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Linus Pauling, the ACS, and the Europe Fiasco
12016-02-20T00:50:03-08:00Adrienne Engle1e8579e03f69bc65fd3942292ab931a5f700ae15746110gallery2016-03-09T12:32:22-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aAn old friend of Ralph Spitzer, and the man who essentially got the job at OSC for Spitzer, Linus Pauling was an adamant advocate for Spitzer.
ACS - American Chemical Society - Pauling was President, and personally supported Spitzer, but didn't throw the weight of the ACS behind his advocacy.
12016-03-09T01:41:48-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aSpitzer Detained in Europe2An article published in The New York Times details that while traveling in Europe for scientific conferences with his wife Terry, Spitzer was detained by police multiple times and his passport was invalidated by the Department of State.plain2016-03-09T01:42:57-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T12:35:35-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPetition to the State Department (2 of 6)2Signatures of those that support Pauling's petition to the State Department concerning Spitzer's treatment in Europe.plain2016-03-09T12:37:31-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:17:58-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPauling's Thoughts on Spitzer1ADDRESSED TO: Anton B. Burg | AFFILIATION: Chemistry Department at University of Southern California | LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA | WRITER: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: Pauling writes a letter of recommendation for Ralph Spitzer. Among the praises he describes, Pauling “would rank Spitzer well above the average of our Ph.D.s in physical chemistry”.plain2016-03-09T01:17:58-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:33:36-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPauling vs. The Barometer (1 of 2)1ADDRESSED TO: Oregon State Daily Barometer | AFFILIATION: Oregon State College | LOCATION: Corvallis, OR | WRITER: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: Pauling had sent two letters to be printed in The Barometer but only one was published. Pauling demanded an explanation.plain2016-03-09T01:33:36-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:52:08-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aSupport Given but Questions Raised1WRITER: George Calingaert | AFFILIATION: Hobart and William Smith Colleges | LOCATION: Geneva, NY | ADDRESSED TO: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: After reading the article about Spitzer’s passport situation, Calingaert writes to Pauling for more information. Calingaert wants to know why the State Department did that to Spitzer when he was not breaking any laws, how the Dutch imprisoned a peaceful foreign visitor, and how Spitzer is funding his travels as an unemployed man.plain2016-03-09T01:52:08-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T12:38:26-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPetition to the State Department (4 of 6)1Signatures of those that support Pauling's petition to the State Department concerning Spitzer's treatment in Europe.plain2016-03-09T12:38:26-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:20:20-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aThe Outcry for Academic Freedom1ADDRESSED TO: Linus Pauling | AFFILIATION: California Institute of Technology | LOCATION: Pasadena, CA | WRITER: John L. Huston, Instructor of Chemistry | CONTENTS: Huston writes to Pauling to express his, and others (as indicated by the signatures), opposition of the oppression of academic freedom even if they disagree with Spitzer’s political values.plain2016-03-09T01:20:20-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:35:25-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPauling vs. The Barometer (2of 2)1ADDRESSED TO: Linus Pauling | AFFILIATION: California Institute of Technology | LOCATION: Pasadena, CA | WRITER: Frank Walton, Editor | CONTENTS: The newspaper responds that the decision was the editor in chief’s and the “entire matter has been given far more space than it deserves”plain2016-03-09T01:35:25-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:53:12-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aNo Guts1• ADDRESSED TO: Linus Pauling • AFFILIATION: N/A • LOCATION: New York, NY • WRITER: Harlow Shapley (of the Harvard College Observatory) • CONTENTS: Shapley writes in regards to Pauling regarding Spitzer’s ejection from Europe. Shapley inquires whether the National Academy of Sciences or the American Association for the Advancement of Science can also join in the protest. Shapley ends the letter by writing “apparently the chemists of American officially haven’t guts enough to take action in this particular case?” which was later crossed out.plain2016-03-09T01:53:12-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T12:41:50-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPetition to the State Department (5 of 6)1Explanation of the petition to the State Department.plain2016-03-09T12:41:50-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:21:44-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPauling Appeals to Strand (1 of 2)1ADDRESSED TO: President Strand | AFFILIATION: Oregon State College | LOCATION: Corvallis, OR | WRITER: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: In his letter, Pauling conveys his concern regarding Strand’s failure to continue Spitzer’s employment. He chronicles their relationship, starting from how they met at Cornell University, where Pauling was a George Fisher Baker lecturer and Spitzer was a student. While Pauling does not agree with politics, he wants to defend Spitzer’s right to have his own beliefs.plain2016-03-09T01:21:45-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:38:29-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aRequest for Publication in Chemical & Engineering News1ADDRESSED TO: Walter J. Murphy | AFFILIATION: Editor of Chemical and Engineering News | LOCATION: Washington D.C. | WRITER: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: Pauling asks Murphy to publish two letters in Chemical and Engineering News regarding Spitzer’s dismissal. He remarks that he sent the same letters to the Oregon State Daily Barometer but only one was published despite his request.plain2016-03-09T01:38:30-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:54:53-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aQuestions for Spitzer1ADDRESSED TO: Ralph Spitzer | AFFILIATION: N/A | LOCATION: New York, NY | WRITER: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: As an advocate for Spitzer, Pauling has been fielding many questions regarding Spitzer’s detainment. Pauling writes to Spitzer to ask him two questions he cannot answer himself, which are whether Spitzer invalidated his passport by going to Czechoslovakia and whether Spitzer got into conflict with the Dutch Police by upsetting the Dutch government somehow.plain2016-03-09T01:54:53-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T12:42:39-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPetition to the State Department (6 of 6)1Explanation of the petition to the State Department