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 excited 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 friendliness. 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 return 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,
Chairman

Text and image reproduced here with permission from the papers of J. Robert Oppenheimer, held in the manuscript division of the Library of Congress.