David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

He had only reluctantly approved the
vincristine experiment. He was
responsible for what happened on the
second floor. If somehow things didn’t
go well, he would be the one hauled
before a congressional committee. Can
you imagine? Two renegade researchers
are giving experimental and highly toxic
cocktails of drugs to four- and five-year-
olds at a government laboratory. He had
grave reservations. But Frei and
Freireich persisted. Actually, Frei
persisted; Freireich isn’t the kind of
person who can be trusted with a
delicate negotiation. “I couldn’t have
done anything without Tom,” Freireich
admitted. “Frei is the inverse of me. He
is deliberate and very humane.” Yes, the