December 22-30, 1985 transcribed by Mandi Anderson

December 22, 1985 A Very Special Interview

Today, I had a very special interview with Pres. Brent Nash, an interview of accountability.  It was one of the most spiritual ones I have ever experienced.  We talked about our forthcoming mission and he indicated he would probably be released before our call.

We then talked about the Holy Spirit of Promise and indicated that we did not completely understand its mission other than that each saint must have it to be sealed to arise in the morning of the first resurrection.

Pres. Nash told me of some times in his church life when he has had fore knowledge of things to come in other peoples lives.  He told me that when he first met me he had the sure knowledge that I would henceforth play a special role in the spirituality of the Saints in this part of Zion.  He also testified to me that we knew each other in pre-existent life.

It is interesting that both of us came to Seattle for professional training.  He, for dental school.  Me, for medical internships.  Both of us had no intentions of returning to Seattle, but did so by miraculous circumstance.  As the spirit was very much in evidence, we felt that in pre-existent life we knew one another and made strong promises to help one another in mortal life.  Because these promises would be so important to our mortal life, and ultimate eternal life, we conjectured that perhaps the Holy Spirit of Promise has played a key role in bringing about the fulfillment of promises between us that will lead ultimately to eternal life.

Insert: photo / caption: Dec, 1985 Norma was responsible for 3 primary age girls this fall.  She asked me to paint ducks for them for Christmas, which I did.

Insert: Christmas Card

Bro & Sis Anderson

Wishing you and your family the very best during this Christmas season & thoughout the coming year.

It is a joy to serve the Lord.  To have the privilege of serving with you makes it an added pleasure.

May you & your family continue to enjoy the most precious gift of all – that of his love & the presence of his spirit in your home & in all you do –

Our Love

Beverly & Bren Ward (Signed ?)

Insert: Retirement Card

How Exciting for you!  We hope it means well see a little more of you too!!  Have a Merry Christmas we will manage one together when you get back from your mission  Thank you for the wonderful Christmas present early or not it made ours!!  Love you always Kathy & Ian

Insert: Picture of cake “1950→1985  Congratulations! Every day is a Saturday” / caption: This is my retirement cake – Norma had a wonderful party for me at home with just a few close friends in attendance.

Insert: Picture / caption: This is one of my prized photos of 1985, when I was able to go trout fishing at a trout farm with Scott & Courtney Biddle.  Eric Anderson and his family were visiting at the time.

I have included this article written by Mr. Hal Willard, a millionaire and a waiter who presents a clean and succinct description of the dilemma of one who starts a business in our present-day economic climate.  Nothing is assured anymore and no one is immune to the “mess” that surrounds us.  Our President Reagan truly believes that the catastrophic curse of the economy during President Carter’s tenure has been arrested and inflation is controlled.  He seems to ignore the greatest national debt of all time, which now is in the trillions of dollars.  Suffice it to say, it is nothing more than a time of great confusion smothered with an atmosphere of dishonesty, greed, hostility and uncertainty.  The future of men are very volatile.

I have included a statement of financed worth in my journal, because on paper our net worth is around a million dollars.  Our experience in trying to establish a family business has been the same as those cited by Mr. Willard.

Insert: Personal Financial Statement as of January 1984

Kirk J Anderson

Insert: article “How to Go Broke With a Million” by Hal Willard Newsweek: December 30, 1985

December 10, 1985 transcribed by Mandi Anderson

Insert: letter

Salt Lake City, Utah

December 10, 1985

Dear Kirk and Norma,

As I commence this letter and look at your neat handwriting, I apologize for writing this on the typewriter.  Honestly, my handwriting has deteriorated so, that I am ashamed of it.  So I do hope you will accept this and my sincere hope is that I do not offend.

The opening comments in your letter were so much like you.  Yes, they were most enjoyable.  The spirit of what you sad was, indeed sweet.  That you recalled administering the sacrament with President Benson there was a refresher that I had forgotten.  There is no doubt in my mind that we were together.  My recollection of that period in our life is that the administration of the sacrament was almost our private domain!

