Dublin Core
Title
Linus Pauling Interview, February 11, 1992
Description
Pauling begins the interview by discussing his trip to Africa in 1959, during which he spent time with Albert Schweitzer. He comments on his interactions with Schweitzer, which included discussions about the peace process, nuclear testing, and Schweitzer’s religious views.
Pauling then discusses an incident in which he got stuck out on a ledge and was unable to move to crawl to safety. This experience, compounded with growing pressures related to his political activities, health issues, and other stressors, caused a short-term breakdown in his health.
The interview then turns to Pauling’s understanding of atoms and molecules and how visualizations and physical models aided his scientific research. Pauling discusses various models he’s developed in the past and describes how he visualizes electrons. He then discusses a few books he’d recently read. A line from one of those books leads into a conversation about Pauling and his relationship with A.A. Noyes. While Noyes seems to have considered Pauling to be his protégé, Pauling did not view it that way.
Pauling explains that he became very self-confident after entering graduate school and did not seek help from others to advance his career. Pauling describes himself as a conformist, and he and the interviewer discuss facets of his life that support that claim. It was only in his political activities following World War II that Pauling notes himself as a non-conformist. The interview concludes with a discussion of Pauling’s views on Vitamin C and the medications he was taking to treat his prostate cancer.
Pauling then discusses an incident in which he got stuck out on a ledge and was unable to move to crawl to safety. This experience, compounded with growing pressures related to his political activities, health issues, and other stressors, caused a short-term breakdown in his health.
The interview then turns to Pauling’s understanding of atoms and molecules and how visualizations and physical models aided his scientific research. Pauling discusses various models he’s developed in the past and describes how he visualizes electrons. He then discusses a few books he’d recently read. A line from one of those books leads into a conversation about Pauling and his relationship with A.A. Noyes. While Noyes seems to have considered Pauling to be his protégé, Pauling did not view it that way.
Pauling explains that he became very self-confident after entering graduate school and did not seek help from others to advance his career. Pauling describes himself as a conformist, and he and the interviewer discuss facets of his life that support that claim. It was only in his political activities following World War II that Pauling notes himself as a non-conformist. The interview concludes with a discussion of Pauling’s views on Vitamin C and the medications he was taking to treat his prostate cancer.
Creator
Linus Pauling
Source
Thomas Hager Papers (MSS Hager)
Publisher
Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries
Date
February 11, 1992
Contributor
Thomas Hager
Format
Digitized Audiocassette
Language
English
Type
Oral History
Identifier
msshager-pauling-linus-19920211
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Thomas Hager
Interviewee
Linus Pauling
Location
Interview conducted over telephone
Original Format
Audiocassette tape
Duration
1:03:35
OHMS Object
Interview Format
audio