Einstein the Plumber?

In November 1954, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to a magazine in which he declared that, were he a young man again, he would not try to become a scientist: “I would rather choose to be a plumber or a peddler in the hope to find that modest degree of independence still available under present circumstances.” Across the United States, plumbers responded. The famous physicist was offered membership in the Chicago plumbers union, and Stanley Murray, a New York plumber, wrote to him: “Since my ambition has always been to be a scholar and yours seems to be a plumber, I suggest that as a team we would be tremendously successful. We can then be possessed by both knowledge and independence. I am ready to change the name of my firm to read: Einstein and Stanley Plumbing Co.”

There’s a serious backstory to Einstein's humorous statement, however. On February 9, 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed to have a list of 205 Communists working in the State Department. However, when asked to present the list, McCarthy failed to do so, claiming he had “left it in another suit.” Nevertheless, his accusations created a wave of fear and suspicion across the United States, particularly affecting the academic sector. McCarthy's tactics were criticized as "perhaps the most nefarious campaign of half-truths and untruth in the history of this republic." Historians later confirmed that no such list existed.

Despite the lack of evidence, mainstream Republicans largely ignored the findings that debunked McCarthy's claims. They saw his tactics as beneficial for regaining political power, culminating in the 1952 elections where Republicans gained control of the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. With newfound power, McCarthy extended his inquisition into various sectors, with the educational system becoming a primary target. 

Among those affected was William Frauenglass, a teacher in a Brooklyn high school. In April 1953, he was summoned before the Senate subcommittee. The accusations against him concerned a course on intercultural education he had been asked to teach by the school district. The course aimed to promote understanding among different cultural groups, a goal that some committee members deemed "against the interests of the United States." Frauenglass was shocked by the accusations, pointing out that fostering intercultural understanding was a fundamental objective of public education. When questioned about his associations and affiliations, Frauenglass invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, refusing to answer.

Needing support, Frauenglass reached out to Albert Einstein, well known for his advocacy of academic freedom and his opposition to war and racism. Einstein, who described himself as an "incorrigible nonconformist," responded with a public letter advising Frauenglass and others in similar positions to refuse to testify, even if it meant facing jail or economic ruin, invoking Gandhi’s approach. Einstein argued that such inquisitions violated the spirit of the Constitution and that the suppression of intellectual freedom was detrimental to the cultural welfare of the country. He asserted that if enough people resisted, the intellectual community could overcome the oppression.

Einstein's public stance attracted sharp criticism from McCarthy and his supporters, who labeled him an "enemy of America" and questioned his loyalty. Despite the backlash, Einstein continued to advocate for the rights of intellectuals and the importance of academic freedom. In a speech to a group of lawyers in March 1954, he emphasized the necessity of free expression and the dangers posed by the suppression of free speech, academic inquiry, and the press. He warned that such conditions were incompatible with democratic governance and could not be sustained in the long term.

The broader public reaction to Einstein's statements was mixed. Some viewed him as un-American, while others saw him as a courageous defender of democratic principles. In one notable instance, a Los Angeles woman wrote to the Institute for Advanced Study Director, expressing disdain for Einstein's perceived lack of patriotism. And a man from New York bluntly suggested that Einstein should move to Russia.

Despite the controversy, Einstein's advocacy played a role in the eventual decline of McCarthy's influence. In December 1954, McCarthy was formally censured by his Senate colleagues for his "contemptuous" and "reprehensible" conduct. While Einstein's efforts were not solely responsible for McCarthy's downfall, they contributed to a broader pushback against McCarthyism.

William Frauenglass didn’t get his teaching job back.

— William Zeitler

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