Presidential Remarks: National Institutes of Health Panel Discussion on AIDS

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4' But in the spirit of hope, let's not forget, a cure might
possibly arrive much sooner. A few weeks ago I was reading about
another field of astonishingly rapid scientific progress -- not
in medicine, but in physics. Despite all the advances of the
last year, in what has become known as the phenomenon of
superconductivity, one problem was said to be years from solving,
that oLffiding a material that could h what I, as a layman,i
would calllarge vLo sof electricit One week latr, anotfer
rep t appeared u.. _
Years of progress in one week. I dew-if-the day will come
when such progress will be in the cards for AIDS research. cm
But that is my hope. And after the visit to the ward today
and after the death by AIDS of friends and former associates -- -
Rock Hudson for one -- that is my prayer. de
And now let me turn the meeting over to Secretary Bowen. 6-9.
[CLOSING]
Thank Dr. Bowen, Dr. 9 and Dr. faducg. By the
way, I thought you would all like to know that, near as I can
determine, Dr. Bowen is only the seventh physician to serve in
the Cabinet from George Washington's time to the present.
As I was listening to the panel and going on the tour today,
I couldn't help remembering something W.H. Auden said -- that the
true men of action in our times are not politicians or statesmen.~4 4 but scientists. The ommission will be working with you and many
others to chart the Nation's course against this disease. I
believe that, when the medical history of our times is written,