Editorial

With the Annual Meeting in May, 1951, a change of administration takes place. It is difficult for the outside observer to realize the amount of work which goes on behind the scenes to keep an organization moving. This is usually done by small groups of individuals who contribute vast quantities of time and energy to what is at times an unrewarding task. Frequently enough they are subjected to much criticism, at times justified, more often not.

In the past two years, the rapidly expanding activities of the Association have been under the leadership of Dr. M. Ralph Kaufman. There is little to add to what is already known about his contributions to psychoanalysis. At one time there was a story current about him which sounded almost apocryphal. But we know that this story is true. At one of the landings in the Pacific, a figure was seen wading ashore loaded down not with the usual supply of cartridge clips but with cigars. When asked why, he replied that while he did not know how to use a gun, he was well acquainted with the use of a cigar. This figure was the consulting neuropsychiatrist in the Pacific field of operations, Mo Kaufman. To those who knew him well, this story is entirely characteristic of the man. A delightful sense of humor, directness, candor and clarity of thinking, are qualities we have learned to associate uniquely with Mo Kaufman. We may not always agree with him, but there is no doubt as to where he stands on specific issues, and what is more, he is always ready to fight for what he believes. All of these qualities he put into service for the American Psychoanalytic Association during his presidency.

He believes in the closest association between psychoanalysis and medicine; for this he fights on both his service at the Mt. Sinai Hospital and in the American Psychoanalytic Association itself. Many may disagree with him but none can question the definitiveness of his purpose, his steadfastness and his readiness to stand up and be counted