Document rxz8MMY0Vx7bNB7yGbVpQRjjE

July 8, 1963 Leo Wade, M.D. 410 East 68th Street New York 21, N.Y. Dear Leo: I am glad to reply to your letter of July 1st concerning the time of stress in the du Pont household at the time Gehrman came in as the Medical Director. The information is not confidential but I had a very considerable hand in it myself, as one factor that prompted reticence, while the other was the need for discretion in speaking of the affairs of an industrial organization which were known to me as a professional consultant. I had reason to believe that some members of my audience would know about thi3 matter, but it was not up to me to broadcast it. Gehrman became the Medical Director of du Pont when, after the investigation by the USPHS of the potential hazard associated with the distribution of leaded gasoline, it became apparent that the manufacture of tetraethyllead would be resumed. Mr. Harrington of du Pont had announced publicly at the May 1925 Conference, called by the Public Health Service, that du Pent would manufacture the product with safety to the employees. It was up to him to demonstrate that tills could be done. However, it had not been done previously, and the manner of doing it was open to serious question. He consulted me, and 1 advised him that his first requirement was to set up a sound Medical Department, and 1 gave some specifications what at that time were fulfilled only with difficulty. Gehrman, who was doing an excellent job at their Parlin plant, as a part-time physician, was Harrington's final choice, and he accepted. He and X worked together to acquaint the management and the very competent technical people with what they had to do, and it was done, not without hazard, and not wholly without casualties, but from then on with due regard to the necessities. It was not necessary of course to speak of this background in answering your question, but it seemed pertinent to do so, especially since I spoke from knowledge and feeling of Gehrman's contribution to occupational medicine in the United States. His was an opportunity that could present itself only rarely, and ue K & 0007540 > Leo Wade, M.D. - 9- July 8, 1963 rose to the occasion admirably. Moreover, I am sure that your question was not inspired by idle curiosity, and it deserves a fair answer. Sincerely yours, Robert A. Kehoe, M. D. 3 4 0 00 i 34 1 % L E C W A D E M. D. 410 E A S T 6 T* S T R E E T N E W Y O R K 2 t . N. Y. 1 July 1963 Dear Bob: In your memorial address regarding Gehrman, you said that he went to duPont at a time when they were having an acute health problem. Can you tell me the general nature of the difficulty, or is it confidential? Professor R. A. Kehoe, M.D. College of Medicine University of Cincinnati Eden Avenue Cincinnati (19), Ohio