Document VGRk3Edp602JeyQGdL7qDkp2q

October 19, 1977 Dear Sobel; Thanks to your advice to Dr. Gross, before his completion of his report to his own satisfaction, I received this morning, a cappy of it in the form (presumably) in which it went to you. I have made a hurried examination of the report and X feel it necessary to explain to you my general reaction to it. I will do this, primarily, because I must explain myself to you and Ter Haar, in order to fit myself, if I can, into whatever program you and Ter Harr may have for dealing with Dr. Gross and the report. Both Ethyl Corporation and X have spent money toward the completion of this work. I am sure you wish to obtain a tangible, or, at least, a useful, product for Ethyl's money. What X spent is no large sum, which I could afford to lose, X think, but the principle product of ray scientific life is, or course, a vary idfferent matter. I must say to you at this point, confidentially, that I cannot and will not permit this repost to be associated with my name an and work. Its publication in its present form is out of the question. I have said nothing to Gross to this effect, but I shall at the appropriate time. However, I hnall have to revise it almost in toto. I can and will do this but I am unduly slow in such work, at present,-and it will take time. I should have known better than to have relied so much on Dr. Gross. However, on the basis of the quality of his first "preliminary", effort, I began writing an introduction, a complete description of the purpose of the work, and of the methods of conducting it, including the manner of selecting the subjects. These matters are the heart of the project, and unless they are done properly, the work is worthless. Dr. Gross has not even mnntioned these matters and it is clear that he had no knowledge about them and no .interest. His work is that of the kindergarten of science, not that of a scholar, and his efforts at interpreting my intentions are to say the least, childish. The report must be rewritten completely. I hope some of the data are presented in a factually satisfactory manner, but many of them are not. As a matter of fact, my initial (partial) report in the Harben Lectures, is so much better than any of his discussion that I would prefer to scrap his report entirely rather than to have any of it published in its present form. X am being deliberately blunt about thi3 for the reason that X will not authorise its publication without complete revision. Ethyl Corporation can have it for their own use if you men wish to have it, buy my name cannot be associated with it, publicly. Bernard Sobel ,2 October 19 1977 On the other hand, I am greatly improved from my disabilities (except for my eyes which I expect bo be considerably restored by the removal of my cataracts soon), and I am prepared to revise this report into something reasonably creditable and clear. This may take two months to do, but I expect to begin at once, and if I am as well as I think, it can be done much more rapidly. I should appreciate it very much if you and Dr. Ter Haar would talk this over and let me know as soon as possible what you think about the entire matter and what you wish me to do. Above all speak your minds and don't attempt to spare tee. I have made a serious blunder, but I shall do my bast to malts up for it, and I think I can. Sincerely, RAX:j3 Robert A. Kahoe, M.D. . KE n oni "ft