Martin D. Kamen remembrance

[Susan L Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

>From Dick Smyser's column in the Tuesday, September 24, 2002, Oak Ridger:

http://www.oakridger.com/ 



The death of Martin D. Kamen, one of the scientists who in 1940

identified radioactive carbon 14, key discovery for biochemistry and

archaeology, is detailed in an obituary by Kenneth Chang in the Sept. 5

New York Times. Kamen, though in the early years of the Manhattan

Project chiefly at University of California at Berkeley, worked also at

Oak Ridge National Laboratory for a period.



While he was at ORNL, an incident occurred that ultimately led to his

dismissal at Berkeley. Attributing the account to Kamen's autobiography,

"Radiant Science, Dark Politics," the Times obituary reports: "Dr.

Kamen's troubles began ... while assigned ... at what is now Oak Ridge

National Laboratory (when) he asked a colleague to produce some

radioactive sodium he needed for an experiment ... .



"When he opened the container with the sodium, he was surprised that it

was glowing purple -- much more radioactive than could be produced in a

cyclotron. He immediately realized that an atomic reactor must have

already been built at the laboratory ... . Because of security Dr. Kamen

was not among those told of the reactor."



In his excitement, the obituary further reports, Kamen blurted out his

realization about the reactor to Dr. E.O. Lawrence, leading scientist at

Berkeley, and shortly afterwards he learned of an investigation to learn

the source of the leak to him.



Shortly thereafter, Kamen met a Russian consulate vice consul at a

cocktail party given by his friend, Issac Stern, the famed violinist

(who twice made guest appearances in Oak Ridge). The vice consul asked

Kamen's help in obtaining experimental radiation treatment for a

colleague with leukemia. Kamen made inquiries and, in appreciation, the

vice consul took him to dinner. FBI agents observed the dinner and Kamen

was fired at Berkeley almost immediately.



Because of this and later controversy surrounding him, The Times writes

that Kamen was "unable to bask in recognition" for the carbon 14

discovery. Instead, he found academic positions closed to him. In 1948

he was summoned by the House Un-American Activities Committee, and the

State Department refused him a passport.



In 1951 The Chicago Tribune published articles naming Kamen a suspected

spy. He sued for libel and won a sizable judgment, and the State

Department relented and issued him the passport.



He later held professorships at Washington University in St. Louis,

Brandeis University and University of California at San Diego. In 1996

he shared the Enrico Fermi Award for lifetime achievement in energy

research.



Kamen died Aug. 31 at this home in Santa Barbara, Calif. He was 89. 



Story by Richard D. Smyser, founding editor of The Oak Ridger.

-- 

.....................................................

Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director

Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee

102 Robertsville Road, Suite B, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Toll free 888-770-3073 ~ www.local-oversight.org

.....................................................

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