November 14, 1990 
TO: Senator Dole  
FROM: Mo West  
SUBJECT: Arthritis Foundation Fundraiser
(End of Letterhead)

The Arthritis Foundation's fundraiser which you will be honored at this evening is being held at the J.W. Marriott. They are expecting you at 8:30 p.m. and are aware that you will be accepting the award and briefly speaking. There is a table in front of the podium where a seat has been reserved for you during your introduction. You will be seated with patrons that have paid $500.00 a ticket to attend tonight's event. There will be a photographer there for a photo op with the individuals seated at your table. 

You will receive the "Marriott Lifetime Achievement Award" which recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Arthritis Foundation's cause. Proceeds from the Marriott Lifetime Achievement Award dinners support the Washington Chapter's Programs for Living which help people to manage their arthritis and lead independent lives. 

Senator Barry Goldwater was last year's recipient of this award for his many years of work on behalf of Americans with arthritis, and in particular for his efforts to establish the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease at the National Institute of Health. 

Senator Goldwater, (an arthritis victim) will be in attendance tonight so you may want to recognize him as well as Todd Mullins and Mrs. Flo Mullins --her husband was recently killed in a plane crash after returning from the Tip O'Neill golf tournament. Their twenty year old son, Todd has severe arthritis. In addition, his growth was stunted as a child due to medication taken for the arthritis. The Mullin family has purchased $5,000.00 worth of tickets for tonight's dinner. 

I will plan to meet you at the 13th street entrance shortly before 8:30 and show you to your seat. 

I AM HONORED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO RECEIVE SUCH A DISTINGUISHED AWARD. WHILE THE MARRIOTT LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECOGNIZES THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS TO THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION'S CAUSE, I MUST CONFESS THAT THIS TRIBUTE RIGHTLY BELONGS TO THE FOUNDATION ITSELF WHICH WORKS ENDLESSLY TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST ARTHRITIS. 

THIS EVENING'S PROGRAM, WHICH RECOGNIZES THE IMPORT ANT WORK OF THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION, WILL HEIGHTEN AWARENESS AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT THE FOUNDATION NEEDS IN ITS MISSION TO CURE ALL FORMS OF ARTHRITIS. 

THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION, WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN CHAPTER, IS UNPARALLELED IN THE BREATH OF ACTIVITIES IT SPONSORS TO ASSIST 

INDIVIDUALS WITH ARTHRITIS IN LIVING INDEPENDENT AND SATISFYING LIVES. UNTIL RESEARCH DISCOVERS A CURE FOR ARTHRITIS, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS, INFORMATION, AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TOUCHED BY ONE OF THE 100 DISORDERS REFERRED TO AS ARTHRITIS. 

UNFORTUNATELY, ARTHRITIS KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES -­APPROXIMATELY ONE IN SEVEN OF OUR POPULATION FUNCTIONS DAY-TO-DAY WITH ONE OF ARTHRITIS' MANY DISABLING OR PAINFUL CONDITIONS. 

FOR TOO LONG, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE LIVED IN ISOLATION AND EXCLUSION ­-VICTIMS OF STRUCTURAL AND ATTITUDINAL BARRIERS DEEPLY EMBEDDED WITHIN AMERICAN SOCIETY. THESE BARRIERS NOT ONLY DEPRIVE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OF PERSONAL DIGNITY, PRESTIGE, AND SELF­ESTEEM, BUT ALSO ROBS OUR SOCIETY OF A VALUABLE RESOURCE AND A VAST POOL OF HUMAN POTENTIAL. 

IF THE 101ST CONGRESS IS TO BE REMEMBERED FOR ANY SINGLE ACCOMPLISHMENT, I WOULD HOPE THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. BEFORE 'ADA' WAS PASSED, A COMPREHENSIVE MANDATE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ESSENTIAL CIVIL RIGHTS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WAS NEVER A REALITY IN ANY STATE OR MUNICIPALITY IN THIS OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY. 

AS A RESULT OF THIS LANDMARK LAW, EVERY MEMBER OF AMERICAN SOCIETY HAS AN INHERENT RIGHT TO THE OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN A LIVING, TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF EVERYDAY LIVING. 

ALTHOUGH ADA IS REVOLUTIONARY, ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION ARE STILL PIVOTAL TO BREAKING DOWN THESE SOCIETAL BARRIERS. SADLY, THEY EXIST. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE THESE BARRIERS ARE ELIMINATED, BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AS LONG AS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE...