Vatamin B, will a to transform to concerous
thogenetic mechanism (Hsia et al. 1981). Administration of vitamin C alone
and PC malnutrition. The analysis of the influence of individual nutriments
together with vitamin E to prevent this critical nitrosation and thus the
and of protein or PC malnutrition per se on immunological functions from
rmation of chemical carcinogens seems one reasonable approach to inhibition
studies of these syndromes under field conditions has been hampered by the
behaved
restored
in
mind
Dr. Jan Van Eys
-2-
February 4, 1983
He had noted that urine can glow in the dark, and this glow ceases when a person takes Vitamin C.
Since he thought such irradiation might be a factor in causing bladder cancer, he checked the
effect of sustained oral Vitamin C on the bladder wall and found a significant reduction in bladder
polyp formation and even a reduction in existing polyps which in time tend to become malignant.
The paper covering that work significantly influenced Dr. Ewan Cameron's decision to try high (10
g/day) oral levels of Vitamin C on terminal cancer patients in Glasgow, Scotland, beginning in 1972.
Indication of this unique restorative capability of Vitamin C was also well brought out in the
chapter, Inhibition of Transformation and Oncogenic Progression by Ascorbic Acid: A Possible
Role in Chemoprevention, by W. R. Benedict and P. A. Jones. Cell lines that would transform to
cancerous form when treated with carginogens did not do so when exposed to Vitamin C up to three
weeks later. Cell lines that had already been transformed by the action of carcinogens could be
irreversibly transformed back to normal type cells by Vitamin C exposure unless the transformed
cells had gone through additonal passages.
"Reversibility of Cancer:" Gamma-Linolenic Acid Deficiency-Dependence of Cancer Cells
We got to discuss only very briefly the three enclosed October publications that I had just received
supporting the apparent validity of Dr. David R. Horrobin's detailed 1980 predictions on the use of
gamma-linolenic acid in cancer control, which seem to be of true breakthrough importance with
regard to the specificity of cancer cell growth control, the lack of effect on normal cells and the
potential practical clinical significance. In vitro experiments from three different medical schools
in South Africa clearly demonstrated that gamma-linolenic acid supplemention at 1 to 60 parts per
million in the growth medium of a mouse melanoma cell line, a human oesophageal carcinoma cell
line, and a human liver carcinoma cell line progressively and dramatically reduced cancer cell
growth and changed morphological features of these malignant cells while having no effect on the
similar normal cell lines.
The enclosed brilliant 1980 paper by Dr. Horrobin marshalled the literature data and its
significance, which indicated that transformed cells and malignant cells appear to have largely lost
their delta-6-desaturase enzymatic capability. This enzyme normally converts the usual abundant
linoleic acid to low levels of gamma-linolenic acid which is taken up by cells and then converted as
needed to the "1" series of prostaglandins (cellular hormones). He thus postulated in detail why this
specific deficiency could be a fundamental factor in malignancy; and why replacement of gamma-
linolenic acid might reverse the malignant trend.
The critically designed in vitro experiments of the South Africans now appear to have clearly
demonstrated that low levels of gamma-linolenic acid (1-60 mg/liter in the growth medium, and we
have about five liters of blood): 1) reduced the growth rate of a cultured human hepatoma (liver
carcinoma) cell line by up to 87% compared to the untreated hepatoma control over a period of
four days, 2) induced over a period of seven days pronounced morphological changes in a human
oesophageal carcinoma cell line which culminated in cell death, and 3) achieved excellent
replication and confirmation of gamma-linolenic efficacy (including up to 70% reduction in growth
rate) in 156 separate cultures of a mouse melanoma cell line assessing cell viability, proliferation,
and rates of DNA and protein synthesis using radioactive thymidine and methionine. No effect of
gamma-linolenic acid was noted on the normal cell lines, and would not have been expected since it
should already be produced in adequate quantities.
Duplicated below are the two perceptive and presicent paragraphs on cancer in Dr. Horrobin's 1979
MEDICAL HYPOTHESES publication, The Regulation of Prostaglandin El Formation: A Candidate
for One of the Fundamental Mechanisms Involved in the Actions of Vitamin C. This was expanded
a year later into his 18 page MEDICAL HYPOTHESES paper, The Reversibility of Cancer: The
Relevance of Cyclic AMP, Calcium, Essential Fatty Acids, and Prostaglandin El; which prompted
the South African studies:
Dr. Jan Van Eys
-3-
February 4, 1983
CANCER
The relationship between vitamin C and cancer is of major scientific and
public interest and has recently been the subject of a major review (43).
Early descriptions of scurvy suggest that, contrary to what might have been
expected, there is enhanced cell proliferation with lack of the normal lines
of demarcation between organs. Not mentioned in the review was the relation-
ship between vitamin C deficiency and SjUgren's syndrome (44). This is
a notorious example of a situation where the lymphocyte proliferation in
the salivary or other glands is often extremely difficult to distinguish
from malignant change. For example the latest edition of Harrison's
Principles of Internal Medicine states of those with SjBgren's syndrome:
"These patients are considered to have a disorder falling between neoplasia
and hyperplasia which is diagnosed as pseudolymphoma" (54).
The roles of vitamin C deficiency in the development of cancer and of high
vitamin C intake in the treatment of cancer (43.55.56) are subjects of
major controversy. However the case for an adequate trial of such a non-
toxic substance is very strong. The concept that vitamin C enhances PGE1
strengthens this case in two Major ways. First there is-strong
evidence that the mechanisms whereby the immune system may naturally
eliminate cancer are dependent on effective T lymphocyte function. PGE1
activates T lymphocytes. Second it"has recent been demonstrated that a
number of transformed cell lines lose the ability to convert linoleic acid
to gammalinolenic acid (35.36). Loss of this enzyme may be a marker of
malignant change. One consequence of It is that cancer cells are unable
to make their own GLA, DGLA or PGE1 because they cannot utilise precursor
linoleic acid. The significance of this observation is only beginning
to be explored but the possibility that it is related to defective GAG
formation and excess proliferation is a real one. High vitamin C levels
would be expected to counteract the defect, partly by enabling cancer
cells to make the best of any residual DGLA available to them and possibly
also by enabling non-cancer tissues to increase their formation of PGE1
which might possibly regulate cancer growth. At present it must be stressed
that these are no more than piausible possibilities.
Personal Exposure to Interaction of Gamma-Linolenic Acid, Vitamin C, Arthritis and Cancer
Since early 1978, except for most of 1980 when 1 was incapacitated with rheumatoid arthritis,
much of my spare time has been spent in very directed medical library reading using computer
searching as necessary in an attempt to better understand and present natural metabolic generation
and control of human cancer, with particular emphasis on the beneficial interactions of Vitamins C
and B1, hydrazine sulfate, radiofrequency hyperthermia, and gamma-linolenic acid as present in
evening primrose oil. Early efforts were aimed at hopefully helping Dr. Ewan Cameron broaden his
understanding of the metabolic aspects involved.in his relatively successful clinical studies
employing a 10g/day dosage of oral Vitamin C on about 500 terminal cancer patients per year at
the District General Hospital outside of Glasgow, Scotland. Quite extensive personal attention was
also directed at trying to promote NCI support of the very innovative and practical contributions
evidenced in Doctors Ewan Cameron's and Linus Pauling's use of Vitamin C for cancer control, Dr.
Joseph Gold's successful use of hydrazine sulfate to control the devastating weight loss (cachexia)
of cancer, and Dr. Harry H. LeVeen's successful development of both equipment and clinical
techniques to kill deep tumors by using radiofrequency hyperthermia without damage to normal
tissue. While these efforts substantially expanded the knowledge and interest of some important
legislative and executive persons in these fields, almost complete lack of NCI support continues.
Dr. Pauling did finally arrange to get some support of animal studies using Vitamin C on his seventh
grant request, and arranged for some NCI support of limited clinical trials on Vitamin C at Mayo.
My rheumatoid arthritis seems to have been controlled with no deleterious side effects for two and
a half years by two to three grams of evening primrose oil containing about 8% gamma-linolenic
acid (150-250 mg) and two to four grams of Vitamin C per day as discussed in last weeks letter to
Dr. Carlton Hazelwood at Baylor Medical. I also knew a number of people in Charleston and
elsewhere who have been taking this oil, (now available in General Nutrition Corporation stores in
most shopping malls) in combination with Vitamin C for various types of arthritic pain, emphysema,
multiple sclerosis, etc., with evident palliation in most instances and with no observable
detrimental effects over the last year and a half. The risk as I understood it to cancer victims who
were taking very high levels of Vitamin C to improve their quality of life seemed right low
compared to possible benefit, if they also wanted to try some of this vegetable oil.
Dr. Jan Van Eys
-4-
February 4, 1983
Combined Oral Use of Vitamin C and Oral Primrose Oil (Gamma-Linolenic Acid) on Human Cancer
Over the past three years I have been approached by intimate friends who had relatives or friends
with cancer; and who were familiar with my active reading on cancer and Vitamin C. Several
cancer victims have also called me from out of state. When it seemed propitious, I would suggest
that they buy the Ewan Cameron-Linus Pauling book, Cancer and Vitamin C; which is still available
along with H. L. Newbold's supporting book, Vitamin C Against Cancer in paperback form on
shopping mall bookshelves. If that interested them, I suggested progressively increasing their
Vitamin C to as high a level as feasible, as determined by the apparent tendency to get diarrhea at
just above the necessary levels to substantially increase blood ascorbic acid. In the past eighteen
months because of my familiarity and experience with gamma-linolenic acid, I have also suggested
to some who had observed a benefit from Vitamin C that they might find a possible additional
benefit from progressively taking from 1 to 8 evening primrose oil capsules since 1 had taken these
levels. There has thus developed a small amount of anecdotal experience when taking this
combination which may interest you, even though I have not even seen most of the individuals
involved. As far as I know all these cancer patients continued their treatments, if they were being
given any treatment at that stage. This I very much favored even though I personally felt in some
cases it might be detrimental.
In October I happened to have written a letter to an out of state cousin prompted by a long phone
conversation from her. A typed copy of this handwritten letter is enclosed as it discusses some
anecdotal experience with Vitamin C and evening primrose oil. While I presume this combination is
probably being tried by cancer patients somewhere else in this country and abroad; I have not seen,
read, or heard anything about it. As is perhaps normal in cancer, there have been some significant
patient changes in the three and half months since the October letter and one of those five have
died as discussed below.
The 65-70 year old mother whose inflammatory breast cancer had seemed to be in remission had
seizures in November; and a CAT Scan indicated metastasis to the brain. She was thus given
radiation treatments of the brain and did not have any "C" or evening primrose for probably six
weeks. It turned out she had earlier taken her "C" down to half or less because she was doing fine
and it was salty in the water. It seems dangerous to take the "C" level down and metastases should
be harder to control. I understand her breast became inflamed and black and blue again during the
six weeks period. Growth problems were also noted in the other breast; and a double mastectomy
was recommended but not taken. Early in January she progressively took her "C" back up to the
20's and progessively quadrupled the actual 1-2 capsules per day of evening primrose oil she had
been taking for the previous year to 7-8 now. I am told that both breasts now look normal; and she
is now walking over a mile a day. A surgeon I know who happend to have examined her breast at
the beginning when it was inoperable; and then perhaps six months later when it had returned to
normal appearance told me at that time that he believed her cancer had earlier been misdiagnosed;
since he had never known or heard of an inflammatory breast cancer remission.
The 80 year old man with pancreatic cancer on Long Island continued to take the powdered "C" in
juice, continued living alone without pain, and was visited off and on by his grandson who lived
near. He would not take the capsules of evening primrose oil or hydrazine sulfate (at my
suggestion they got him to rub some of the oil on his hands and knees); and he died "peacefully" in
mid December at home without pain; but extremely thin.
