8 February 1962

Dear Hans,

When the Saturday Evening Post appeared ten days ago, with the first of the three articles by Edward Teller, I thought that I should prepare some complementary articles. I waited until the second article appeared, day before yesterday, and then sent Robert Fuoss, the Editor, the following telegram:

"Would you seriously examine three manuscripts by me totalling fifteen thousand words? These three articles would complement the three by Edward Teller. The articles would be interesting, informative, and reliable. They would contain additional facts and would express opinions held by many scientists. The publication of these articles complementing those of Dr. Teller would be a service to the American people, in the spirit of the new Post. It would make the whole of this important matter, rather than only half of it, available to your readers. I ask only that you agree to examine the articles in order to determine their suitability for publication. If you reply without delay I shall drop other activities, write the articles, and submit them to you about 28 February. /s/ Linus Pauling"

Today I received the following answer:

"Sorry we have already agreed to consider similar rebuttal from Hans Bethe. Robert Fuoss Saturday Evening Post"

I am pleased with this situation, because I believe that the rebuttal by you would probably be more effective than one by me, and I am writing to express my pleasure to you, and my appreciation of your continued efforts.

It has occurred to me that your series of articles complementing those of Teller might be weak with respect to the question about radioactive fallout and how it affects life on earth. This is the subject of Teller's second article, which begins with the sentences "Fallout from nuclear testing is not worth worrying about. Its effect on human beings, if there is an effect, is insignificant."

I remember that in 1957, in a letter to me about the appeal by American scientists for an international agreement to stop the testing of nuclear weapons, you said that you did not have enough personal knowledge about the biological effects of high-energy radiation to subscribe to a public statement that included mention of this matter.

As you know, I have considerable knowledge in the fields of physics and chemistry and also in the fields of biology and medicine. Thirteen years ago, with my students, I made a significant contribution to human genetics and medicine and for many years I have been working on the molecular basis of disease. In its issue of 2 February 1962 Time Magazine, in a two-column article entitled "Inheriting Bad Health," included the following paragraph:

"So little was once known of the molecular structure of genes that the defects they cause could not be identified or treated. Now, in the baby science of 'molecular medicine,' chiefly conceived by Chemist Linus Pauling, both problems are beginning to be solved. Last week in Los Angeles, at a conference co-sponsored by the National Foundation and the University of Southern California, Dr. Pauling and others told of their progress."

I have decided to prepare some comments on the second Teller article, and to send them to you, in order that you may know what my feelings are about this article. The comments are brief and succinct. These comments are not to be considered a draft of the five thousand-word rebuttal to this article that I had hoped to write.

These comments are enclosed with this letter. I hope that you will find them useful. I am not suggesting that you should quote me about this matter, but I hope that you can make use of what I have written, in some way. You are free to do so, without referring to me.

With best regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

[Linus Pauling]