Uc( Pobuk,

September 1, 1950

Dear Bob- Lf

At your suggestion, Esther and I contacted Gian Wick here
and had lunch with him a few days ago. Ye is very charming,
and I am personally quite disappointedg UW's action relative
to his appointment. So many issues have been injected into
the "loyalty oath" situation here that it is difficult to keep
track of them. This must be especially true at 2000 miles
distance, and I wonder if President Fred has been able to
keep close touch with the situation.

At any rate, the meeting of the UC Board of Regents last
week clarified the issue considerably. The 31 professors who
are about to be discharged (or permitted to resign with one
year's severance pay !) were investigated by the Faculty Com-
mittee on academic privdélege and tenure, were cleared of any
Communist taint, and were recommended for rsappointment. Last
month, the Board voted to retain these men, but Mr. Neylan
was able to maneuver a reconsideration at the last meeting,
overruled Gov. Wargren&s contention that the reconsideration
was illegal, and the Board now voted 12-10 to fire these men.
For the first time, it was mace clear that the possibility
that these non-signers were Communists was not at all the
issue. As Nr. McFadden (one of the 12) is quoted in the attached
clipping : "It 1s not a question of communism but one of dis-
cipline”. I think it possible that the administrative officials
of Uli might take a different view of this controversy after
learning of this last meeting.

Wick is making other plans right now, but has indicated
how much he would enjoy Madison, and I gather that he might
respond favorably to any re-offer made fairly promptly. I do
not know the factors which may have prompted the adminastration
to reject his appointment, but on the face of it, it looks
like a bad omen indeed for the future of academic freedom at
Wisconsin as well as at our other universities.

We will have left Berkeley by the time you get this. We are
going to some meetings at Columbus first, but will see you in
about two weeks.

Sincerely,

Joshua