The Mother Superior Emeritus according to her brother-in-law last week continues to do very well
on the same dosages of "C" and evening primrose oil.
Over this period the partially paralyzed scientist in Alabama increased his level of crystalline
sodium ascorbate-ascorbic acid to 35 g per day which is the highest with which I have been
involved. This was giving him-some edema and he has ordered and will try calcium ascorbate. He
sounds in good spirits at home; but his recent paralysis continues with no return of feeling; and he
planned to increase the 4 capsules of evening primrose to 6 or possibly more.
4 Atlantic Street
Charleston, S. C. 29401
(Typed copy of handwritten letter)
October 24, 1982
Dear Charlotte,
In trying to handle cancer, I feel present evidence indicates it's a
smart move to immediately take Vitamin C beginning at 2 grams and progres-
sively increase at 2g per day to as high as you can. If one gets into
loose bowel problems, drop back for a day or so and then keep trying to
move up. Depending upon your need, you may have to stop at 15, 20, 25,
30 or more grams (1000 mg) per day. Hold at that; but check periodically
to see if you need more, and don't go back down unless loosening of the
bowels indicates a need to move lower.
Vitamin C is normally present at 10 mg/liter in the blood serum; but
high oral levels of "C" can force this up several fold. The Vitamin C
in your white cells is concentrated about 40-80 times the level in the
blood serum. When we have cancer the level of "C" in the blood goes way
down, finally to levels close to scurvy, which is close to zero in the
blood serum. Vital organs and white cells hang on to Vitamin C, but at
much lower than normal levels. It isn't realized, but cancer tissue can
be composed of 5-85% of incompetent white cells (mainly the large
macrophages), which are trying to control the cancer; but which are not
effective at too low levels of ascorbic acid. Dr. Ewan Cameron, in his
studies in Scotland, showed it is possible to overload the body with
dying cancer tissue, if one starts at 10g "C" per day, but found no
problem if he started at 2g and increased progressively at 1-2g per day.
Ascorbic acid ("c") at physiologically feasible levels has also been
shown to cause cancer cells to revert back (transform) in test tube
studies. This depended on the ascorbic level and probably also the
extent to which the cancer cell had become glycolytic (producing latic
acid VS. carbon dioxide) since more advanced cancer cells did not revert
back.
Biostatistics seem to indicate little, if any, long-term benefit of the
various chemotherapies on tumors. On about 15% of cancers (childhood
leukemia, Hodgkin's disease) and similar white cell diseases, such as
Burkitt's lymphoma (mostly in South Africa) and in testicular cancer one
can get fair efficacy with chemotherapy. The chemotherapy kills back
the cancer and other dividing cells, so doctors prescribe it, and patients
want it; but it plays hobbs with the body's immune system.
I have seen various people take Vitamin C in combination with chemotherapy
and apparently do much better than expected. Dr. Ewan Cameron, who is
responsible for this Vitamin C development, has kept the level constant
at 10g Vitamin C/day to get more reproducible and acceptable data. For
the about 500 terminal cancer patients per year he treats in a District
General Hospital outside of Glasgow, Scotland, he says all cancer patients
benefit in the quality of life; and a fortunate few undergo dramatic
recovery.
Recent studies on rats in Japan indicate ascorbic acid prevents the very
detrimental killing of heart muscle cells by the most widely used cancer
drug, Adriamyacin. The Japanese were beginning to conduct clinical
studies on this potential.
A mother of a friend had inflammatory breast cancer with swollen nodes
above and below the shoulder, black and blue arm, and couldn't close her
hand, showed cancer cells in the breast on diagnosis (that wound wouldn't
heal) and the cancer was diagnosed as inoperable. Her medical son up
-2-
North requested she be given only low levels of chemotherapy, since this
form of breast cancer goes quickly to termination. On her own she went
up progressively to 25g "C" per day, and took Evening Primrose Oil at, I.
believe, 2g (4 capsules) per day. This was sodium ascorbate-ascorbic
acid fine crystals from Bronson's Pharmaceuticals, La Canada, California
(about $20 per 1000g, 2.2 1b). When a teaspoon of this (4g, heaping 8g)
is dissolved in orange juice you can hardly tell it. When she went up
to 25g of "C" her wound progressively healed, the black and blue left
her arm, she could then use hand and arm, the nodes went down, and the
breast apparently went from hard, hot, inverted nipple, etc. to, I
heard, fairly normal. It's a year later and she walks four miles a day
with her husband, continues the ascorbic, and wasn't interested in the
mastectomy, when she improved sufficiently for them to recommend it.
I hear from the son of an 80-year old fellow on Long Island, who has
cancer of the pancreas (with a bypass operation last year to reduce
jaundice). He has been taking 10-15g of calcium ascorbate from Bronson's
($15 per lb.) which his son got for him when he got worse about six
months ago. He briefly tried sodium ascorbate-ascorbic acid; but had
some swelling in his legs (probably from water retention) and I suggested
the calcium form, which he has stayed with, has felt much better and has
been free of pain during this time, while staying by himself at home.
He hasn't yet taken Evening Primrose Oil or the hydrazine sulfate, that
his son in Albany bought for him. A Mother Superior Emeritus (sister-
in-law of the son) who had earlier been operated on for cancer of the
intestines, and recently had CAT Scan indication of liver cancer, decided
to take 15g of "C" and 2g (4 capsules) of Evening Primrose Oil, She
continues to do very well, and is really delighted to have also gotten
rid of severe arthritis, particularly in the hands and feet. The son
told me when they operated on the liver, they found no cancer.
I talked today with a scientist at NASA, in Alabama, who has now controlled
bone cancer pain for three years with about 25g of "C" a day. He took
it at a gram an hour all day at the beginning to minimize the pain. He
became paralyzed from the waist down recently and is bedridden at home
and it turns out he had lowered his "C" to half some time back. He has
been taking 4g of Evening Primrose for the past month and thinks he's
having some feeling coming back now in his legs. The wife of another
friend who was operated on the second time for brain cancer and had
irradiation earlier this year is now taking 20g of "C"; and I hope she
will begin Evening Primrose. Adequate Vitamin C seems to improve the
quality of life, minimize expense, and you may be really lucky. It
seems metabolically sound why it should work.
Best of luck to your friend,
Cappy
P.S.
This ended up long and rambling, but when someone considers supplemental
or alternate therapy, and he must make the decision on his own, he needs
information. The doctors can't support such unexpected therapy, and
don't yet understand why they should. This letter is called "anecdotal"
and doesn't involve any doctor's information. I'm seeing and hearing
about more and more that seems very provocative; and it fits what I
metabolically expect from my literature reading on ascorbic acid, hydrazine
sulfate, cancer hyperthermia, and B-1,3 glucan. The middle two of those
were on the American Cancer Society's quack list (unproven methods)
until the past couple of years. I just heard last week that the American
Cancer Society finally has come around and is finally going to support
the work on hydrazine sulfate at UCLA Medical that came through successfully
on a double blind trial.
Dr. Jan Van Eys
-5-
February 4, 1983
The friend's wife who had been operated on the second time for brain cancer, had been irradiated,
and was then taking 20 g of "C" did start taking evening primrose oil at 2 capsules and raised it to 4
and now 6 capsules. She had lost thirty pounds and a week or so ago indicated she had gained five
pounds, but told me on the phone today her doctor had just determined her weight had stabilized.
An additional friend who had prostate cancer with testicular removal and metastasized to the bone
has worked up to 16 g of "C" over the past six weeks and has progressively increased the evening
primrose oil from 2 to 4 to 6 capsules a day. He also takes a super B complex, 800 I.U. units of
Vitamin E, and 10,000 units of Vitamin A. He is the first to have mentioned outside that he was
also taking such unorthodox treatment at my suggestion, and a couple of his business acquaintances
told me at a party this week that I better take out malpractice insurance, but that he looked
better.
Hydrazine Sulfate and Human Cancer
An earlier anecdotal instance involved Vitamin C, evening primrose, and hydrazine sulfate and was
that of an 82 year old man in Toledo who had had jaundice in the eyes, pain and debilitation, and
had been opened and closed with the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. He had phoned a distant
surgeon, who had suggested he contact me; and I talked with him a dozen or more times over the
five months until he died. He had immediately started the "C" and slowly took it up to 24 g, had
gained some weight and felt better, then built up to 4 capsules of evening primrose and felt
substantially better and more energtic so that he and his wife took trips and went to their vacation
cabin in Canada. At some time (possibly halfway) he took the hydrazine sulfate at the levels
recommended by Dr. Gold and felt this gave him still more stamina and the last I heard from him
he had gained a total of fifteen pounds from his low point, and was still taking morning swims in
Lake Erie. According to his wife he got progressively and very rapidly weaker over a period of one
to two weeks and died I believe at home. She indicated over the phone that he had appreciated the
improvement in stamina, etc., but what really mattered had been the ability to stop his pain. She
also mentioned that in retrospect that his final rapid decline seemed to have coincided with his
stopping the hydrazine sulfate. The data on page 577 in my 1982 copy of Cancer - Principles and
Practice of Oncology indicates to me that when cancer of the pancreas is just opened and closed
only about two percent get beyond six months. Since he seemed to be benefitting from 4 capsules
of evening primrose oil per day and medical studies on scleroderma using 4, 8 and 12 capsules
indicated progressive marked improvement; then higher levels might have helped him more also. I
presume the hydrazine sulfate was a major factor in his weight retention.
The significance of Dr. Joseph Gold's widely accepted hypothesis that clarified the causes of the
devastating weight loss of cancer are highlighted below in the last paragraph of George M. Padilla
and Ivan L. Cameron's chapter, Nutrient Control of Proliferation in Normal and Tumor Cell
Populations from your book.
The tumor cell in the heat may have a lesion that allows is to proferme
even when profiferation of normal host cells - depressed. According to Gold
(1974). the profilerating termor cell availy was glucose for glycolyns and pro-
dues lactate IR large quantities. The energy meeds of the tenor are adequated
each by the method process. The lactate produced by the remor cells - tram.
ported to the hours lever, where the Lacrate - converted back to glucose in
The energy required for glucomeogeness is greater than that
derived by glycolysm in the EUROP cells. This this tumor glycolytes and has
system COMMISSION a net energy-lowng cycle - the how. We
propose that the energy-loung cycle in the host is associated with cancer enchease
and with the observed depression of cell proliferation - the host - A
Invon in the membrane of the lumar cell - discussed above, - be used. (1)
- explain the failure of cancer cells to respond to normal growth and -
emirol and (2) to explain CHECK exchesis of the have Thes, to mort adequatch
the survices requirements of the cancer patient, - - understand the
nature of the leason - the cancer sell
As pointed out in our discussion, Dr. Gold came up with both this novel and very viable hypothesis
as to the cause of cancer weight loss (cachexia), and also demonstrated that hydrazine sulfate
(virtually non toxic at the levels required) effectively inhibits this energy draining recycling of
cancer derived lactic acid to glucose by the liver. Hydrazine sulfate has thus been able to reduce
weight loss, improve the quality of life, and often retard tumor growth. The National Cancer
Institute has amazingly refused to support Dr. Gold's animal studies at the Syracuse Cancer
Research Institute or any clinical studies on hydrazine sulfate for the past five years. Fortunately
Dr. Jan Van Eys
-6-
February 4, 1983
independent clinical work here and extensive clinical testing in Russia supported his hypothesis and
data. A successful comprehensive double blind clinical test of hydrazine sulfate was recently
completed at Harbour UCLA and has been partially reported. The American Cancer Society, which
had hydrazine sulfate on its black list until 1980, have just announced substantial support of the
UCLA hydrazine sulfate clinical studies. Senator Ernest F. Hollings aided in a sustained attempt
over several years to encourage NCI approval and support of Dr. Gold's various grant requests so
that he could further extend this novel approach to cancer control, but without any success. My
enclosed March 5, 1982 letter to Senator Hollings summarized the NCI's current tragic position on
this very effective and inexpensive approach to cancer therapy. A long and really excellent article
on Dr. Gold and hydrazine sulfate therapy just issued in the January 1983 copy of Penthouse; and a
copy is enclosed.
