LAWRENCE FERTIG 380 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017 June 22, 1971 Dear Lu, I will not dwe11 on the sad news about Philip -- what can one do about life and its ending? Philip was a magnificent human being and our love for him will continue even if he is not here. I've talked to Harry often on the telephone, and met him last week for lunch. He seems to be having some problem which does not sound very serious it's an intestinal disturbance which so far the doctors have said reveals no trace of anything wrong in the x-rays. So I believe he will get over his difficulty within a week or so and continue his writing, which is really on a prolific scale. Harry is a worker and I admire him so much for it. Personally I am rather lazy and I work only when I have to, either by compulsion from the outside, or inside me. Right now I seem to have no compulsion and am just enjoying all the good things of life, including reading quite widely. I no longer confine myself to economic matters, which I had to do for so many years when I was writing a column. I'm sure you saw the enclosed articles in The Times -- one by Rostow and the other by a Harvard professor by the name of Fisher. In case you missed them I am sending them along to you because I think they're very interesting. I'm amused by the sanctimonious air of the N.Y. Times when it breaks the law and publishers pilfered secret documents. Anyway, I believe the account of McNamara's "whiz kids" is highly colored and cannot be considered an accurate record of the Vietnam war. I'm going up to the Foundation this evening to give a lecture on inflation. When I'm there I will be able to see the new portrait of Leonard Read painted by George Augusta, who did such a magnificent portrait of you. Leonard fought me about this matter and refused to have his portrait painted, but I finally got his approval by writing a letter to every member of the 5 man Executive Committee of the Board. They were most enthusiastic about it and I told Leonard that his "bosses" the Executive Committee of the Board -- wanted it done and he agreed. I believe this will be a valuable edition of the Foundation's possessions. That's all for now. I'11 call you on the 'phone before the week is out. Meanwhile I hope you and Margit are enjoying the good weather and the fresh air. Berthy and I send our love.