Your comments about your pending retirement were most interesting.  You used the word “exhilarated” to describe your emotions.  My first thought in reading your comment was that this was difficult for me to understand.  Then as you went on to mention the words “despair”, “litigation”, and “greed”, I though, how sobering.  And I began to understand why you may feel relieved to be placing that aspect of professional life behind you.  A Common fallacy for many today is to make generalities out of specifics.  No doubt the improprieties of some in the health care professions have tended to brand others---they get the broad brush treatment.  Your comments about those who truly try to server their fellow-men is accepted and shared.  It is good that you are able to look back with a clear conscience knowing in your heart that your entire efforts have been self-less.  That is good!  In our Ward we have possibly a dozen men who are so dedicated.  I recall when attending a Stake Conference, sitting on the stand, I began to perspire and before I fainted, a young man who worked in the Emergency Room at L.D.S. Hospital, was by my side and helped me out.  The next thing I knew eight doctors were standing over me in the Stake President’s office consulting about my problem and symptoms.  It was reassuring to know they were there and had my interests at heart.  Fortunately, the problem passed quickly but not until after an ambulance ride to the hospital.  Do you suppose the cost of that ride had anything to do with the fact that the symptoms have not occurred again?  But, levity aside, your comment that “it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ” is certainly appropriate.  I can say without question, that this influence in my life has molded my actions when temptation invited efforts inconsistent with commitments and covenants.  It is warming to know we share the feeling of importance which the Gospel plays in our lives and the bonding influence it has between us.

Thanks for your comments about the two outlines I sent.  I was pleased to share them with you.

That family affairs may bring you to Salt Lake in February was good news.  Unquestionably this will be a busy time for you.  But if you will let us know when you plan to come, we will make every effort to see you, even if only for a few moments.  But if the situation will accommodate, our invitation to dinner still stands.  So let’s see how affairs develop for you.

You mentioned the winter weather you have been experiencing this year.  If you have been in recent contact with your children here, you are aware that we, too, have been having cold, snowy, and windy weather the past few days.  When we get winds from the east, they are particularly miserable.  The channeling influence of the canyons in the Wasatch really create gales.  During the past two days winds reaching 65-70 mph velocity have played havoc with power lines, traffic, and work schedules.  As I understand it, the phenomenon of such high winds here occurs when a high pressure area and its accompanying clockwise air circulation moves just to the north and east of Salt Lake while at the same time a low pressure area with its counter-clockwise air movement is located to the south and east of us.  These converging winds move down the canyons of the Wasatch and we experience the miseries of blowing snow and biting cold.  It took me forty minutes in it this morning to move the drifts out of my drive way so that I could leave for work.  I was glad for a snow-thrower!  The winds continue tonight but they seem to be subsiding.

I trust you have not had any winter illness.  Our whole family has had colds, coughs, and varying degrees of hoarseness.  Beverly, our #3 daughter, has been so hoarse she has not been able to talk for over a week.  This has created a crisis in her life.  She is a recital and one German class away from her Masters in Vocal Performance.  And her Doctor is anything but encouraging.  Yet he tells her there is no apparent reason why she should be hoarse to this degree.  Throat cultures he took revealed nothing.  My throat has been tight since last Friday and I am experiencing the usual symptoms accompanying a head cold.  So we shall see.  Life continues to have its challenges.

Do you ever reflect on your experience at Bob Irwin’s?

One of my sisters in Boise recently sent me a newspaper clipping from the Statesman announcing the wedding of one of Sumner Delana’s children.  I had heard that he no longer practices law but I have never confirmed the information as fact.  My son-in-law was a law clerk for a Judge in Boise for over a year and he said he never heard of Sumner.  I understand Frank Crowe practices Dermatology in Boise and serves in some capacity at the U. of Oregon.  As I remember he married Valerie Delana.  When you were in Portland, did you ever hear of a Doctor named Arthur May?  He was a fraternity Brother of mine at U. of W. and I think he is in Pediatrics.  Well, enough of that.

Please don’t feel pressured to respond to this immediately.  I am home alone tonight.  Audrey and the girls went to “Scrouge” tonight.  My hearing is bad enough that I just can’t follow stage dialogue so I am happier at home.

Please know your friendship is cherished.  Audrey joins me in expressing the hope that both of you will enjoy a wonderful holiday season and that the spirit of the Savior will be with you and yours.

Sincerely you friend,

Ted [signed]

Kirk---- I have addressed this to your office in the hope it will be forwarded if you have left by the time it reaches you.  I only find your Northshire Rd. address at the moment and I am certain you have moved from there.

November 7, 1985 - transcribed by Mandi Anderson

Insert: Letter “Senator Slade Gorton ’86 Committee” letterhead

November 7, 1985

Dr. Kirk J. Anderson

801 Broadway Avenue

Seattle, Washington 98122

Dear Kirk,

I wanted to write to you personally to let you know that I plan to kick off my re-election campaign with a major Gala to be held in Seattle on December 2, 1985.  I have extended an invitation to President Reagan to attend the Gala and I am extremely pleased to inform you that he has accepted.