The Ability of Streptozotocin to Induce Diabetes or Cancer
Our brief discussion of the capabilities of the naturally occurring drug, streptozotocin, to induce
either diabetes or pancreatic cancer in mice as covered in your 1982 paper, Tumor-Host
Completition for Nutrients, clarified your proposals on the mode of interaction of the B Vitamin,
nicotinamide, in this situation. I had not really realized that this naturally occurring microbial
drug was a nitrosourea, which decomposes to a nitrosoamine. Its regular use to induce cancer in
mice certainly strengthens for me the likely high significance of the first page of this letter which
covered the inducement of gastric and intestinal cancers by natural nitrosoamines; and the ability
of adequate oral Vitamin C to completely eliminate such nitrosoamines from ones digestive system.
Incidentally, I checked out and looked through the 1981 book, Streptozotocin: Fundamentals and
Therapy, M. K. Agarwal, Ed. and found it quite interesting if by chance you have not read it. The
papers by M. Schneir and L. Golub, The Effect of Streptozotocin - Induced Diabetes on Collagen
Catabolism, and by R. Crouch and M. Buse, The Effect of Streptozotocin on the Enzyme Superoxide
Dismutase were particularly interesting to me because of my previous interests.
Diabetes, Cancer, Superoxide, Superoxide Dismutase and Vitamin C
You might be interested in looking over the enclosed August 31, 1979 letter which discussed a 1977
paper by B. Matovics in Hungary showing human diabetics exhibit drastically lower superoxide
dismutase enzyme levels in their red blood cells than normal persons; and that streptozotocin very
much lowers this same critical enzyme in rat blood and other vital organs. The superoxide radical
as you know is an oxygen molecule with an extra electron, which is enzymatically produced and
used in cellular reactions throughout the body. The superoxide dismutase enzyme destroys any
escaping toxic superoxide radicals. Ascorbic acid can destroy excess superoxide by being oxidized
to dehydroascorbic acid. Diabetics who are very low in superoxide dismutase enzyme have
extremely high ratios of dehydroascorbic to ascorbic acid, which would be expected. These unusual
interrelationships seemed to me to offer one explanation for the very serious vascular and
arteriosclerosis problems that almost all diabetics eventually are smitten with; and why Vitamin C
and now gamma-linolenic acid might be effective additions to therapy.
You probably know that the very widely used cancer drugs Adriamyacin, Cis-platinum and others
appear to work via superoxide production. Enclosed is an August 13, 1979 letter that discussed the
significance of L. W. Oberly and G. R. Buettner's revelations that the mitochondria (respiratory
centers) of cells that become cancerous contain little or none of this critically important
superoxide dismutase enzyme. Incidentally, I met these two scientists while on vacation at a 1981
conference on The Effects of Copper and Other Essential Metals on Inflammation put on by John
Sorrenson at Little Rock. Sorrenson has developed copper containing superoxide dismutases such as
copper aspirinate and copper penicillinate which (unlike the copper containing natural protein
superoxide dismutase) can penetrate membranes and will likely be most important in controlling
inflammation such as in arthritis, ulcers, diabetes, cancer and others. Oberly is working closely
with him and has just written the two volume book SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE which has not yet
arrived at the medical library.
Dr. Jan Van Eys
-7-
February 4, 1983
Macrophages (which when competent can kill cancer cells) and other white cells concentrate the
ascorbic acid 40 to 80 times above the level in the blood; and use it to produce superoxide from
oxygen which is then converted to hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria or cancer cells. There thus
seems good reason not to let ones ascorbic acid go down significantly in sickness, or particularly in
sustained cancer. It is very little realized; but cancer tissue containing high levels of macrophages
that look just like cancer cells, excrete lactic acid just like them, but are not doing their job which
is to excrete hydrogen peroxide to kill the adjoining cancer cells, which do not contain the catalase
enzyme that other cells have present to break toxic hydrogen peroxide back down to oxygen and
water. In definitive analyses of the tissue from all the brain cancers and a number of colon cancers
in Kansas for a year, the macrophage content varied from 5 to 85%. High levels of ascorbic acid
and gamma-linolenic acid would thus seem mighty important in a cancer patient.
If you have gotten this far there's surely nothing wrong with your stamina and many thanks for your
time in December and now. As you can see I'm sending copies of this letter to those mentioned in
it.
Most sincerely,
Frank D. Ball
Frank J. Ball
Attachments
P.S. Last night I went by the medical library to see if there were any letters relative to gamma-
linolenic acid in later issues of the South African Medical Journal. The attached letter and the
reply by Prof. Boogens and Mrs. Dippenaar are interesting in that the number of human malignant
cells lines that have responded to the low doses of gamma-linolenic acid has now increased from
two to seven. Indicative of their thoroughness, the first paper covering the mouse melanoma cell
line embraced a total of over 400 cultures.
I was also intrigued when riding out to work this morning to hear on the morning news that a
California researcher had just claimed that a hormone like fatty acid product would stop the
growth of cancer cells. Calling the radio station and then United Press, Int'l. in San Francisco
brought out that Kenneth Feingold at the University of California in San Francisco and Mille H.
Wiley at the Veteran Administration hospital had conducted the studies. They were said to have
demonstrated for the first time that the fatty acid type hormone, Prostaglandin E1, when added to
lymphoma cells over a period of five days had stopped 90% of malignant cell growth; and that the
NCI and the Veteran Administration had funded the study. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is, of course,
produced by cells from gamma-linolenic acid. David Horrobin had postulated that the deficiency of
PGEI which would result when gamma-linolenic acid was deficient; could be the major factor in
malignancy. This report is thus useful additional confirmation; but I presume they had to
continuously add PGEI over the five days since as I remember PGEI has a half life of only about a
minute in serum. It may last longer in vitro, since it is the lungs that pretty effectively remove
any PGE1 on each passage of the blood.
CCS: Dr. M. K. Agarwal
Dr. Joseph Gold
Dr. George M. Padilla
Dr. W. R. Benedict
Dr. L. Golub
Dr. Linus Pauling
Prof. J. Boogens
Dr. Robert A. Good
Dr. J. U. Schlegel
Dr. W. R. Bruce
Dr. Carlton Hazelwood
Dr. M. Schnier
Dr. G. R. Buettner
Senator Ernest F. Hollings
Dr. John Sorrenson
Dr. M. Buse
Dr. David R. Horrobin
Dr. J. W. Weisburger
Dr. Ewan Cameron
Dr. P. A. Jones
Dr. Mille H. Wiley
Dr. Ivan L. Cameron
Dr. Harry H. LeVeen
Dr. Bruce D. Ball
Dr. R. Crouch
Dr. B. Matovics
Dr. James B. Edwards
Mrs. N. Dippenaar
Dr. H. L. Newbold
Dr. H. B. Gregorie
Dr. Kenneth Feingold
Dr. L. W. Oberly
Dr. I. E. Katzeff
Dr. W. P. Leary
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Revenue Code Section 4271 on the air transportation portion of
MAKING AN MPS
this service.
If the recipient accepts your package without noting any damage
LIMITATIONS ON OUR LIABILITY
AM on the delivery record, WD will, assume that the package was
SHIPMENT, APPLY
AND LIABILITIES NOT ASSUMED
delivered in good condition. In order for us to process your claim,
you must, to the extent possible, make the original shipping
Our liability for loss or damage to your package is limited to your
cartons and packing available for Inspection.
THE SELF ADHESIVE
actual damages or $100, whichever Is less, unless you pay for and
declare a higher authorized value We do not provide cargo
RIGHT TO INSPECT
MPS COPY HERE
liability insurance, but you may pay an additional charge for each
We may, at our option, open and Inspect your packages prior to
additional $100 of declared value, If you declare a, higher value
or after you give them to us to deliver,
and pay the additional charge. our liability will be the lesser of
your declared value or the actual value of your package..
NO C.O.D. SERVICES
In any event we will not be liable for any damages, whether
NO C.O.D. SERVICES ON THIS AIRBILL II C.O.D Service Is
direct, incidental, special or consequential in excess of the
required, please use a Federal Express C.O.D. airbill for this
declared value of a shipment, whether or not Federal Express had
purpose.
knowledge that such damages might be incurred including, but not
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYMENT
limited to, loss of income or profits.
We won't be liable for your acts or omissions, including but not
Even if you give us different payment instructions. you will
limited to improper or insufficient packing. securing. marking or
always be primarily responsible for all delivery costs, as well as
addressing, or for the acts or omissions of the recipient or anyone
any/cost we may incur in either returning your package to you or
else with an interest In the package. Also, we won't be liable, if
warehousing 1 pending disposition.
you or the recipient violates any of the terms of our agreement.
We won't be liable for loss of or damage to shipments of
RIGHT OF REJECTION
prohibited items.
We reserve the right to reject a shipment at any time, when
We won't be liable for loss. damage or delay caused by events
such shipment would be likely to cause damage or delay to other
we cannot control, including but not limited to acts of God, perils
shipments, equipment or personnel, or il the transportation of
of the air, weather conditions, acts of public enemies, war, strikes.
which is prohibited by law or is in violation of any rules contained
civil commotions. or acts or omissions of public authorities
in this Airbill or our current Service Guide.
(Including customs and quarantine officials) with actual or
apparent authority.
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
DECLARED VALUE LIMITS
the event of untimely delivery, Federal Express will at your
request and with some limitations, refund or credit all
The highest declared value we allow for FedEx Letter and FedEx
transportation charges. See current Service Guide for further
Pak shipments is $500. For other shipments, the highest declared
information.
value we allow is $25,000 unless your package contains items of
"extraordinary value," in which case the highest declared value we
allow is $500, Items of "extraordinary value," include artwork,
Part # 137204/137205
Rev. 6/92
NATIONAL
1101 Sixteenth Street, NW
nsda
SOFT DRINK
Washington, DC 20036
ASSOCIATION
202/463-6732
Telex: 5101004811
Facsimile: 202/463-8178
OBE
OFFICERS
November 20, 1992
Chairman
J. Peter Moore
Pepsi-Cola Seven Up Bottling Co of Eugene
Engone One
Vice Chairman
Jim L Turner
Datas Ft Worth Dr Pepper Buttling Company
Mr. Robert B. Zoellick
Dallas Tex
President
Deputy Chief of Staff
William L., Ball. ⑉
Washington DC
The White House
Secretary
Donald E. Prescon
Washington, D.C. 20500
Washington DC
Treasurer
Robert P. Perry, It
Dear Bob:
Coca-Cola Botting Co United Inc
Birmingham Ala
EX OFFICIO
I know you are mindful of the importance to
John L. D. Frazier
Full Service Beverage Company
virtually everyone in the food industry of resolving the
Wichtin Kan
issues surrounding the regulations proposed under the
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nutrition, Education and Labeling Act of 1990.
Robert W. Anania Geneva NY
Geneva Club Beverage Company
Carl G. Behnke, Seatte Wash
The soft drink industry alone is responsible for
Alpac Corporation
over 20,000 labels, every one of which will require
John A. Bland, Paragouid A/k
Dr Pepper Botting &
modification under new FDA regulations. Needless to say,
Bart S. Brodkin Los Angeles Caid
Seven-Up & RC Bottling Co. of Southern California
the extent and cost of this undertaking will be
James W.F. Brooks, Holland Mich
considerable, and the uncertainty as to just what the new
Brooks Beverage Management Inc
labels will require in terms of format and content is
Wiltred R. Cameron, Sr., Washington Pa
Cameron Coca-Cola Bottling Company
exacerbating the dilemma we and other food and beverage
Forrest L Clay, Worland Wyo
Admiral Beverage Corporation
groups are facing.
