28 April 1960
Mr. Fred Okrand
257 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, California
Dear Fred:
I enclose the article from today's Arcadia Tribune.
I would be grateful to you if you would write a letter to the editor or publisher,
demanding a retraction. It seems to me that the statement "Here is a man acting
in a manner traitorous to the U. S. government, and we won't stop him" is libelous.
I think that his appellation of me as "a stupid ass" is not libelous, but just an
expression of opinion.
Mr. William Sumner of the Pasadena Star News asked if I would like to comment on Cvetic's
statement. I gave him a comment, as follows: "Cvetic is a liar. He has forgotten how
to tell the truth. I am ashamed to have to acknowledge him as a fellow American or
even as a fellow human being." Mr. Sumner said that he probably would not use this
statement, nor even make mention in the Pasadena Star News of the Cvetic matter.
I trust that you will write a strong letter to the Arcadia Tribune, asking for a retraction,
if you consider that what they have written is libelous.
I apologize for calling you Jack, when I was talking with you on the telephone. I
had just been conversing with a friend of mine named Jack, and he was still on my
mind.
Sincerely yours,
Linus Pauling: jh enclosure
