Letter from Linus Pauling to J. Frank McLaughlin. April 9, 1951. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 2 pp.  View Transcript

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Activity Listings

• Airline ticket, issued: LA, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit for April 11-15 [Filed under LP Travel: Box #1.001 Folder 1.9]
• Check from AHP to Manor Market for $25.00. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Bank Statements and Canceled Checks, September 1950-December 1952), Box #4.021, Folder #21.2]
• Letter from Dr. J. H. Means, Medical Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, to LP RE: States that he already applied to LP’s telegram and informs LP that he is on the program. [Letter from LP to Means April 9, 1951] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1951s.11]
• Letter from E. Bright Wilson, Jr., Department of Chemistry, Harvard University, to LP RE: States that he is extremely sorry that LP cannot accept the appointment at Harvard. [Letter from LP to Wilson April 2, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Wilson, E. Bright (Jr.)), #438.5]
• Letter from Fred E. Wright to LP RE: Thanks him for his letter, and states that they are pleased to receive his report as chairman of the Editorial Board. [Filed under LP Science: (National Academy of Sciences, 1945-1951), Box #14.019, Folder #19.4]
• Letter from Gregg M. Sinclair, President of the University of Hawaii, to LP RE: Tells LP that he had copies of LP’s April 4th and 6th letters to each member of the Board of Regents. [Letter from LP to the Board of Regents April 4, 1951, April 6, 1951] [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: (Correspondence re: University of Hawaii, 1950-1954), Box #2.005, Folder #5.2]
• Letter from Henry Allen Moe, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to LP RE: Notifies him that there has been nothing in the papers about his disputes with the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Compliments him on his letters to the board, looks forward to seeing him at the American Philosophical Society meetings. [Letter from LP to Moe April 3, 1951] [Filed under LP Science: (John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, 1946-1952), Box #14.014, Folder #14.6]
• Letter from James R. Pay to LP RE: Thanks LP for sending him the copies of his correspondence with the Board of Regents and Judge McLaughlin from the University of Hawaii. [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: (Correspondence re: University of Hawaii, 1950-1954.), Box #2.005, Folder #5.2]
• Letter from Joseph Capsin to LP RE: Thanks LP for the letter and explains why he sends LP the newspaper clippings. [Letter from LP to Capsin April 6, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Capsin, Joseph), #57.9]
• Letter from Joseph Ezaki, President of the Chemistry Club at the University of Hawaii, RE: Invites LP to speak before the club during his visit to Honolulu. Says that the students of the university realize the injustice that has been done to him and hope that he will be able to dedicate the new chemistry building. Note by LP: “Ansd.” [Letter from LP to Ezaki April 30, 1951] [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: (Correspondence re: University of Hawaii, 1950-1954), Box #2.005, Folder #5.2]
• Letter from LP to Alan Gregg RE: Concerns the Spitzer affair and publicity it received. Tells Gregg about his protein structure project. [Letter from Gregg to LP January 30, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (G: Correspondence, 1951), #140.15]
• Letter from LP to Ernest Becker, Department of Chemistry, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, RE: Informs him that data about the interatomic distances and bond angles of fulvene have not yet been obtained so he cannot give detailed responses to Becker’s questions. Replies to Becker’s question as best he can. [Lettter from Becker to LP January 12, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (B: Correspondence, 1951), #37.18]
• Letter from LP to Frank Aydelotte, Institute for Advanced Study, RE: Discusses his problems with the Regents of the University of Hawaii, who withdrew their invitation to LP to dedicate a chemistry laboratory. States that he has decided to fight this and that he hopes they will reconsider their decision at their next meeting. Encloses copies of his correspondence with the Regents. [Letter from Aydelotte to LP April 14, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Aydelotte, Frank, 1940-1955), #6.21] [Also filed under LP Biographical: Academia: (Correspondence re: University of Hawaii, 1950-1954.), Box #2.005, Folder #5.2]
• Letter from LP to Harper Frentz, Pasadena City College, RE: Explains that he has received a letter from Jack Eichinger regarding a statement about the use of the term “formality” in LP’s text, College Chemistry. [Letter from LP to Eichinger April 9, 1951] [Filed under LP Books: 1950b.7]
• Letter from LP to J. E. Stareck, United Chromium, Inc., RE: Says that he has read the manuscript but that he will not have a chance to study it. Suggests he contact Maria Mayer at the University of Chicago because she knows a great deal about the topic. [Letter from Stareck to LP April 2, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (S: Correspondence, 1951), #378.5]
• Letter from LP to J. M. Eakins RE: Apologizes for the delay in his reply and states that he has gotten behind in answering his mail. Writes that he was an initiating sponsor of the American Peace Crusade but that he has not been an active member since then because of the distance between the East and West Coasts of the country. Encloses a statement that he issued a few days ago that will answer the question in his letter. [Letter from Eakins to LP February 13, 1951] [Filed under LP Peace: (Assorted Peace Groups (Am)), Box #4.009, Folder #9.6]
• Letter from LP to J. W. Eichinger, Florida State University, RE: Says he is pleased to learn that Eichinger is using his text, College Chemistry. Discusses the use of the words “form” and “formality” in the text. [Letter from Eichinger to LP February 7, 1951, Letter from LP to Frantz April 9, 1951] [Filed under LP Books: 1950b.7]
• Letter from LP to Judge M. McLaughlin. [Letter from McLaughlin to LP April 6, 1951] [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: (Correspondence re: University of Hawaii, 1950-1954), Box #2.005, Folder #5.2]

  CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

  PASADENA A-

  GATES AND CRELLIN LABORATORIES OF CHEMISTRY

  April 9, 1951

  Judge J. Frank McLaughlin

  Dear Judge McLaughlin:

  I thank you for your illuminating letter of April 6.

  I am sorry to read your statement that you will vote against the reissue of the invitation to me to speak at the dedication of the chemistry building. May I ask that you reconsider this matter, and be guided by your judgment at the time of the meeting of the Board of Regents, after all of the facts relating to the situation have been presented to you.

  Let me say a few words about the three reasons that you give in your letter for the action that you contemplate taking.

  (1) You first state that I have given out only a "lame censure of Communism" and that I am "naive" in my political beliefs. I do not see any way to interpret this "reason" except to conclude that you believe that the University of Hawaii should invite only speakers whose political beliefs are approved by you and the other Regents, and, in particular, only those who have pronounced a strong censure of Communism, rather than a lame censure. I may say that I myself believe that the regents of a university should not use their official position in this political way.

  (2) You mention that I have refused to answer under oath a question put to me by the California State Senate Interim Committee on Health and Education (it is my understanding that the committee was the California State Senate investigating Committee on Education). It may be that I put myself in danger of citation for contempt of the Committee by this action. The fact is, however, that the Committee did not cite me, nor have I been accused of illegal action of any sort. You suggest that I might have been accused of illegal action, but I do not think that your opinion to this effect constitutes a sound reason for the action of your Board of Regents in withdrawing the invitation to me. May I also say that the matter on which I was asked to testify before this State Investigating Committee, that of the value of the loyalty affirmation that had been imposed on the faculty of the University of California by the Regents of the University of California, has been the subject of a decision by the appellate Court of the State of California, announced last week. The Appellate Court decided, according to the local newspapers, that the action of the Regents was unconstitutional, and ordered the University of California to restore

  Judge McLaughlin -2- 4/9/51

  the eighteen faculty members to their jobs. This decision was reached unanimously by the three judges of the Appellate Court who rendered it.

  The third reason that you give is that I am not a great citizen, and that my demand that the University of Hawaii reissue its invitation to me is as absurd as it brazen. I think that my demand is a just one. As to whether or not I am a great citizen, I would say that the University might well invite ordinary citizens as well as great citizens to speak at its functions. I may not be a great citizen, but I believe that I am following the example of our great citizens of the past. A great citizen does not remain silent under pressure; he has the courage to support his convictions, even though they be unpopular at the time. A great citizen does not abandon his support of the fundamental principles upon which our Democracy is based for the sake of expediency. A great citizen does not allow people in public office, even in the Department of State, to make up his mind for him; instead, he acts upon the basic principle that it is up to him and his fellow citizens to make the broad decisions about policy, by expressing their opinions, and that it is the duty of men in public office to act upon these decisions, to carry out the wishes of the people as a whole, rather than to force the people to accept their own decisions.

  I have looked, at the essay entitled "World Revolution: Marx to Stalin," by Dean Bachman. I think that Dean Bachman has the right to express his opinions of political questions, and that I also have the right to express my opinions.

