Readers Criticize 'Veritas' Committee

The following letters were received in connection with the campaign by the Harvard "Veritas" Committee against the appointment of J. Robert Oppenheimer '26 as William James lecturer. The Committee, which consist of 8 alumni from New York and Boston, has sent out some 10,000 letters to selected graduates in an attempt to gain their support toward forcing a reconsideration of the appointment. Although exact figures are not available, the communications below indicate opposition to the campaign among alumni and others. Sheehan's and Representative Donlan's are the only recent letters against Oppenheimer's lectureship.

Discredited Banner of McCarthyism

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

I don't know whether the efforts of the so-called Harvard "Veritas" Committee, which is trying to interfere in the selection of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer to give the 1957 William James lectures, have made much of a splash in the CRIMSON's pages as yet. It seems to me a significant matter which should receive editorial attention.

You are doubtless aware that the "Committee" has recently mailed (I suppose to all alumni) a lengthy letter with two enclosures, on this subject. It appears to be a reasonably well-organized effort to launch some sort of "alumni probe" into suspected subversive influence in the Yard.

I hope that my reply, a copy of which is enclosed (following), is typical of the reactions of the student body and of most alumni.

Harvard "Veritas" Committee

Gentlemen:

I hasten to reply to your bulky communication concerning Dr. Oppenheimer's appointment to give the 1957 William James lectures at Harvard.

Let me say first that I would not have chosen Dr. Oppenheimer, had I been the one to make the choice. There is a clear need for the scientists, who so control our lives these days, to think and speak on a philosophical as well as a scientific level, for they may know best the awesome problems with which current philosophical thought must contend. Still, a scientist other than Oppenheimer might well have been chosen for the honor of grappling with these problems in the William James lectures.

But that question is not the issue you raise, as I see it. You disavow any intent to criticize the Harvard administration or to interfere with its usual processes of selection of teachers, speakers, subject matter, etc. But your activities amount to just such criticism and interference, and nothing else.

But your activities amount to just such criticism and interference, and nothing else.

It is the dirty and discredited banner of McCarthyism which you are trying to raise anew, clothed in the honored respectability of the Harvard University motto. What you are doing seems to me bad for Harvard and for our country. I don't like it, gentlemen. Count me out. Walter B. Raushenbush '50

Wish I Could Hear Him

Harvard "Veritas" Committee

Gentlemen:

I have just received your letter of March 22 viewing with alarm the appointment of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer to deliver the 1957 William James lectures on philosophy at Harvard University.

Your are entitled to your opinions, but I do not share them at all.

As one who has read Oppenheimer and heard him on the celebrated Edward R. Murrow interview. I must say I envy the opportunity that the students of Harvard will have to hear this extraordinarily thoughtful and stimulating American.

I only wish I could be present to hear him myself!   John G. Conley '38

Harvard Schizophrenic?

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Does the Oppenheimer appointment mean that Harvard is suffering from a bad case of schizophrenia? Wouldn't she expel a student found guilty of the very misconduct confessed by Oppenheimer, whom she has honored by asking him to teach ethics to her students?   Edmond J. Donlan   House of Representatives   State House, Boston

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

As a member of the Class of 1946, I read with some concern a newspaper story under a Boston dateline, which reported that a committee consisting of eight Harvard Alumni, and calling themselves the Harvard Veritas Committee, has launched a campaign to prevent Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer from delivering the first of eight William James lectures on Philosophy.

I can't help but feel that such a parochial few would cause William James to "roll over in his grave."

It has given me, and I am sure other Harvard Alumni, a sense of pride to note that Harvard, under the leadership of Dr. Pusey, has maintained a high degree of Academic Freedom, and has refused to pay homage to those who would have us listen only to those voices with which we are in complete agreement.

My personal bias would lead me to the conclusion that Harvard is indeed fortunate to have Dr. Oppenheimer as a lecturer; but even if I should share the opinion that he is a man of "Highly Questionable Moral Background," my knowledge of his proven intellectual abilities would lead me to the conclusion that he should be heard.  Edward G. Kaelber '46

Misguided Protection

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

J. Robert Oppenheimer has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of learning which the Departments of Philosophy and Psychology have recognized in inviting him to give the William James Lectures this year.

We oppose the anxious attempts of "righteous moralists" to undercut Harvard's responsibility for providing the opportunity and the risk proper to higher education.

It is with regret that we see his potential contribution to our fuller comprehension of truth marred by fear-provoked attempts at misguided "protection" which have no place in a community with faith in the power of truth.  11 Divinity School Students

Irresponsible Intellectual

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Contrary to what the CRIMSON reported on Monday, I did not in any way question Dr. Oppenheimer's qualifications as a philosopher...

I criticized Dr. Oppenheimer on the grounds that he was an example of irresponsibility on the part of a prominent intellectual, and that his appointment as William James lecturer could only champion those groups which excuse and abet this kind of irresponsibility. The Pound controversy and Kamin-Furry fiasco are excellent illustrations of this. I do not in any way deny Dr. Oppenheimer's right to speak. I criticize his appointment as William James lecturer.

I further stated that the liberal majority's reaction to conservative criticism of Dr. Oppenheimer's appointment will determine whether constructive controversy is to be allowed within the university community.  Cornelius M. Sheehan

An Important Thinker

Whatever the popularity or unpopularity of his views--whatever the contradictions in his behavior that he and others have pointed out--Dr. Oppenheimer is one of the important thinkers of our time. As for the fact that he is speaking on philosophy--well, perhaps the most important contributions to philosohy in this country have come from scientists.  Henrik A. E. Krogius '51