SINCE THE MID-1950s, the CDC has maintained an office in
Washington, DC. Originally it served only as liaison with the
executive branch, but in the past decade functions have
expanded. In its present form, the office dates to 1980. The
CDC's director at the time was William Foege, MD, and the then
secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Joseph A. Califano, relied on him so heavily that Foege was
spending more time in Washington than in Atlanta. So it was
decided to set up an office staff who could represent the
director when he could not be in Washington, says George Hardy,
MD, the present director of the office, who adds: "Frequently,
there are meetings of Public Health Service agency heads or
conferences where all the agencies are supposed to be
represented. This cuts down on travel and yet makes sure the CDC
is represented."