Your active support and assistance is of critical importance to me.  I would be honored if you would agree to serve as a Co-Chairman for the President Gala.

As a Co-Chairman, you would assume two responsibilities.  First, to Co-Host a private reception for the President, and second, to assume the responsibility of selling at least one table of 10 seats at $1,000 per person.

You have many responsibilities that demand your time and effort, but I want you to know how deeply I appreciate your help with President Reagan’s upcoming visit.

Sincerely, 

Slade Gordon

United States Senator

P.S. Please RSVP to Lucinda Hagan or Steve Mullin at (206) 343-7887, or by returning the enclosed response card right away.  Your help is very important.

The foregoing letter is repugnant to me, but a sign of our political times.  In the first place, I do not hold Mr. Gordon in the highest esteem.  As my senator, I have written several times to him, but his answers have been uninformed and “stuck” in trade”.  Therefore, it is repugnant to me when he addresses me by my first name.  It is an honor to me to be called Kirk by those who really mean it and are the “true” and “great” people of the earth.  Mr. Gordon does it because he wants something from me and he is appealing to one of the weakest points in man’s armor – his pride.  Secondly, this letter represents the the devastating state of our politics – in order to be elected candidates now spend millions of dollars on their campaigns.  As far as I am concerned, with such enormous sums of money involved they are easily encumbered by pressure groups with money.  

I will not be a party to any of this!  No wonder the constitution will come to hang by a thread

Insert: letter

20 November 1985

TO: THE DOCTORS

FROM: LARRY HARMS

SUBJECT: MALPRACTICE RENEWAL FOR 1986

I would like to discuss our options for malpractice coverage in 1986 at tomorrow’s luncheon meeting.  Please bring this with you.

OCCURRENCE

Our present occurrence policy expires December 30^th and cost $29,940 per doctor, including the 15% surcharge for the high incidence of reported claims.  The renewal rate will be $46,315 per doctor, including the 15% surcharge, or an increase of 55%.  The surcharge is equal to $6,041 per doctor.  It was rumored that CNA might not offer occurrence coverage next year but they are extending it at least one more year and are the only carrier offering it to orthopaedists.  In view of the premium, they may be intentionally forcing doctors to consider the claims-made form.  CNA has announced that next year it will not accept any new business from single-specialty group practices.

CLAIMS-MALE

Although continuing our occurrence policy one more year would buy us some flexibility and time to see how the market develops, it would be costly.  Therefore, I feel we should consider converting to Claims-made.  Which is available from CNA, St. Paul, ICA and WSPIE.  I would recommend against ICA because of our past deliberations and the size of their reserves viz-a-viz CAN or St. Paul.  I would recommend against WSPIE because of their required capital contribution of $7000/doctor, in addition to the premium, and the amount of reserves.

Referencing the enclosed premium comparisons from Fred S. James & Co. you can see that there is a substantial reduction in premium from the first few years until the program “matures” at the 5^th year.  Although St. Paul starts out lower in the first year, they rapidly overtake CNA in later years.  Two other disadvantages to St. Paul is first that they are very particular about reported claims and incidents and may not be willing to cover us.  Secondly, their premium for the separate corporate liability limits is 10% of total premium versus $1000 for CNA.  Therefore, CNA emerges as the most logical insurer.

BUYING THE TAIL

Although claims-made appears to be inevitable.  A decision to convert should be made carefully because of the “tail.”  First, it may not be possible in the future to switch to another insurer without “buying” the tail from the first.  Second, although both CAN and St. Paul will waive the tail for any doctor who dies, becomes disabled or retires at age 65 with at least five years with the company, provision for purchasing the tail must be made for any physician who retires early or leaves the practice.  The cost of the tail is twice the last year’s premium ($82,732 per the enclosed).

The polyclinic has decided to go with CNA-claims-made and has decided that physicians will be personally responsible for purchasing their own tail coverage.

DEDUCTIBLES

At this time no company is willing to consider deductibles over $5000, which would only produce a 1% premium reduction.  Additionally, the companies consider self-insurance the same as a deductible.

The preceding letter from the business manger of Seattle Orthopaedic & Fracture clinic depicts the deteriorating and undesirable climate in medicine brought about by the malpractice problem.  Surely, it will drive many of the finest surgeons out of practice.

If I had elected to practice one more year, rather than retire Jan 1, 86, I would have had to pay around $46,000 malpractice insurance for the year, and would also had to pay a tail of 82,000 on top the day I retired.

How grateful I am for my blessings, and how my heart cries out for my friends and colleagues who are truly honorable men – desirous of easing the suffering of others.