Wesley C. Elmer, Bection NH
Coca-Cola Botting Company of Northern New England
H. Richard Hiller, Jr. Attanta Ga
I hope you will remind those involved within the
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc
James L. Jessup, It., Charlottesviller Va
Administration of the urgency of getting this question
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Central Virginia
resolved by either the President or his designee as soon
John L Kemmerer, HI, Chattam NJ
Kemmerw Resources Corp
as possible. Obviously, it is now more important than
Michael K. Lorefh, Somers NY
Papsi-Cota Company East
ever that adequate notification be given as to the final
Gerald A. McGuire, Chicago If
rules prior to their implementation.
Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Inc
Henry A Schimberg Aciance Ga
Coca Cold Enterprises
There is, therefore, a compelling case to be made
Edmond P. Severns, JP Kokome ind
Coca-Cola Botting Co. of Kokomo and
for at least a one-year delay in the compliance date so
Homer L. Siedge, Jr., Cleveland Miss
Nehi Botting Company
that affected companies, both large and small, may
James R. Tyler, Atlantic lowa
develop the necessary information and gather the
Attantic Botting Co
resources to comply with the new rules.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Senior Vice President General Counsel
Robert Z. Bohan
Your continuing attention to the priority of this
Serior Vice President Scientific and Regulatory Afters
Howard FL Roberts Ph.D
matter is greatly appreciated.
Cheef Financial Officer
Mark N. Hammond
Best wishes.
Vice President Administration
Denise M. Burke
Vice President Federal Affairs
Drew M. Davis
Sincerely
Vice President Communications
Jim B. Finkelstein
Vice President Solid Wante Programs
and State & Local Aftairs
E. Gifford Stack
Ain
William L. Ball, III
President
Recycled Paper
C.Files
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PARIS
THE AMBASSADOR
December 15, 1992
Dear Mr. Bowsher:
When you visited us in Paris earlier this year, I raised
with you the growing number of GAO study teams visiting France.
As these teams always request Embassy assistance with
appointments, transportation, hotels, and sometimes translation,
their visits are adding significantly to this Embassy's workload.
We have reviewed the record of visits to France by U.S.
Officials during 1992. We find that 25 GAO teams requested this
Embassy's support during the year, up from 16 in 1991. Each of
these teams consisted of two or more persons, and several stayed
here at least a week. In some cases, their schedules were less
than full. We also note some apparent duplication or overlap
among teams, particularly in the health care area. A list of
GAO visits to France in 1992 is enclosed.
This Embassy is operating under severe financial constraints
and tight personnel ceilings. It can not continue to support a
growing number of GAO study teams. I ask that you act to reduce
the number of GAO delegations visiting France, and reduce the
length of their visits. If this is not done, I regret to say
that this Embassy will have to reduce its support for GAO
visitors.
Sincerely,
Walter J.P. Curley
Enclosure
CC: Under Secretary for Management John F. W. Rogers
Mr. Charles A. Bowsher
Comptroller General
General Accounting Office
Washington, DC
bcc: Acting Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger
White House Chief of Staff James A. Baker III
>
Chairman of Transition Team Vernon Jordan
EUR/WE - Craig Kelly
GAO TEAM VISITS TO FRANCE, 1992
SUPPORTED BY THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, PARIS
DATES
SUBJECT
PERSONS
2/5
FAA Aircraft Certification
2
3/8
French Court of Account
4
3/28-4/6
Health Care
3
4/8
Agricultural Trade Negoti-
2
ations under the GATT
4/10-16
Comptroller General Bowsher
4
4/12
National Railroad Passenger
5
Corporations
4/14
Surface Infrastructure
3
4/18-25
Child Health Care
3
5/11-15
Pesticides
2
5/19
Agricultural Trade Issues
3
5/20-23
International Efforts to
2
Control Biological Weapons
5/28-6/6
Review EC Single Market
3
Program for Insurance
Services
6/10
Review of Patent Systems in
2
Europe and Japan
6/22-26
Pharmaceuticals
5
6/23
U.S. Exports to CIS and
2
Donor Assistance to CIS
7/20-24
Aeronautical Research
2
10/2-7
Inspection Standards for
2
Dairy Products
10/5-9
Electric Cars
2
10/14-17
Counter Narcotics
2
DATES
SUBJECT
PERSONS
10/18-24
Nuclear Waste
2
10/19-23
Management of Derivatives
2
Products Risk
10/27-30
Energy Conservation
3
11/4-7
Basel Committee on Banking
2
Supervision
11/15-25
Health Care
3
12/3-4
Nuclear Safety
2
PARIS ANJOU
REPUBLIQUE
FRANCAISE
4.1. 93
0400
RUE D'ANJOU 86
POSTES
F 9454
WASH ,0.0.200 GMF 01/10/93 DCR #C8
James A. Baker III
Chief of Staff
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
The Ambassador
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PARIS
1/12- a called to explain
That request must go
the Pardonattorney
Melvin J. Hinson
e Justice - gave him
9603 Aster Circle
phone # -
Garden Ridge, Texas 78266
(210) 651 -5086
no further needed. detion
January 6, 1992
Honorable James Baker
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Baker:
Our Company, Sunjet in San Antonio, Texas, has had the honor
and privelege to have you visit our facility on more than one occasion.
I've enclosed a photograph of yourself, Congressman Lamar Smith, and
my brother Jack Hinson.
I am asking that you read the attached letter, and I hope and
pray that you might use your influence to get my brother Jack Hinson's
sentence either commuted or pardoned.
There has been an injustice done and you can help us make it
right.
Sincerely,
Melvin J. Hinson
USAF Retired SMS (E-8)
(210)828-0551
attachments: letter
photographs
Melvin J. Hinson
9603 Aster Circle
Garden Ridge, Texas 78266
January 5, 1992
President George Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President:
I am appealing to you to commute my brother Jack's federal sentence
to time served or give him a pardon.
Why should you do this?
1. Jack is not guilty of the crime he is charged with.
2. Jack and his wife Cindy ran a fixed base operation in San Antonio
(called Sunjet) that included a jet charter service. We chartered
aircraft to carry all kinds of people to any place they wanted
to go.
3. We never asked our customers where they got their money. If
we did, they would never use our services again.
4. Our pilots were the best: David Whitney, who was our Director
of Operations, is still with us. He is a retired Army Chief
Warrant Officer with a distinguished record. He had two tours
in Vietnam and one in Germany. He flew General Haig in Germany.
Pat Deegan, former chief pilot for Sunjet, distinguished himself
in the U.S. Air Force as an instructor in T-37's and T-38's at
Randolph AFB, Texas. He is now a captain with Southwest Airlines,
flying 737's. Mike Milner, a former Sunjet Chief Pilot, now
flies for Southwest Airlines. Mike is an outstanding person
as well. Their sworn statements will attest to Jack's innocence.
5. Our company prides itself in the fact that we have been called
on to charter some very important world figures, such as:
President Gerald Ford
James Baker, former Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State
HRH Princess Margaret of England.
6.
Mr. President, we were also honored to have you, as Vice-President,
use our facility when you were running for President (about 10
times). I must say you made us at Sunjet very proud.
7. One of the biggest moments in my life was while you were at Sunjet.
You took time to meet Jack and Cindy, my niece Dara, my nephew
Jack Jr., my wife Louise and myself. I had a chance to show
you my airplane that my wife Louise and I built. You probably
remember it was the Long-EZ (canard-type pusher).
Now you ask what my brother Jackie did to get a federal prison
sentence? We had a customer named Mario Salinas that was using our
charter service starting in 1986. It just so happens, as we learned
4 years later, that the DEA and Customs and FBI had Mario Salinas
under surveillance for drug trafficking since 1983. Mario Salinas
came into Sunjet at least 2 or 3 times a month, and it was also at
the time you were visiting Sunjet as Vice-President.
Mario Salinas was there one time while you were there and asked
my brother Jack if he could meet you and shake your hand. We thought
it was a proper thing to do, so he stood in line and shook your hand.
Please realize that we did not know that our government was investi-
gating Mario Salinas, and the Secret Service agents, DEA, customs,
and FBI thought it was alright for Mr. Salinas to be at Sunjet at
the same time that you were on the premises. Who were we to question
this? We thought he was a legitimate businessman from Mexico.
On March 16, 1989, my brother Jack was arrested, and my niece
Dara was arrested a couple of weeks later (after she got out of the
hospital). They were arrested along with 34 other people, and charged
with drug trafficking and money-laundering.
I feel that my brother Jack and my niece Dara never had a chance
for a fair trial.
1. Judge Hippo Garcia would not let Jack and Dara be tried separately
from the other defendents for doing business with Mr. Salinas.
2. Jack's lawyer, Mr. Goldstein, did not try to appeal any of Judge
Garcia's pre-trial rulings in the case.
3. The only reason Jack and Dara pleaded guilty to the money-laun-
dering charge was that Mr. Goldstein told us that 97% of all
Federal cases that came to trial are found guilty and that Jack
and Dara could get 40 years in prison if they did not plead guilty.
My brother pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to fill out
the right paper work on two money deposits that we received from Mr.
Salinas for work or services that Sunjet rendered to him.
Mr. President, my brother is serving eight years for this. Jack
is in El Reno, Oklahoma's Federal prison working in the woodworking
shop, costing the taxpayers $45,000 per year to house and feed him.
Why?
Mr. President, if we had done all the things that we were accused
of, why didn't they shut down Sunjet? Why did they let you keep coming
into our business with all these investigations going on if we were
involved in anything illegal.
Mr. President, my brother has been punished enough - for nothing.
He was arrested and thrown in jail like a criminal, which he is not.
He had to wait 3 years for a trial that he never got. All the
while, he had to regularly report to pre-trial officers. Now he has
been in Federal prison for nearly a year (since February 14, 1992).
Mr. President, Jack is 58 years old and we are asking you to
please commute his sentence to time served or pardon him. I beg of
you, please.
Melving Henson Melvin J. Hinson
Sincerely,
USAF Retired SMS (E-8)
Note: Two bankers in San Antonio were tried for money-laundering
in the same case. U.S. Federal Judge Lucius Bunton of Midland,
Texas, threw out the case when the government concluded
presenting their side of the case. He acquited the two men
and dismissed the jury because he said the government did not
prove that the money was from an illegal source. He said they
only proved that "Salinas is a dirty, no-good rat fink."
MJH/ddh
CC: Senator Phil Gramm
Congressman Lamar Smith
James Baker
enclosures: photographs
UNITED
a
WELL
AIRBILL
FEDERAL
PACKAGE
0593006864
QUESTIONS? CALL 800-238-5355 TOLL FREE:
TRACKING NUMBER
1114M
0593006864
Date
RECIPIENT'S COPY
1/6/92
From (Your Name) Please Print
Your Phone Number (Very important)
To (Recipient's Name) Please Print
Recipient's Phone Number (Very Important)
2
Melvin J. Hinson
512-828-0551
The Honorable James Baker
(202) 456-1414
Company
Department/Floor No.
Company
Department/Floor No.
SANJET INC
The White House
Street Address
X-RAYED
Exact Street Address (We Cannot Deliver to P.O. Boxes or P.O. Zip Codes.)
557 SANDAU RD
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City
City
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ZIP Required
SAN ANTONIO
TX
78216
Washington,
D.C.
20500
YOUR INTERNAL BILLING REFERENCE INFORMATION (First 24 characters will appear on invoice.)
IF HOLD FOR PICK-UP, Print FEDEX Address Here
H
Street
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Bill 3rd Party FedEx Acct. No.
