The sexy medical researcher in this bestselling 1991 romance novel was based on Anthony Fauci

Journalist and novelist Sally Quinn's bestselling 1991 novel of romance and intrigue, Happy Endings, is about fictional presidential widow Sadie Grey who falls for a sexy medical researcher working for the National Institutes of Health on a new AIDS treatment. Yes, the alluring government scientist with the "low, melodious, sexy, almost hypnotic voice, as Quinn described the character, is none other than Dr. Anthony Fauci. From Benjamin Wofford's article in Washingtonian:

Part searing romance, part roman clef, Happy Endings made the bestseller list during a year when HIV-related deaths were then the highest ever recorded in the United States. By then, Fauci was the government scientist best known for combatting the viruss spread as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

It was around this time that Quinn first encountered the real-life Fauci, at a Washington function where the two were paired as dinner partners. With his tie askew and from behind enormous glasses, Fauci left an impression of earnest brilliance, enough to inspire the main character of Quinns upcoming novel.

I just fell in love with him, Quinn told me recently, recalling their evening together. Usually those dinners, you make polite conversation, and thats it. But we had this intense conversation, personal conversation. I though, Wow, this guy is amazing.'[...]He was so different from most Washington people, because hes so self-effacing. Hes not in it for the glory or the name recognition, Quinn recalled. She decided to have Grey fall in love with this doctor who does this amazing work, and doesnt get a lot of publicity.