The Gold and the Blue: A Personal Memoir of the University of California, 1949-1967: Volume Two: Political Turmoil

493 Pages·2003·4.7 MB·English

by  Clark Kerr

The Gold and the Blue
VOLUME TWO
CLARK KERR
T H E G O L D
A N D T H E B L U E
A Personal Memoir of the University of California, 1949–1967
VOLUME TWO
Political Turmoil
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
MARIAN L. GADE AND MAUREEN KAWAOKA
FOREWORD BY NEIL J. SMELSER
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
BERKELEY · LOS ANGELES · LONDON
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
University of California Press, Ltd.
London, England
© 2003 by
The Regents of the University of California
ISBN 0-520-23641-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kerr, Clark, 1911–
The gold and the blue : a personal memoir of the
University of California, 1949–1967 / Clark Kerr ;
with a foreword by Neil J. Smelser.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: v. 1. Academic triumphs v. 2. Political turmoil
ISBN 0-520-22367-5 (cloth : alk. paper : v. 1)
1. Kerr, Clark, 1911–. 2. University of California,
Berkeley—Presidents—Biography. 3. University
of California—History. I. Title.
LD755.K47 A3 2001
378.794'67—dc21 2001027243
Manufactured in Canada
11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The paper used in this publication is both acid-free
and totally chlorine-free (TCF). It meets the
minimum requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992
(R 1997) (Permanence of Paper).8
TO MY WIFE, KAY, who worked so hard and eªectively to
further the welfare of the University of California and that
of our whole family, and, at the same time, to “Save San
Francisco Bay—now and forever.”
TO THE ACADEMIC SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, which, for the past eighty years, has wielded
such great influence over the most essential endeavors of the
university and, with but very few exceptions, has done so
with high expectations matched by outstanding results.
TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, which has the supreme authority over the
University of California and, again with a few exceptions,
has exercised that authority with devotion and wisdom.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too . . .
RUDYARD KIPLING
Contents
LIST OF FIGURE AND TABLES XIII
FOREWORD XV
PREFACE XXVII
Part I. Introduction
1. POLITICIZING THE IVORY TOWER 3
Shock Wave I • The Communist threat • The military-industrial-scientific
complex • Economic development • Demographic changes—universal access
to higher education • The human liberation movement • Postmodernity •
The University Reacts • A puzzling question • Formal responses of the
university • The larger puzzling question • Evaluation • The “Old”
Berkeley and the “New” • My Orientations toward Certain of These
Developments • Communism • Industrialization • Universal Access •
Politicization
Part II. Impacts of McCarthyism
2. THE CATASTROPHIC LOYALTY OATH CONTROVERSY 27
An Outline of Events • The proposal • The faculty objects • An attempted
solution • My involvement • Observations • My view of the “line” • Leftist
Sentiment at Berkeley?
3. “UN-AMERICAN” ACTIVITIES 48
“Contact Man” • Confrontation over alleged subversive activities •
An alleged lack of “diligence” • The 1965 Burns Committee Report •
Responses • The “San Diego Files” • The “Yorba Linda intrusion” •
The regents and the Burns committee • My evaluation of the situation •
Selections from FBI Files: “Kerr is no good” • Addendum: Comment
on FBI Activities