4
Bill Credit Card
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3
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5
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SERVICES
DELIVERY AND SPECIAL HANDLING
WEIGHT
PACKAGES
Emp. No.
Date
Am Pounds
Federal Express Use
(Check only one box)
(Check services required)
Only
Cash Received
Base Charges
Priority Overnight
Standard Overnight
(Delivery by next business moming?)
(Delivery by mext business atternoon!)
1
HOLD FOR PICK-UP (Fill in Box H)
Return Shipment
YOUR
YOUR
Third Party
Chg To Del
Chg. To Hold
11
51
Declared Value Charge
PACKAGING
PACKAGING
2
DELIVER WEEKDAY
Street Address
16
FEDEX LETTER
56
FEDEX LETTER
3
DELIVER SATURDAY (Extra charge)
(Not available to all locations)
Other 1
12
FEDEX PAK
52
FEDEX PAK
4
DANGEROUS GOODS (Extra charge)
City
State
Zip
13
FEDEX BOX
53
FEDEX BOX
5
Total
Total
Other 2
14
FEDEX TUBE
54
FEDEX TUBE
6
DRY ICE
Received By:
Lbs
Total Charges
Economy Two-Day
Government Overnight
(Delivery by second business dayt)
7
OTHER SPECIAL SERVICE
DIM SHIPMENT (Chargeable Weight)
X
Restricad by authorized users only)
Date/Time Received
GOVT
FedEx Employee Number
REVISION DATE 1/91
30
ECONOMY
46
LETTER
8
lbs.
PART #137204 FXEM 3/91
GOVT
SATURDAY PICK-UP
FORMAT #068
41
9
Received At
PACKAGE
(Extra charges
1
Regular Stop
3
Drop Box
Freight Service
10
5
068
(for Extra Large or any package over 150 the I
4 BSC
Release
OVERNIGHT
70
80
TWO-DAY
FREIGHT
11
DESCRIPTION
2
On-Call Stop
5 Station
Signature:
. 1990-91 FEC
FREIGHT
PRINTED N
Confirmed reservation required
"Declared Value Limit $100
12
HOLIDAY DELIVERY (If offered)
FedEx
Date/Time
USA
Delivery commitment may
be later in some areas
**Cal for delivery schedule
(Extra charge)
Emp. No.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
MULTIPLE PACKAGE SERVICE
DEFINITIONS
instruments and other jjems listed in pur current Service Guide
On this Airbil we our and us refer 10 Federal Express Corporation its
11 you send more than one packagelorfinis Airbill, you may fill in the total
employees and agents. You and your reter to the sonder, its employees
declared value Jor all packages. not a exceed the $100, $500 or $25,000
and agents
por package limit described above (Example: 5 packages can have a total
AGREEMENT TO TERMS
declared value of up to $125.000)
By giving US your package 10 deliver you agree to all the terms on this
Il more than one package is shipped on this airbill our liability for loss or
Airbill and in our current Service Guide, which is available on request
damage will be limited lo the actual. value of the package(s) lost or
there's a conflict between the current Service Guide and this Airbill, the
damaged (not to exceed the lesser of the total declared value or the per
Service Guide will control No one IS authorized to after or modify the terms
package limits described above). Youhave the responsibility of proving the
of our Agreement
actual loss or damage
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING AND COMPLETING AIRBILL
FILING A CLAIM
You are responsible for adequately packaging your goods and for
ALL CLAIMS MUST BE MADE BY YOU IN WRITING You must notdy
properly fuling out this Airbill Omission of the number of packages and
us of your claim within strict time limits See current Service Guide
weight per paokage from this Airbill will result in a billing based on our best
We'll consider your claim filed If you call and notify our Customer
estimate of the number of packages received from you and an estimated
Service Department at 800-238-5355 and notify US in writing as soon as
"delault weight per package as determined and periodically adjusted by
possible
US
Within 90 days-efter you notify us of your claim, you must send us all
IF YOU ARE
All TRANSPORTATION TAX INCLUDED
relevant information about it. We are not obligated to act on any claim until
Our basic rate includes a federal tax required by Internal Revenue Code
you have paid all transportation charges, and you may not deduct the
MAKING AN MPS
Section 4271 on the air transportation portion of this service
amount of your claim from those charges.
If the recipient accepts your package without noting any damage on the
LIMITATIONS ON oun LIABILITY
SHIPMENT, APPLY
delivery record; we will assume that the package was delivered in good
AND LIABILITIES NOT ASSUMED
condition. In order for us 10 process your claim, you must, to the extent
Our liability for loss or damage to your package IS limited ID your actual
possible make the original shipping cartons and packing available for
THE SELF ADHESIVE
damages or $100 whichever is less. unless you pay for and declare a
inspection.
higher authorized value. Wa do not provide cargo liability insurance, but
RIGHT TO INSPECT
MPS COPY HERE
you may pay an additional charge for each additional $100 of declared
We may, at our option, open and inspect your packages prior to or after
value If you declare a higher value and pay the additional charge. our
you give them to us to deliver
liability will be the lesser of your declared value or the actual value of your
package.
NO C.O.D. SERVICES
In any event we will not be liable for any damages. whether direct,
NO CO.D. SERVICES ON THIS AIRBILL If C.O.D. Service is required,
incidental, special or consequential in excess of the declared value of a
please use a Federal Express COD airbill for this purpose.
shipment whether or not Federal Express had knowledge that such
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYMENT
damages might be incurred including, but not limited to, loss of income
or profits.
Even if you give US different payment instructions, you will always be
We won't be liable for your acts or omissions, including but not limited to
primarily responsible for all delivery costs, as well as any costs we may
improper or insufficient packing securing marking or addressing or for
incur in either returning your package to you or warehousing 11 pending
disposition
the acts or omissions of the recipient or anyone clse with an interest in the
RIGHT OF REJECTION
package. Also, we won't be liable if you r.the recipient violates any of the
terms of our agreement We won't be liable for loss of or damage 10
We reserve the right to reject a shipment al any time. when such
shipments of prohibited items
shipment would be likely to cause damage or delay 10 other shipments.
We won't be liable for loss, damage or delay caused by events we
equipment or personnel, or if the transportation of which is prohibited by
cannot control, including but not limited to acts of God. perils of the air,
law or is in violation of any rules contained in this Airbill or our current
Service Guide
weather conditions. acts of public enemies, war, strikes civil commotions.
or acts or omissions of public authorities (including customs and quarantine
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
officials) with actual or apparent authority
in the event of untimely delivery, Federal Express will at your request
and with some limitations, refund or credit all transportation charges. See
DECLARED VALUE LIMITS
current Service Guide for further information
The highest declared value we allow for FedEx Letter and FedEx Pak
shipments is $100 For other shipments, the highest declared value we
allow Is.$25,000 unless your package contains items of "extraordinary
value," in which case the highest declared value we allow is $500. Items of
Part #137204/137205
"extracidinary value," include adwork jewelry. furs, precious metals, negotiable
Rev. 1/91
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Document No.
Subject/Title of Document
Date
Restriction
Class.
and Type
02. Letter
From: Tim Lukasiewicz to James Baker
01/09/93
(b)(6)
Re: Job opportunities
[Redaction of social security information] (1 pp.)
Collection:
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
Office:
Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the
Series:
Baker, James A. III
Subseries:
Public Correspondence Files
WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
[Public Correspondence, Dec 1992 & Jan 1993]
[7]
Date Closed:
3/14/2003
OA/ID Number:
93020-003
FOIA/SYS Case #:
2000-0715-F
Appeal Case #:
Re-review Case #:
Appeal Disposition:
P-2/P-5 Review Case #:
Disposition Date:
AR Case #:
MR Case #:
AR Disposition:
MR Disposition:
AR Disposition Date:
MR Disposition Date:
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P-1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
(b)(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P-2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
(b)(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an
P-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
(b)(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIAJ
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRAJ
(b)(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P-5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
(b)(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted Invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRAJ
(b)(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of
(b)(8) Release would disclose Information concerning the regulation of
gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
(b)(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
PRM. Removed as a personal record misfile.
at State Dept.
WHL responded
Jan.9, 1993
NRN
w/ letter
4:30 AM
2200 Novos st,
Dear Mr. Bahu,
Sarasota, FL. 34236
Jim, have as get to receive and on
my confirmination to he ambassador to Vietnam
of which Jay Allison was working on in the last
few months.
Hope to achieve This goal and in section
within the State Department learn enough and assist
you in 1996 in a bind for prevident
enclosed a copy of my resume in falfilling
this necessary appointment and obligation.
I am,
P.S.
Inspector
Generals
office
957-3240
TIMOTHY A. LUKASIEWICZ
HOME: (813) 955-1620
611 S. Washington Blvd.
WORK: (813) 355-5901
Sarasota, FL. 34236
365-5465
PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE
A challenging and responsible position where excellent communication and office
skills will have a valuable application.
SPECIAL SKILLS
Excellent supervisory, managerial skills, CRT experience, telemarketing experience,
detailed oriented, well organized.
WORK HISTORY
STOCKMAN-CASHIER Dollar General Store, N. Trail Plaza, Sarasota, FL. 34234
Unload truck shipments, Organize warehouse by product identification.
Restock shelves by I.D. number, product, keep store clean, assist clients.
Operate cash register, assist customers, meet and greet general public.
MANAGER Twin Motel 1750 N. Tamiami Trl. Sarasota, FL. 34234
Responsible for all physical properties.
Coordinated/followed up working shcedule for employees.
Control ledger, journals, payroll, deposit money as necessary.
Assist residents as necessary, meet and greet general public.
COLLECTIONS MANAGER Republic Airlines Credit Union, Bloomington, MN.
Responsible for $800,00 delinquent accounts.
Assist branch managers in resolving difficult accounts.
Directed selling/repossession of vehicles, nationwide.
Developed filing, skip tracing systems, heavy phone usage.
Coordinated repayment shcedules w/delinquent clients.
MANAGER Atlas Temporaries, Inc. St. Paul, MN.
Interview and place individuals for both permanent and part-time employment
throughout twin cities. (INDUSTRIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE).
Coordinated payroll, bookkeeping, billings, records, weekly, monthly reports.
Resolved problems that developed, establish new accounts.
COORDINATOR U.S. Army, Worldwide
Give orientation briefing, interview/place personnel for training by rank, job-
title, security clearance.
Coordinate housing and appointment for visiting digantaries.
Assist unit coordinators resolving personnel, training, supply problems.
Responsible for records, files, ledger, attend/coordinate training seminars.
EDUCATION
High School Graduate
Business Law, Economics, Campbell Univ. Fayetteville, NC.
Sociology, Pepperdine Uniy. Santa Ana, CA.
Creative Writing, Central Texas College, (correspondence).
Manager, Education Center, Sinop, Turkey. U.S. Army.
Technical Instructor, (Communications-Electronics) U.S.M.C.
I
THE
OFFICE
SARASOTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
THE
CITIZEN'S CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
OFFICER
SARASOTA POLICE
PRESENTED TO
MR. TIM LUKASIEWICZ
For outstanding services rendered to the community,
its police department, and the
City of Sarasota.
JANUARY 31, 1992
DATE
"
JolPLa CHIEF OF POLICE
THE
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<<<<<<<<
and
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Tim Lukasiewicz
USA
2200 Novus st,
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Sarasota, FL. 34236
9 JAN
Glant Panda
1993
THE WHITE HOUSE
(Executive office of The President)
Washington, D.C. 20500
ATIN: James Baker III
MCN
THE
CENTER
FOR
SECURITY
POLICY
Date: 1/11/93
To: HON JAMES BAKER
Company:
Fax Phone Number: 94562883
CC:
From: Center for Security Policy
Subject:
# of Pages (including this cover sheet): 6
Message:
General inquiries concerning the Center and specific name or fax
number changes should be directed to extension 268 at the number
below.
If you do not receive all pages, please call back immediately.
Voice: (202) 466-0515
Fax: (202) 466-0518
01/11/93
13:44
CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY
MODEM ONE
NO. 184 P001
No. 93-D 3
THE
DECISION BRIEF
11 January 1993
For Immediate Release
CENTER
Contact: Jennifer W. Macdonald
(202) 466-0515
FOR
SECURITY
HOW NOT TO LEND TO A BANKRUPT RUSSIA:
POLICY
EXIMBANK ENERGY DEAL SHOULD BE ICED, REWORKED
(Washington, D.C.): The terms of a multi-billion dollar series of loan guarantees
to the Russian oil and gas sector in preparation by the U.S. Export-Import Bank
D
(Eximbank) is a disaster in the making. As presently structured, this deal threatens to
create major new revenue streams likely to be tapped principally by the old Soviet
military-industrial complex while exposing American taxpayers to vast new losses in
E
Russia.' Under no circumstances should such a deal be finalized prior to a critical
evaluation by the incoming Clinton Administration of the strategic implications of
aiding the Russian energy sector and the dubious precedent it would set for lending
C
to a bankrupt Russia.
As the Center first reported in a Decision Brief published on 22 December 19922,
the impetus for a hasty and incompetently structured Eximbank energy-related loan
guarantee program to Russia appears to have come from an interested party: the Bank's
outgoing Acting Chairman, Eugene Lawson. The latter transparently hoped to complete
S
this transaction prior to his departure on 8 January 1993 and his subsequent assumption
of the presidency of the U.S.-Russia Business Council a Washington-based lobbying
group recently established to expand bilateral trade, particularly in the energy sector. A
number of the Council's members (e.g., Texas-based oil and gas equipment
manufacturers) would be among the principal beneficiaries of this deal.
o
Formula for Disaster Strategic Trade Prior to Structural Reform
As the Center noted on the 22nd of December:
N
"In the hands of Communist Party alumni like the newly-appointed Russian Prime
Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin, $2 billion in taxpayer loan guarantees will produce
a major new source of hard-currency revenues. Hardliners in Moscow can use
these funds to consolidate further their power and expand the former Soviet Union's
B
future economic leverage against countries heavily dependent on Russian energy
supplies, such as Ukraine and the Baltics.
R
"In fact, the increasing success of these factions in blocking efforts to decentralize
and privatize key energy production facilities has already contributed to recent
interruptions in energy supplies to Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Should the
I
pressure for such reforms now be relieved thanks to American capital infusions, it
- more -
E
1 The Center for Security Policy has long warned of the dangerous uses energy resources can be
F
put to by malevolent forces in the Kremlin - either as a revenue stream to support militaristic activities
or as an instrument for economic warfare. For example, see "Soviet Economic Leverage: Moscow's
Tool for Denying Baltic Independence Without Force," (No. 90-D3, 8 January 1990).
2 See "Revolving Doors; Eximbank Official's Scandalous Self-Dealing is a Blow to U.S.
Taxpayers, 'Red Carpet' for Returning Russian Hardliners And Their American Friends"
(No. 92-D 148)
1250 24th Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20037 (202) 466-0515 FAX (202) 466-0518
01/11/93 13:44
CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY
MODEM ONE
NO.184 P002
Center for Security Policy
Page Two
Decision Brief
11 January 1993
is predictable that the Russian energy sector will simply serve once again as a
multibillion-dollar annual revenue stream for the preservation of the military-industrial
complex.
"Given the strategic importance of energy and the large-scale hard currency cash flow
it could generate, the importance of democratic and free market reforms being
irreversibly in place prior to such assistance cannot be overstated."
Strategic Considerations Aside No Genuine Collateral, No Deal
In the process of trying to slam-dunk this "framework agreement" before he left
office, Lawson appears to have run roughshod over Exim's professional staff -- bankers who
understand that new loans to a bankrupt sovereign borrower have to be structured carefully if
the Bank is to comply with its fiduciary and statutory responsibilities. Under present
circumstances, this means establishing disciplined, transparent and carefully conditioned
lending arrangements whereby the initial $2 billion (with the potential to increase to as much
as $5 billion) in U.S. taxpayer-guaranteed funds would be fully collateralized.
Unfortunately, Acting Chairman Lawson's eagerness to close this deal seems to have
promoted implementing arrangements that are far less disciplined, transparent, conditioned or
collateralized than are clearly required. Importantly, while export revenues derived from
selected oil and gas ventures in Russia are supposed to be specifically earmarked for
repayment of Eximbank's principal and interest, the specific terms under negotiation raise
serious questions as to whether repayment will be assured.
The obvious hedge would be for such revenues equivalent to the amount of loan
disbursements to be deposited in an "offshore trustee" account (i.e., one outside of Russia) in
the charge of the lenders. Initially, Lawson appears to have hoped to use a Potemkin
"offshore" trustee - the Russian- owned Moscow Narodny Bank in London. Even this
approach evidently proved too stringent for the Russian government, however. When it
indignantly complained that such an arrangement would suggest a (justified) lack of U.S.
trust in Russia's ability to service these new credits, Lawson agreed to consider an "onshore
trustee," instead.
The leading candidate for such an onshore trustee currently appears to be the
International Moscow Bank (IMB). IMB is a three-and-a-half-year-old banking institution
located in Moscow, conceived and established by Mikhail Gorbachev's communist regime to
finance joint ventures.
The International Moscow Bank has the advantage of being perceived as other than a
Russian-controlled institution. After all, IMB is only 40 percent-owned by Russian
government banking institutions (Vnesheconombank-20%; Promstroybank-10% and
Sberbank-10%). Other partners include Western financial institutions with long-standing
banking and political ties to the former Soviet Union (such as France's Credit Lyonnais-12%;
Austria's Creditanstalt Bankverein-12%; Germany's Bayerische Vereinsbank-12%; Italy's
Banca Commerciale Italiana; and Finland's Kansallis-Osake-Pankki-12%).
Still, Russia appears to exercise practical control of IMB. For one thing, of course,
IMB -- unlike Moscow Narodny - is physically located in Russia. For another, according to
. more -
01/11/93 13:44
CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY
MODEM
ONE
NO. 184 P003
Center for Security Policy
Page Three
Dècision Brief
11 January 1993
a 24 November 1991 report by Agence France Press, with the exception of five expatriate
foreigners, all of the Bank's 100 staff members including its chief executive officer are
citizens of the former Soviet Union. Sixty out of this hundred have spent time in the past
working for IMB's European shareholders.
In short, utilization of institutions like Moscow Narodny and even more so IMB as
trustees or agents for the Eximbank loans would appreciably reduce the confidence the
United States government could have that funds ostensibly earmarked for repayment of U.S.
loans would actually be retained by such institutions - - let alone accessible if the loans have
to be called. Such an arrangement also lends itself to another, potentially even more
troublesome form of abuse: the use of the same earmarked funds to collateralize loans from
other Western institutions.
Previous Experience With Moscow's Double-bookkeeping on Energy Loans
In the late 1970s, the Soviet Union used precisely this scam to double-finance much of
the costs of the $2.2 billion Orenburg gas pipeline project.3 Moscow is believed to have
hoped to perpetrate similar financial sleights of hand or bookkeeping irregularities in
connection with its far larger Siberian gas pipeline initiative of the early '80s. Fortunately,
the West was spared the substantial losses - to say nothing of strategic vulnerabilities --
associated with this pipeline when, thanks to the Reagan Administration's forceful opposition
and alliance leadership, it was substantially down-scaled.
Russian Default - A Showstopper?
Unfortunately for Acting Chairman Lawson and his friends, the proposed Eximbank
lending facility for the Russian energy sector cannot be implemented so long as Moscow is in
default to Eximbank, as it is at present. As of 7 January 1993, some $2.5 million in
payments due from Russia are in arrears (read, default). Still, incredible as it may seem,
once its own Russian account is squared away, Eximbank may proceed with further
taxpayer-guaranteed lending to Moscow even though Russia remains over $147 million
dollars in default to another U.S. government lending institution, the Agriculture
Department's scandal-ridden Commodity Credit Corporation."
Even if Russia cleans up its arrearages with Eximbank, another problem confronts
conscientious professionals at the Bank: The Export-Import Bank is required by statute
to determine that there is a reasonable assurance of repayment from the borrower.
- more -
3 See, for example, "Follow the Money," an award-winning American Interests special which aired on the
Public Broadcasting System on 12 July 1989, which was produced by the Blackwell Corporation and moderated
by Morton Kondracke.
4
According to a report issued by the Government Accounting Office OR 5 January 1993 entitled, Loan
Guarantees: Export Credit Guarantee Programs' Costs are High (GAO/GGD-93-45), the export lending
programs of the Commodity Credit Corporation are exceedingly expensive to U.S. taxpayers because of
exposure to such credit-risky countries as Russia and Iraq. What is more, the GAO was unable to substantiate
USDA claims that the program is needed to boost U.S. exports of agriculture. Instead, the evidence appears to
indicate that the CCC lending program merely reroutes existing trade flows.
01/11/93 13:44 CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY MODEM ONE
NO. 184 P004
Center for Security Policy
Page Four
Decision Brief
11 January 1993
To get around this obstacle, the Lawson "framework agreement" contemplates
portraying these new energy-related credit guarantees as other than Russian sovereign risk
that is currently on U.S. books to the tune of almost $6 billion. They would, instead, be
construed as "self-liquidating" loans to purportedly "independent" Russian energy
enterprises -- a notion that, for the most part, contradicts the facts on the ground.
Toward a New, Secured Precedent for Lending to a Bankrupt Russia
The Center for Security Policy believes that the Clinton Administration must be
given an opportunity to redress the serious flaws in the Lawson plan for Eximbank
lending to Russia and to consider whether adding to Russia's estimated $80 billion
external debt burden at this juncture is prudent policy. As bolstering the Russian energy
sector represents a strategic initiative, such lending activities should be put on ice pending a
thorough assessment of the prospect that the primary beneficiary of newly generated energy
export earnings would be the still-menacing ex-Soviet military and its associated industrial
complex.
With regard to non-strategic trade transactions -- such as grain shipments, consumer
goods, medical equipment, pollution control technologies, etc. -- the Clinton team should
ensure that all federal government agencies (including, of course, Exim's professional staff)
are instructed to transform U.S. loan guarantees to Russia into genuinely collateralized
transactions. Such disciplined measures would include: taking physical possession of Russian
assets of equivalent value at the outset of each loan disbursement; loan documentation that
provides for shipment of goods under letters of credit; restricted loan drawdowns (where
appropriate); on-site inspections by independent experts retained by the creditors; offshore
collateralized accounts; etc.
In addition, the Clinton Administration should compile a list - to be shared with
relevant congressional committees - of alternative Russian assets that could be attached by
official or private bank creditors in the likely event of new Russian defaults. These might
include commercial aircraft and ships, foreign deposits, overseas real estate, etc.
In the case of project financing, a credible Western agent bank (not the International
Moscow Bank or Moscow Narodny) located outside of Russia and Russian control should be
utilized for deposit of newly generated income streams. Indeed, the Western purchasers of
Russian goods or commodities should be the parties that make the deposit into the agreed
Western collateralized account. Only after the respective loan repayments are covered should
cash be transferred back to the Russian enterprise in question.
It is particularly important that a mechanism be set up - both domestically (at the
Federal Reserve or Treasury) and internationally (OECD or the Paris Club) -- to ensure that
the same Russian assets used as collateral are not repeatedly pledged to different Western
official and private bank creditors. In the absence of such mechanisms, the Russians could
make a sham of the creditors' ability to liquidate such collateral in the likely event of new
instances of Russian default.'
- more -
$ In this connection, it is important to note that the World Bank, which itself is close to providing $500
million to the Russian energy sector, has objected strongly to Eximbank's plan to "strip away" Russian assets
needed for repayment of World Bank credits.
01/11/93 13:44
CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY
MODEM ONE
NO.184 P005
Center for Security Policy
Page Five
Decision Brief
11 January 1993
What is more, the Center believes that the time has come for the Western industrialized
nations to develop and institute common, disciplined guidelines whereby all future lending to
Russia would be properly secured. The urgency of such an initiative was underscored by
Roger W. Robinson, Jr., a distinguished member of the Center's Board of Advisors and
former senior economist at the National Security Council and Vice President of Chase
Manhattan Bank with responsibilities for Chase's loan portfolio in the Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe:
"The issue of genuinely collateralized Western lending to Russia and other successor
states should be made a formal agenda item for the Tokyo Economic Summit, with the
preparatory work conducted during the OECD ministerial this Spring. Without a
coordinated, multilateral strategy, Russia will be free to play off one creditor against
another with the likely losers being taxpayers throughout the West."
Such allied discussions should institute, among others, the following preconditions to
new secured Western lending:
o
An immediate termination of the commitments of Russian supplier credits to China,
Iran, Pakistan, Cuba and elsewhere for nuclear reactor and other export items currently
estimated to total some $4-6 billion;
The raising of Russian oil prices to world market levels as demanded by the IMF.
Full disclosure by Moscow of all of Russia's hard currency (or equivalent) assets
and their location.
A comprehensive allied effort to determine the disposition of the estimated $5-15
billion which was secretly transferred out of Russia to Eastern and Western Europe by
Soviet officials to serve as a kind of "war chest" for the recentralizing forces now
increasingly dominating the political scene in Moscow.
The Bottom Line
The Center for Security Policy believes these recommendations need to be acted upon
urgently by the executive branch and the Congress insofar as these first "secured" financial
transactions will establish the precedents for others to follow. In the wake of the debilitating
blows already dealt the U.S. Treasury by the S&L crisis, the BCCI fiasco, the BNL scandal
and the likely write-off of almost $6 billion in CCC loan guarantees to the former Soviet
Union, neither the U.S. Export-Import Bank, its professional staff or the American taxpayer
should be allowed to take the fall in yet another instance of massive fiduciary malfeasance.
- 30 -
JAN 11 '93 15:00 USIRP 212-764-3896
NRN
P.1/3
U.S. - INDOCHINA RECONCILIATION PROJECT
220 West 42d Street, Suite 1801
New York, N.Y. 10036
Phone (212) 764-3925
Fax (212) 764-3896
Telex 6503102691 MCI UW.
JOHN MCAULIFF
Executive Director
Mr. James A. Baker, III
Senior Counselor to the President
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Fax 202-456-2833
Dear Mr. Baker;
The conventional wisdom has become that the Bush Administration will go
no further with Vietnam. Having watched on C-SPAN over the weekend
Secretary Eagleburger's speech and answers to questions at the Council
on Foreign Relations, such a conclusion is hard to escape. (That is
also the interpretation given to it by Vietnamese diplomats at the
U.N.)
If this is the case, I fear that we face one more lost opportunity,
miscalculations that have cost dearly our two peoples. It
another misstep in a 48 year history of misunderstandings and is
particularly tragic if the "dead hand of the past" in the literal form
of the controversy over MIA remains is what frustrates present national
interests and future opportunities.
I know personally several of the key proponents of the thesis that not
enough has been done regarding remains and that only keeping the
pressure on will bring the desired results. Although I respect their
goals and their commitment, I believe they are serving neither their
own purposes nor larger national interests.
If it is correct that the Vietnamese have or can easily obtain
additional remains but won't, that could be because their ability to
move is frustrated by suspicious hard liners who have their own reasons
for preferring to postpone normalization and its attendant door-opening
to the forces of "peaceful evolution". Moderates may simply believe
longer lasting benefit will derive from settling things with the
incoming Administration.
From conversations in Hanoi and Saigon in November and December, I
conclude that most Vietnamese ("liberals", "moderates" and
"conservatives") believe they have already gone relatively further than
we have. Another major step was taken in their minds the second time I
was in Hanoi when the article appeared in Nhan Dan and many other
newspapers encouraging popular cooperation in obtaining remains. The
absence of significantly "equivalent" U.S. steps to lift the embargo or
allow IFI loans only strengthened the arguments of the hard-liners.
JAN 11 '93 15:00 USIRP 212-764-3896
P.2/3
Let's imagine for the moment that the Vietnamese are actually doing
everything they can within reasonable parameters. How much does it
poison the well that SO little, from their perspective, has been done
in return?
In the short time remaining on your watch, I am not sure that anything
further could or would be done by Vietnam even in response to a
dramatic move by the U.S., but certainly nothing will happen without
such a move. Even if Vietnam doesn't respond, at least you will have
left a positive rather than a negative legacy for your successors. In
addition, if there really is a hard core group in Hanoi seeking to use
non-cooperation on the remains issue as a way of delaying
normalization, the startling move of lifting the embargo and moving
towards normal relations would undermine their credibility and
influence.
I also think it would give the President a deserved "triple crown" to
be remembered for: Somalia, START, and ending the state of hostilities
with Vietnam.
Finally, as you prepare to leave office, may I once more express
gratitude for what I have perceived from outside to be your personal
role in bringing about new American policies towards Laos, Cambodia and
Vietnam. Good luck in your future endeavors in the private sector. If
I can be of any assistance to you in the future regarding Indochina,
please do not hesitate to ask.
Sincerely,
John Mcaulff
John McAuliff
Executive Director
P.S. In case you haven't seen it, I attach an editorial from the rather
conservative editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review.
JAN 11 '93 15:01 USIRP 212-764-3896
P.3/3
EDITORIAL
Ending America's Vietnam syndrome
he best solution for Vietnam is a gov-
ian Vietnam. Since the US remains the
mented 49 Vietnamese religious prison-
T
ernment that is involved as little as
single largest export market for each of
ets by name, and America's Puebla Insti-
possible in the economy," Dang
the newly industrialising developing
tute points to this year's sentencing of Dr
Xuan Ky, a member of the Commynist Party
countries, only letting Vietnamese trade
Nguyen Dan Que to 20 years in prison
central committee told REVIEW editor L.
with Americans can fully empower mar-
for the "crime" of calling for better ad-
Gordon Crovitz recently in Hanoi. Dang,
kets to endanger closed politics.
herence to human rights. Their release
who is also director of the Marcist-Leninist
The trade embargo served a noble
would certainly give the president a bet-
Institute and thus keeper of the ideological
function so long as communist ideology
ter case to present to his public.
flame, was reminded that Ronald Reagan
retained even a sliver of credence. But
As with the war itself, the final peace
used to say that the best government is the
when it became clear that the market was
depends on domestic American consid-
government that governs least. Dang leaned
the far superior mechanism for assuring
erations. Recall that what lost the war
forward and said, "I agree with Reagan. This
guns and butter, Star Wars and micro-
and precipitated the fall of Saigon was a
is correct thinking."
chips, the Soviet empire simply shat-
lack of public support for an ill-defined
tered. The pace of Vietnamese economic
foreign policy that became even weaker
Back when the American public was
reforms doi moi - quickened when
once the Nixon administration found it-
losing patience with the progress of the
Soviet aid disappeared. American dol-
self enmeshed in Watergate. Twenty
war in Indochina, a US senator, George
lars, not Vietnamese dong, have become
years after a third-rate burglary in the
Aiken, had an inspired suggestion. De-
the currency of choice from government
posh Washington hotel helped to precipi-
clare victory in Vietnam, he urged, and
trading offices down to the street stalls.
tate the fall of Saigon, domestic concerns
get out Turn the clock forward: now that
And we note that the communist coun-
again threaten to jeopardise the clear for-
Vietnam's chief ideologue rushes to
tries that use US trade embargoes to
eign-policy interests of what is now the
agree with Reagan, Washington should
block themselves off from the pressures
world's undisputed superpower.
declare victory and get back in The sta-
of the market have proved the most re-
bility of Asia that US forces once helped
silient: North Korea and Cuba.
to assure by confronting communism in
Asia would interpret American re-en-
B
y this we mean the bitter debate
that will almost certainly divide
Indochina can now be best guaranteed
gagement with Vietnam as a sign of its
the American people and paralyse
by an America that normalises trade and
broader commitment to this region de-
US policy if it is left to Bill Clinton to
diplomacy to help the Vietnamese fur-
spite the inevitable scale-down of US de-
move towards recognition of Hanoi. The
ther liberate themselves from their tragic
fences. Asia recognises its own interests
recent decision by the Bush administra-
past.
in an involved America - including an
tion to allow American firms to enter into
It is true that despite economic re-
America involved in Vietnam. As Singa-
contracts with Vietnam implies that rec-
forms, Vietnam remains one of the last
pore's minister of defence, Yeo Ning
ognition is a matter of time. Still, old
outposts of communist rule. But it is also
Hong, noted in a recent speech, any re-
wounds will open if the final resolution
true that Vietnam has already met most
duction of the American présence could
is left to a president who demonstrated
of the conditions set out in the Bush ad-
"create a vacuum with potentially
against his government abroad while fel-
ministration's "road map" to recognition,
destabilising results, prompting coun-
low Americans who did not escape the
including withdrawal from Cambodia,
tries like China and Japan to build up
draft were dying in Vietnam; if only
letting former US personnel emigrate
their armed forces."
Nixon could go to China, perhaps only a
and resolving American soldiers still
Preserving the new prosperity of Asia
war hero such as Mr Bush can extend a
listed as missing in action.
means preserving the stability that
hand to Vietnam.
To American sceptics of a change in
makes it possible. The alternatives to á
Mr Bush has it within his power to
policy, we would argue that the greatest
strong America simply do not exist.
do the one thing Mr Clinton cannot do:
threat to communist one-party rule in
Japanese forces merely as part of a UN
put the Vietnam issue behind America.
Vietnam now is the highly subversive
peacekeeping team in Cambodia has
We hear that the president is contemplat-
effect of trade and opening to the West.
been controversial. The likely beneficiary
ing a series of key foreign policy
This is why leaders of many countries in
of a diminished American role would be
speeches before he leaves office, one of
the region, including Indonesia, Malaysia
China, whose military ambitions in the
which would be on Vietnam. He recently
and Singapore, have strongly urged the
South China Sea already worry neigh-
pardoned those involved in the Iran-
US to normalise relations with Vietnam
bours. Indeed, the debate in the upper
Contra affair so that America will enter
as a way to help moderate Hanoi and
reaches of Hanoi's policymakers is
the Clinton presidency unencumbered
play a constructive role in the region.
whether to side with China or with the
by tired old debates that prevent the US
American businesses have com-
West, which should welcome Vietnam as
from assuming a leadership role that
plained that they are losing opportuni-
a wedge against Chinese expansionism.
many in Asia would welcome. Mr Bush
ties, but the most compelling reason to
Viemam wants American recognition
éntered the presidency promising to end
lift the US embargo is the Asian lesson of
for its own reasons, despite its rulers
the Vietnam syndrome of national pessi-
development. This is that open markets
knowing full well trade's threat to totall-
mism and self-doubt. It would be en-
lead to democracy; free markets have
tarianism: Hanoi could make normalisa-
tirely fitting for one of President Bush's
created middle classes that demand an
tion with America easier for the presi-
final acts to be declaring an end to the
end to authoritarian rule - witness Tai-
dent by moving to normalise relations
American war with Vietnam by recog-
wan, South Korea, Thailand. Our guess
with its own people. Jubilee Campaign,
nising that even its one-time enemy must
is that the same will happen to totalitar-
a London-based rights group, has docu-
be part of the new post-Cold War order.