  Sincerely yours,

  Linus Pauling:W

• Letter from LP to M. L. Vest, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia Academy of Science, RE: Expresses his disgust that the West Virginia Academy of Science decided to withdraw its invitation to LP to give the principal address at the annual meeting of the Academy. Discusses the matter in great deal, emphasizing that he restricts his speech to scientific matters when he has been invited to speak about scientific subjects. [Letter from Vest to LP, April 6, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (V: Correspondence, 1951), #427.11]
• Letter from LP to Mary Lewis RE: Says that he is sorry that Dick is having trouble. States that does not think his character reference will be effective because he does not have any special knowledge but that will do anything he can to help. Mentions that AHP and he may stop by Tuscon when they drive to Oklahoma in June. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (L: Correspondence, 1951), #230.17
• Letter from LP to Mr. Wesley N. Noble RE: Thanks Noble for writing to Mr. Emery and urging the American Chemical Society to take some action in connection with the withdrawal of LP’s invitation to speak at the University of Hawaii. [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: (Correspondence re: University of Hawaii, 1950-1954), Box #2.005, Folder #5.2]
• Letter from LP to President Gregg M. Sinclair, University of Hawaii, RE: Thanks Sinclair for his April 5th letter and says that he is glad to know that the delay in his writing to LP was due to clerical error. Explains that he thinks that the University of Hawaii will benefit by reinstituting LP’s invitation. Says that he will do his best to prevent the University from being embarrassed during his visit to Honolulu. Says that he will visit Honolulu also to speak before other scientific groups. Asks if he may offer any information that Sinclair can use at his next meeting of the Board of Regents. [Letter from Sinclair to LP April 5, 1951] [Letter from Sinclair to LP April 10, 1951] [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: (Correspondence re: University of Hawaii, 1950-1954), Box #2.005, Folder #5.2]
• Letter from LP to Prof. E.B. Wilson RE: He asks for a number of reprints from the April and May issues fo the Proceedings. He instructs how he would like the covers and where the papers should be billed and shipped to. [Filed under LP Science: ( National Academy of Sciences, 1945-1951), Box #14.019, Folder #19.4]
• Letter from LP to Prof. E.B. Wilson RE: Thanks him for informing him that the letters had gone out to press. He writes about different ideas and styles of punctuation and editing. [Letter from E.B. Wilson April 1, 1951] [Filed under LP Science: (National Academy of Sciences, 1945-1951), Box #14.019, Folder #19.4]
• Letter from President T. W. J. Taylor, University College of the West Indies, to LP RE: Thanks him for his letter and says that he has already met with Harrison Brown, but has heard nothing about Leo Szilard yet. States that he hopes that LP will be able to visit as he mentioned in his letter. [Letters from LP to Taylor April 5, 1951, May 25, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Taylor, T. W.), #405.7]
• Letter from Riley H. Allen, Editor of the Honolulu Star Bulletin, to LP RE: Says that he is forwarding LP’s letter to the college newspaper and is calling attention to the editor of Ka Leo O Hawaii that LP swore under oath that he is not a Communist. [Letter from LP to Allen April 7, 1951] [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: (Correspondence re: University of Hawaii, 1950-1954), Box #2.005, Folder #5.2]
• Letter from W. H. Taylor, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, to LP RE: Says that the two authors of the papers on hydroxyproline should discuss the possibility of joint publication while in Stockholm. [Letters from LP to Taylor, March 21, 1951 and May 9, 1951] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (Taylor, W. H.), #405.8]
• Memo from LP to President DuBridge RE: Returns the material that DuBridge sent him sometime ago. Says that the February 2nd letter signed by Cloyd H. Marvin describes the American Chemical Society as a commercially sponsored organization and LP thinks that the Society would object to this description. Discusses the questions connected with the activity of the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. [Note from DuBridge to LP, No Date] [Filed under LP Biographical: Academia: (California Institute of Technology: Administrative Files, 1938-1971.), Box #1.030, Folder #30.3]
• Newspaper Clipping: “Names and Addresses Please!” Honolulu Star-Bulletin. [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: (Newspaper Clippings re: University of Hawaii incident, 1951.), Box #2.007, Folder #7.21]
• Newspaper Clipping: “Travesty”, Los Angeles Daily News, April 9, 1951. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Scrapbooks, 1951-1955), Box #6.006, Folder #6.3]
• Newspaper Clipping: “UH Student Council Plans Pauling Action”, The Honolulu Advertiser. [Filed under LP Biographical: Political Issues: (Newspaper Clippings re: University of Hawaii incident, 1951.), Box #2.007, Folder #7.20]