continued.plain2016-03-09T12:42:39-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:23:02-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPauling Appeals to Strand (2 of 2)1plain2016-03-09T01:23:03-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:56:50-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aSpitzer Responds to Inquiries1ADDRESSED TO: Linus Pauling | AFFILIATION: N/A | LOCATION: N/A | WRITER: Ralph Spitzer | CONTENTS: Spitzer answers the questions Pauling raised in his letter. The first question, whether he was permitted to go to Czechoslovakia, was yes, his passport allowed him entry into the country. In regards to the second question about whether he upset the Dutch government, Spitzer answers no. He explains that he was “killing time waiting for my wife” by working on his paper and enjoying tourist activities. When his wife arrived, they went to the seashore for four days and as they were preparing to depart to England, the detainment fiasco occurred.plain2016-03-09T01:56:50-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:24:33-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aFor Your Reconsideration1ADDRESSED TO: Dean Hugh Stott Taylor | AFFILIATION: Princeton University | LOCATION: Princeton, NJ | WRITER: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: Pauling heard that Spitzer’s SSRC-NRC fellowship might be withdrawn and asks him to reconsider by explaining his high regard for Spitzer.plain2016-03-09T01:24:34-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:44:25-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aSpitzer Explains His European Disaster1ADDRESSED TO: Editor of the New York Times | AFFILIATION: The New York Times | LOCATION: New York, NY | WRITER: Ralph Spitzer | CONTENTS: In his letter to the editor, Spitzer responds to The New York Times article, “U.S. Voids Passport of Savant Abroad”, which chronicled Spitzer’s detainment. Spitzer explains he was in Europe to present his paper about Isaac Newton and was preparing to go to England when he was seized by Dutch police on September 9th, 1950. The American Consul then gave Spitzer an invalidated passport and Spitzer was put on a ship against his will. Spitzer blames the actions of the State Department and calls for a protest against the American and Dutch government’s actions because they infringed upon his right to travel and study.plain2016-03-09T01:44:26-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T12:34:10-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPetition to the State Department (1 of 6)1WRITER: ? (Illegible) | AFFILIATION: National Council for the Arts, Sciences and Professions inc. | LOCATION: New York, NY | ADDRESSED TO: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: The writer encloses his letter to Pauling with fifty signatures petitioning the State Department’s actions. The writer anticipates that a statement with the list of signers will be sent to the Secretary of State and offers to forward the documents if Pauling is unable to do so. The writer also suggests releasing a public statement as well as contacting journals such as Science and Nature. The American Association of Scientific Workers, A.A.A.S. and the National Executive Committee of ASP also anticipate getting involved.plain2016-03-09T12:34:10-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:28:31-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aUnadequate Grounds for Dismissal1ADDRESSED TO: President Strand | AFFILIATION: Oregon State College | LOCATION: Corvallis, OR | WRITER: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: In his letter, Pauling calls out Strand and accuses him of firing Spitzer because he believed Spitzer was affiliated with communism. Pauling deems a political reason as unsatisfactory grounds for dismissal and argues that Strand misunderstood the message Spitzer was trying to convey in his letter to Chemical and Engineering News.plain2016-03-09T01:28:32-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:46:20-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPauling Calls for a Protest1ADDRESSED TO: N/A | AFFILIATION: N/A | LOCATION: N/A | WRITER: Linus Pauling | CONTENTS: Pauling briefly explains what happened to Spitzer regarding the passport and detainment issue. He asks the reader to join him in protesting the actions of the Department of State by signing the card he enclosed.plain2016-03-09T01:46:21-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:29:53-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPauling's Price is Too High For Strand1• ADDRESSED TO: Linus Pauling • AFFILIATION: California Institute of Technology • LOCATION: Pasadena, CA • WRITER: President Strand • CONTENTS: Strand responds to Pauling’s letter to him. Strand confirms that he took Spitzer’s article in the Chemical and Engineering News as affirmation of his affiliation with the communist party. Strand tells him that, “if by this action, Oregon State College has lost your respect and support, all I can is that your price is too high. We’ll have to get along without your aid”.plain2016-03-09T01:29:53-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:48:24-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aJoining the Protest1ADDRESSED TO: Linus Pauling | AFFILIATION: California Institute of Technology | LOCATION: Pasadena, CA | WRITER: John T. Edsall (Harvard University) | CONTENTS: Edsall agrees to join in the protest of the Department of State and sends back the card, signed, as requested by Pauling. Edsall also requests time for the Department of State to explain their actions before the petition is made public.plain2016-03-09T01:48:24-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T12:37:00-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aPetition to the State Department (3 of 6)1Signatures of those that support Pauling's petition to the State Department concerning Spitzer's treatment in Europe.plain2016-03-09T12:37:00-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:31:23-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aStrand Insults ACS1ADDRESSED TO: President Strand | AFFILIATION: Oregon State College | LOCATION: Corvallis, OR | WRITER: Gordon Fels (among others) | CONTENTS: The writers of this letter express their disdain at how Strand treated Pauling. Because Pauling is the president of the American Chemical Society, the writers view Strand’s disrespect as an insult to the organization and will have a negative impact on the OSC chemistry department.plain2016-03-09T01:31:24-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a
12016-03-09T01:50:17-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348aCondemning the Department of State1ADDRESSED TO: Department of State | AFFILIATION: Department of State | LOCATION: N/A | WRITER: N/A (likely spearheaded by Linus Pauling) | CONTENTS: The writer condemns the Department of State for restricting cultural and scientific interchange by interfering with the freedom of travel (and therefore the freedom of scientific investigation). The writer decries the Department of State for obstructing the advancement of knowledge and recommends that their first step be to revalidate Spitzer’s passport.plain2016-03-09T01:50:17-08:00Jessica Tran170b93c3f4df728ad26b4a24d8033436e71d348a