Document qmnZy36zgaE29RezZJxGpodXq

October 27, 1964 Mr. W. R. Perdue, Jr. Ethyl Corporation 100 Park Avenue New York, New York (10017) Dear Bill: I write for the purpose of bringing you ftp to date on certain matters relating to the Kettering Laboratory and to my present and future activities, in so far as I can. In doing so I am aware that the end of the year approaches and that certain things will have to be done. Before saying anything further about these matters, there is another immediate question to be decided, o b which I need advice. The National Association of Manufacturers has been undertaking, for some tir.e to do something - I am not certain what that something is - through its creation, or perhaps the expansion, of an Employee Health and Safety Committee. I, along with a number of other persons, mostly medical directors of industrial organizations, was invited to attend a meeting some time ago, and I have received many circulars and other bits of information at intervals since that meeting. Neither the meeting or the information has had any particular mean ing for me. Another meeting has been called for Tuesday, December first, and I question whether 1 should attend. If I do so, it will be because there is some point in my representing Ethyl Corporation in some manner. I have no objection to doing this, if it will serve any useful purpose, now or later. I would not do so, however, out of my own interests, or those of the Kettering Laboratory, for it does not appear to me that anyone in charge of this effort has any idea of what is being done or of how the objective, whatever it may be, is to be achieved. Perhaps I have been preoccupied with other matters, and have not heard the message, and perhaps I need to be instructed further as to the purposes of this effort. In any case, I would be grateful to you if you would let me know where I stand in this, in relation to Ethyl Corporation. If it means nothing of interest to you and your associates, I can certainly find more useful ways of spending my time. I should like to have a talk with you at.some convenient time in the near future. It is likely that by the first of November, I shall know who is to be my successor in this Department of the Medical College, and I shall also know whether I am to be able to work at certain things that need to be done (principally writing and editorial work) in some quiet spot in the Kettering Laboratory, or whether I shall look elsewhere for a place to work. In any case, there are some things that need to be done about and for the Laboratory, before I part company with it, and there are also some aspects of this matter that should be of concern to Ethyl Corporation. I feel a very considerable responsibility for the interests of Ethyl Corporation in this matter and for K A 0 .A u U 0 r* c Zn Mr. W. R. Perdue, Jr. - (2) - October 27, 1964 the future of the Laboratory, in so far as I can act with the full approval and collaboration of the new Director and the administrative authorities of the University. The time is very near, for clarifying these matters ,and 1 shall need to know what you and your associates want. I may be right in my view of the situation, but my relationships with the responsible people in Ethyl Corporation, including yourself and all of my other familiars in the Corporation, have been very much attenuated, and I need to be better advised than 1 now am. (This is no complaint, but r&ther a recognition of an inevitable attrition through lack of contact with people and their doings.) I believe that the relationships of the Corporation with the Laboratory has been and may continue to be a very valuable asset to both. I am confident that the Laboratory will be unable to fulfill its ultimate functions, without having and maintaining firmly the working relationships with industry, best represented in its relationship with Ethyl Corporation, which it has had for many years. This is vital to the future of the Laboratory, but this is true only because it is also vital to Ethyl Corporation and to many other industrial organizations. I shall not labor the point and so prolong this letter and encroach upon your time, which I am sure, is fully occupied. However, there are some considerations here which I'd like to discuss with you, if and when you have time to do so. With respect to certain specific matters, there are some things which I should, I believe, bring to your attention. There is need for com pleting some tasks that have been dropped in an unfinished state. These should be done, I think, before I turn over the Job to my successor. (This may not be a final break for me, but I think it wise, at this time, to act as though it will be*) Whatever else may be accomplished by our meeting, I need to look at the budget of the Laboratory for 1965. Certain items in it should be decided by direct discussion between us. The Laboratory is also confronted with some financial problems, apart from those in which Ethyl Corporation is involved, and I would like, very much, to have your advice about their solution* If it is at all possible, I'd like to see you in New York, and talk for an hour or so, sometime during the month of November. I shall suit my convenience to yours* Sincerely yours, RAK:vr Robert a . Kehoe, M.D.