7 JANUARY 1993
FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW
5
From: OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
10 Jan '93 08:56
Pg 1 of 2
MRN
The Conservative Network
1000 Water Street, S.W.
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Office: 703 971-0692
Fax: 703 971-6980
"Conservatives Helping Conservatives Worldwide"
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THE CONSERVATIVE NETWORK, INC.
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DATE: 01/10/93
1000 Water Street, S.W., Suite 62
Washington, D.C. 20021
TIME: 10:12
TCL 703-971-0692
FAX 703-971-6980
TO:
Baker, The Honorable James, Chief of Staff
COMPANY: The White House
From:
OFFICE or THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
COMPANY: THE CONSERVATIVE NETWORK, INC.
Please note the following information concerning Cal Thomas, our guest
speaker for Monday. Jan 11th. at The Capitol Hill Club. 300 First
Street, S.C. [Capitol South Metro stop], 6-8pm. Also be advised we
are sending you, under seperate cover, your new TCN VIP Travel
Membership Card. If you choose to use il, you are guarantee the
lowest air fairs available. Included in your mailing is the
opportunity to renew your dues at the OLD rate of $25 per year as long
as you like before dues increases take effect 01-March-93. I look
forward to seeing you Monday evening. We have much to work for these
next few years if America is to move forward.
SENT BY:SAAD JABR
:11- 1-93 : 13:19 :
0719382191-
4562883;# 1
NRN
FAX MESSAGE
DATE: 11/1/93
FAX NO: 0101 202 456 7705
TO: MR. JAMES BAKER
COMPANY: CHEIF of STAFF - WHITE HOUSE
FROM: FREE IRAQI COUNCIL PAGES:
SENT BY:SAAD JABR
:11- 1-83 13:20
0719382191-
4562883:# 2
PRESS RELEASE
1. A large group of prominent Iraqis opposing Saddam Hussein attended a
meeting in London on 3 January to discuss his removal. They represented
all shades of Iraqi political opinion.
2. The following subjects were discussed:
a. Measures being taken to effect Saddam's removal.
b. An evaluation of Iraq's present internal situation.
c. The setting up of a force to plan an integrated democratic Iraq based
on respect for human rights and the rejection of sectarianism.
d. Proposal for a suitable constitution for a truly democratic Iraq.
e. Future meetings of the group.
3. A wide variety of issues were covered during the meeting. These
included the need to re-establish friendly relations with other Arab
States, the need to create confidence in the new movement and the
elimination of the hardships imposed on the Iraqi people by the United
Nations.
4. A consensus was obtained on all the points discussed and the meeting
agreed to appeal to all countries to boyoott the existing Iraqi regime and
finally to reject any suggestions for normalizing relations with it. It was
also agreed to appeal to all humanitarian agencies to help the ordinary
people who are suffering an acute shortages of food and medicines.
5. Those present agreed that the agenda for the next meeting should include
three appeals:-
a. An appeal to the UN for the implementation of Resolution 688 (Human
Rights of Iraqis).
b. A second appeal to the UN for the whole of Iraq to be declared a safe
haven.
C. A third appeal to the world community to isolate further the present
regime without harming the people.
LONDON
11 JANUARY 1993
MRN
ASIAN AMERICANS FOR REAGAN Bush
DR. JOHN H. CHEN
4525 LINCOLN AVENUE
P.O. BOX 1086
(301) 937-1221
National Coordinator
BELTSVILLE, MARYLAND 20705
(24-hour Services)
January 5, 1993
The Honorable James Baker, III
Chief of Staff to the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Jim:
I wrote you a letter dated October 16, 1992, and
attached a hand written letter by Donald E. Graham, the
?
Washington Post Publisher. Please return Mr. Graham's
original letter at your earliest convenience.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Cordially yours
John H. John H. Chen the
Bush
Quayle
A nation-wide citizens' group to support
*
sponsored by NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICANS and various
Asian civic organizations
Dr. John H. Chen
C
4525 Lincoln Ave.
Beltsville, MD 20705
SOUTHERN PM MD
HAPPY
YEAR!
SCF
07 JAN
206
1993
Hon. James Baker, III
Chief of Staff to the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Persnal Attention
NRN
Dear Secretary of State BAKER
My NAME is JeffRy Thomas,
I would like to present to you my proposal
to Accompany A entertainment enterrage
INtO RUSSIA After the winter weAtheR
cleARS the path for travel ABROAD.
If you feel that theRe ARE ANY PROBLEMS
CONCERNING the trip ABROAD you CAN
ReAch me At either my Hous too office
OR Los Angeles location.
ThANK You
JeffRy Thomas
JeffRy ThomAs
The NAM Banna 1792
1992
1214 East 33.st
Houston Tx 77022
HOUSE PM IX OF
29USA
€ JAN
1993
Secretary of State JAmesABAKeRTTTI
white House
1 PENNSYLVANIA AVE
WASHINGTON D.C. 20500
01-11-1993 11:12AM FROM AMBASSADOR OFF.
TO
952024562461
P.02
1/13 - spoke w/ Beverly in
Ambis invite ottc to regret
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
1/13- - regrettedul
Tom Rose -
MEXICO
Chairman's
office
OFFICE OF THE AMBASSADOR
January 11, 1993
The Honorable
James A. Baker III
Chief of Staff
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Jim,
Last Friday Fausto Miranda invited me to lunch to meet with the
leaders of a Mexican organization called Gente Nueva (literally
"new people"), an organization dedicated to the promotion of
family and community values here in Mexico and a number of
other countries. In Mexico Gente Nueva is comprised of about
15,000 university-age youth involved in a variety of social and
cultural projects throughout the country. I can vouch for the
seriousness and integrity of this organization.
One of the participants at the luncheon was Jose Ignacio
Avalos, Chairman of the Board of Gente Nueva who happens also
to be Fausto's son-in-law. Avalos explained to me that this
year Gente Nueva will hold its annual congress in Monterrey
from February 25 to 28. As you can see from the attached
letter, Avalos is extending an invitation to you to be a guest
speaker at the congress.
While I did not give either Fausto or Avalos any encouragement
I did promise to convey the invitation to you, both because the
group is worthwhile and because of your long-standing ties with
the Mirandas. Fausto senior, by the way, was also there and
sends you his warmest regards.
I would, of course, be pleased to convey your response to Gente
Nueva. If you prefer you could fax them directly at
(011-525)-202-6835.
With best wishes.
Sincerely,
your
John D. Negroponte
Ambassador
Enclosure as stated
01-11-1993 11:12AM FROM AMBASSADOR OFF.
TO
952024562461
P.03
DE SER BENTE NUEV8
Mexico, January 7th, 1993
Mr. James A. Baker III
Chief of Staff
The White House
Washigton, D.C.
Dear Mr. Baker,
We wish to extend to you a cordial invitation to speak on the topic " Liberty
and Democracy, the elements of the World's Globalization" at Gente Nueva's
International Youth Congress; entitled " Creating a New World". The themes we
have chosen for this Congress are "Characteristics Of Today's World", "Man and
His Essential Values", "The Environment", and" The Challenges We Face".
As in past years, the message of our International Youth Congress should
be strengthened by speakers who, due to their profound achievements and moral
standings, can contribute inspiring ideas, principles, and testimonials to today's
youth.
This year's Congress will be held in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico,
February 25th - 28th, 1993. We expect an attendance of approximately 10,000
young adults, who will come to listen to outstanding testimonials on the four
themes of this year's Congress. Among whom, some will come from Texas, Chile,
Venezuela, Spain, and Italy.
Our objective is that these young adults listen to testimonials of outstanding
persons on the subjects referred to above.
Among the confirmed speakers we have Messrs: Rigoberta Menchu, !992
Nobel Peace Prize; Luis Donaldo Colosio, Mexican Secretary for Social
Development; Manuel Camacho Solis, Mayor of Mexico City; Dr. Alfonso Lopez
Quintas, the famous Spanish philosopher; Dr. Massimo Introvigne, Italy's director
of CENSUR; and Orestes Lorenzo, the Cuban exiled pilot.
Paseo de la Reforma 1110 Lomas de Chapultepec C.P. 11000 Tele 202 16 33 Fax 202 68 35
01-11-1993
11:13AM
FROM AMBASSADOR OFF.
TO
952024562461
P.04
DE SER BENTE NUEVE
Internationally, we have organized twenty congresses thanks to the
outstanding participation of the renowned speakers, such as Mother Teresa of
Cacutta, Dr. Victor Frankl, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, Ambassador Armando
Valladares, including Mr. Lech Walesa - Poland's Prime Minister who kindly
allowed us to video tape in Poland his participation in the 1989 Congress when he
was still the head of Solidarity and hence unable to come to Mexico because of
what was transpiring at the time - we have achieved great success in encouraging
thousands of young people towards the creation of a better world.
The enthusiasm that we have instilled in the many young organizers has
made Gente Nueva what we consider to be a unique organization not only in
Mexico, but also in Europe and South America.
Since Mexico City's earthquake in 1985, Gente Nueva as a non-profit
organization established a relationship with Sam Taylor of USAID in providing
humanitarian assistance. Gente Nueva has continued to participate in AID
programs under the direction of Jerry Bowers. Enclosed is additional information
about Gente Nueva, our 1993 Congress, and our relief programs.
We hope you can accept to express your thoughts in our forthcoming 1993
Congress on the role that freedom and democracy must play in creating a new
world globally united and civilized. Further, we hope you will challenge the young
scale. adults to actively participate in furthering freedom and democracy at a global
Your proven world leadership and guidance will undoubtly impact the young
ladies and gentlemen who within a few years will have the responsibility to lead
our future, and we will be honored if you accept our invitation to speak; should
you accept, as we warmly wish, please let us know which of the above dates is
most convinient for you.
Sincerely,
José Ignadio Avalos
Chairman of the Board.
Pasco de la Reforma 1110 Lomas de Chapultepec C.P. 11000 Tels 202 525 16 33 Fax 202 68 35
TOTAL P.04
wer
MAYNARD E. WHITE
2309 THORNDALE COURT
ELKHART, IN 46517
(219)294-7177
December 30, 1992
James A. Baker III
Chief of Staff
White House
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. Baker:
Today there is an emerging geological threat that trenscends international
differences and has serious ramifications for the future of civilization.
In researching the enclosed book World in Peril, we updated the recently
declassified records of "Project Nanook" (1946-48) with contemporary
knowledge of geophysics and found the results literally earthshaking.
According to the resultant findings, the earth has been periodically reshaped
over the millennia through phenomena known as "crustal shifts", which may
be triggered by the geomagnetic forces accompanying radical magnetic polar
displacements following axial convergence of the magnetic and geographic
poles.
Based on current data from the National Geomagnetic Information Center, it is
clear that the poles are once again converging and that another "polar flip"
could occur at any time, threatening the survival of many lifeforms, including
our own. Presumably the most recent such phenomenon brought about the
extinction of the prehistoric Pleistocene fauna in a cataclysmic upheaval that
caused the last ice age ten to twelve thousand years ago.
Needless to say, civilization as we now "know it would be profoundly imperiled
with the advent of another flip, the circumstances of which are explained in
World in Peril Chapters 27 through 30. (Part I of the book offers the
background of the discoveries as well as the scientific findings.)
In an attempt to share our observations with appropriate agencies and
personnel, I would be very grateful for your help in identifying those in our
government and scientific communities who you think should be contacted in
order to bring the necessary attention and resources to bear on this time-
critical problem. Specifically, we wish to make contact with those capable of
providing further research into the phenomenon, analyses of other matters
pertinent to the survivability of our society and its institutions throughout
the geological event, and studies regarding reconstruction in the aftermath.
Your opinions and kind assistance are greatly appreciated. My son, the
author, and I would be glad to meet with you if you so desire.
Sincerely,
mewhile Maynard E. White
Colonel, USAF (Ret.)