All Documents and Media

Letter from Hubert H. Humphrey to Linus Pauling. March 19, 1964.
Humphrey writes to congratulate Pauling for his receipt of the Temple Beth Zion Award and to praise Pauling for his work as a "prophet" of liberty.

Transcript

United States Senate

Washington D.C.

19 March 1964

Dr. Linus Pauling

Temple Beth Zion

5555 West Olympic Boulevard

Los Angeles 36, California

Dear Dr. Pauling:

It gives me pleasure to add my congratulations to you on the occasion of your receiving the 1964-5724 Passover Liberty Award from Temple Beth Zion.

All mankind has benefitted from your discoveries and work in Science. Perhaps even more will come from your students—the really great tribute to your teaching. But you have assumed even more: the always difficult, always controversial, but always necessary role for a healthful society, of the “prophet”. You have by it indeed proclaimed “liberty throughout the land, and to all the inhabitants thereof.”

For a prophet to get honor in his own country is not usual, but Temple Beth Zion has done well to make the exception. I wish to join with them in expressing appreciation. I know that we all do so in the trust that it will in no wise inhibit your continued assumption of the “prophetic” vocation.

Sincerely,

Hubert H. Humphrey

Return to Document Page