Letter from Leonard Rieser, Jr., Dartmouth College, to Robert Oppenheimer, Princeton University, 16 April 1959
April 16, 1959
Professor Robert Oppenheimer
Institute for Advanced Study
Princeton, New Jersey
Dear Oppie:
I can hardly overstate the effect you had on the college
community. This was obvious not only from the overt response
to your lecture, but also from comments by students and faculty.
Arguments about the meaning of your remarks went on into the
night in dormitory hallways. Last Night the talk was broadcast,
and a number of students understood many of the points they had
missed.
After a faculty meeting yesterday President Dickey cornered
me for a rundown on your day here. He was interested and ex-
cited by all I was able to convey, but possibly concerned at the
rigors of the program.
Let me close by adding my warmest personal thanks to you for
making such an exhausting trip. Everyone was taken by your friend-
liness. My son too was surprised "that a man so important could
be so kind." I hope we shall not have to wait a decade for a re-
turn visit, and I hope when you come again it will be a more relaxed
schedule lasting for several days at least. Many thanks.
Sincerely yours,
Leonard M. Rieser
Leonard M. Rieser, Jr.
Chairman
LMR/DS
Text and image reproduced here with permission from the papers of J. Robert Oppenheimer, held in the manuscript division of the Library of Congress.
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