C A L E N D A R 1 9 2 1 4 4 3
generous offer to place your office at our disposal” during
their planned visit to Boston. IsJCZA, Z4/303/1.
Apr 9 TLS from William B. Scott. Looks forward to seeing AE at
the general meeting of the NAS. [36 232].
Apr 10 Official reception of the Zionist Organization of America
held at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York to wel-
come Chaim Weizmann and AE to the U.S. New York
Times, 11 Apr; New Palestine, 15 Apr; Yidishes Tageblatt
Jewish Daily News, 12 Apr.
Article “Einstein Branded Barnum of Science, Minnesota
Man Calls Relativity ‘Bunk’” appears in Minneapolis
Sunday Tribune. In it, Arvid Reuterdahl, dean of the
Department of Engineering and Architecture of the College
of St. Thomas in St. Paul, challenges AE to a debate and
claims that relativity is a mythical theory that had already
been fomulated in 1866 by an author with the pen name
“Kinertia.”
TLS from D. D. Lann. Has heard of rejection of AE’s finan-
cial demands for a lecture by physics department of Univer-
sity of Wisconsin. Offers to intercede with administration to
reconsider demands. Also offers to help with fund-raising
efforts for Hebrew University. [36 262].
Apr 11 Interviewed about Arvid Reuterdahl’s attack on relativity.
Will not debate relativity; he came to the U.S. only to pro-
mote the Hebrew University. Does not know of “Kinertia.”
New York American, 12 Apr.
TLS to Irving Fisher. Regrets not being present when
Fisher paid a visit at Hotel Commodore and invited him
to visit Yale University and be his guest. If time constraints
connected with his mission allow it, he will accept the
invitation. [80 439].
Apr 12 Reception in honor of Chaim Weizmann, AE, and the other
members of the Zionist delegation at the 69th Regiment
Armory, New York. 20,000 people “turned the … Armory
into the scene of a near riot.” The crowds shouted, waved
“Jewish and American flags” and “stormed the police lines.”
The “demonstration” was organized by “[m]ore than eight
hundred Jewish organizations.” “It was the people’s wel-
come to their leaders.” Following Weizmann’s speech, AE
“made the briefest speech of the evening, when he said: