February 14, 1957

Dear Arthur:

It has been much too long since we have had a
chance to talk. I heard from Dumur that you were under
the impression that I had already left for Chicago. This
is somewhat premature.

Why don't you call me when you come through
New York? I would love to see you and perhaps tell
you something about this Project.

Warm regards.

Mr. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.
Widener 95
Harvard University
Cambridge 36, Massachusetts

September 4, 1957

Mr. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
Widener 95

Dear Arthur:

I was delighted with your article in the New York Times Magazine Section of some weeks ago, and rather envious, too. I cannot believe that shepherding four children around Europe can be quite as trying as taking care of forty-five foreigners in Harvard Yard.

I am writing to ask your advice regarding possible contributors on two topics we are now planning for Confluence. The first topic concerns the general problem of the city. I think it is becoming quite evident that in all industrialized countries, and probably in the underdeveloped countries as well, the mushrooming of the cities without a clear plan is raising a whole host of problems - from aesthetics to juvenile delinquency, from housing to communal living. I would like to get a series of articles dealing with one or more of these topics and trying to set the problem of the city into our general social context. Can you suggest any contributors, both from here and abroad?

The second topic concerns the problem of organized labor, or abroad, of the socialist parties. It seems to me that labor movements all over the world may soon face a major crisis because of their very successes. In the more industrialized countries there now exists, or will soon exist, a social climate in which labor will achieve automatically many of the things which seemed utopian a century ago. What then becomes of the labor movements or socialist parties? What goals can they set themselves to challenge young people to devote a life-time to their service? Is it possible, as some of their critics maintain, that in order to keep up the momentum of their achievement they may be tempted into measures which must unleash an inflationary spiral? I would not expect the author to deal with all these sub-topics, but to pick one or two of these questions and focus on them. Whom would you suggest?

Best regards.

December 3, 1957

Mr. A.M. Schlesinger, Jr.
Widener 95
Harvard

Dear Arthur:

Enclosed are the first four chapters
of our final report which I mentioned to you
on the telephone. They are a little over-
written at the moment, which is always what
happens when you try to simplify things.

These chapters are supposed to be
a catalogue of our problems, and you will
therefore find few constructive solutions.

I would be very eager to get your
reactions when we meet for lunch on Friday.