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SUEECT: Observations on Dr. Frank Olson

I first Fot Dr. Frank Olson the early pert of l952. Cince thst tire I have seen hin or an cvera-e of about oncc cach sonth to six wvecks, in conneeticn vith my ofticicl busiross. These contzcts involved dissussions of technical probless in fialds of rutual intcrest, rosults of past sciontific work, cnd plennin; os future sctivities. In generel, other resbers of his Division vore clso prcsent.

In nidition, both he nnd I cttonied three 2-dcy conferences vhish were hold in isolatod loeaticns to diseuss the pro ress of his Division for the past six conths, our requirousnts, anl plans for the nent si: zonths. The conferenees vere cttentsd by erbcrs of his Division ani of ry Division end involvel livisz to\_ether in close proxinity for the duration of the conference.

Durinc the tize I Prev Dr. Olscn, ho has been Aetine Chies of his Division, ani Yranch Chie?. At all tires he has hela positicns of responsibility anl his iuportance to his Division appeured to ronin nt a consistcntly hi\_h levol. Prior to the exporirort, Dr. Olson vas a competert ceiontist with an excellent ccimand of his fiell. His juigomont vas souni and characterissienlly bachel up by rational aud carefully-consilerei Fensons. In =y observation he porforrci his ducies in a superior manner. It vas evideie that Dr. Olsen was highly re e'ed by his collen uos; both uu s seientist end ss a frieni. le vas frierlly and got alonz veli vish his colleaues. Frea what Dr. Olson has snid (and the ranner in which he speke) anl frcs vhat his collcapues have saiù, it appeared his heme life vas happy. In wy experience, he drank only to be sociabie, end then definitcly in zoloration.

His vork was extremely exacting and sefinitoly hasardcus in a technicsl sense. He operatei unier very severe security restrictions, under vhish it vas necessnry to coneeal the true nsture of his netivities even frou the other Divisicns at his base. Ee wes pernittel to diseuss rueh of his vork only with a very linitei nuaber of specifically desicnated iniiviauals.

The experiment was on Thursday, Noverber 19th. On Tueslay, Novezber 2hth, Dr. Olson's Division Ckier telephoned re and snil thas, in the opinion cf hin, Dr. Olsen, eni :rs. Olson, Dr. Olson neeled psyehintris attentiou. I suzsested that he snd Dr. Clson cere to Washinztcn irsdiately, I ccnferred vith the Chicf or ay Divisien, and it vas dcciied that a certsin New York: physician spoeializinz in such mtters shouli se ccnsultei. I tolephenel Dr. Olzon's Diviston Chief enl suzzeutei they prepare for a trip to Nav York. The Chier

TO WECM IT MAY CODERN

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placel both hinsolf anl Dr. Olscn on orders ani met ze and the Chier of ry Divisien in Wmshinzson. After e short diseuszicn, Dr. Olson, the Ohie? of his Divisien, tat I boardes e plane for Naw York ant errivei at the New York pysisien's ofiee atout l65. After a short conferonse with the dcztor, Dr. Oison vas left with hin until cbout 1600.

Fron the tize I sew Dr. Olscn in Washington until I lect his at the physiciers cffise in lev Yorx, be scezed rather dopressed, sorewhat confusel, and convinced he vould sever return to kis home ani job. Theso vere quite áisferent frcu the attitudes I had observed prior to the expariment.

At about lSoO D-. Olson, his Division Chier, ani I checkei into the Statlur Hotol, hel dinner, returnel to our roon and vatehed television. Frcu aboit 2z00 to 2o0 the Nev York physician visitel the three or us in our hotel rosa. Duriar the porici coverei by this paragraph, Dr. Olson iriiccted in ry precence that ke felt he had fnilel in his Job, he vas a diaprace to his collec ues, frienls, ari fanily, ant that his onory sni mortal ability had failed. Tovaver, in the counrse of rorinl conversasion, is vas quite cpparent thet boah his reacry and ability to iissuss scientirie topics vere excellent. Dre,Olson also iriicsted he wes cloepin: posrly, ani said wve shoulin't bother vith kim, ve shouls let hin just 'àisappear".

The follovin: dey (lelreslay) Dr. Olson egain hsd a private session vith the ev Yor: ¿cator (sbout 1o0 to 1700). At the conclusion of this, the physicinn talkoi to the three of us, inlicatin Dr. Olaen coula co hene for Chaaksgivin: (Churalay) is ke dosired, or he coula ccceyt his (the physician's)invitation to spend Thantsriviny and the veek-eni vith the pirsicinn's sauily at his bome at cole Srrine Harbor. Dr. Clsen preferrel to fo hoze, ani en eppointment was maig for Dr. Clson to cee the physicien tho follcvins Tuesiey.. Dr."Olsen,- his Division Chief, and I returnei to the hotel, hei linner, then wont to a plcy. At the internissicn Dr. Olson beczze rather aritstod, ani saia he vantei to leave. Ne and his Division Chier returned to the hotel.

The folloving rorzing (Thrursday) vhen Dr.Olson's Division Chier and I avakezed (abcut 0530), Dr. Olson vas gone. Xo fourd hin in the hotel lcbby. He scià he hai lert the hotel cbout Oko0 for a walz, and indisated several thinzs that had transpirel. le Celt his Division Chief hri been telkinz to hin. He seia he had torn up his roñey, thrawm it cnl severel uneeshed checks cuay (beçause he vouldn't neci then ançmore), cai kal throm his vallet cvey, dovn a chute soreplace. He saia he felt his Division Chief vas tellirg hin to do thess things. We then returned to Tashinton. Hovever, ve probably vouli not have returrei hai it not been thst Dr. Olscn rever seezes to really bclisve that vo vould raturn hore, anl ve hal maio it a yoint of honor that ve vould returr. if ha vanted to (this wes dene arter ve hed cbtzinei the physicians' approval). We were cet at the lzshinjton Airpors by a resber o Dr. Olson's Divisien, snd Dr. Olsor. end his Divisics Chief set off for their heze tom. 1

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Shortly aftersarls I reecivea a pall frea the Division Chief, nos on the outskirts c Washington. He scii Dr. Olscn hal changei his nind, vas quite aritatea, ani thst he (she Division Chier) nov fels Dr. Olson shouli to hospitslised eni definitely shoull zot return hoze. I. tols hin to ccze to  epartuont at cnce, msamuhile I contactei ry. Division Chier, vho also set cut for  spartzent. Ien he arrived et ny apartrort, Dr. Clscn cmpesred depressei ani restless. Fe repeated his fir àecisien that he copli not fece pcin hoze. Dr. Olson's Divisicn Chies then returnel to his heme tem to explain to lrs. Olsen, and ry Division Chiet drove Dr. Clson eni ko to the airpert, vhere Dr. Olson sn I bczried a plane for Iew York. Ve ret the Hew York physicies at his Huntinttcn, Lcns Islanz, ofsice abcut l60o, and Dr. Olson vas alone vith hin cbout one hoir, fcllcvel by sbout 20 rinutes with Dr. Clson and ce. The phsicisn cbtaizes locai lcigings fer us, and Dr. Clson and I then went to a restaurant fer a Thanksgivinz dinner, after vhick ve vent to lei. Durin; the yeriol coverei dy this parerrezh, Dr. Olson toldl re ke felt he hai chestei the Govermrert in comneuticn with his retirenent from the Arry, ani thas he shoula te punishel for this. (I an nos fanilier vith the detniln o vhat ko vas referriny to, Lue both Dr. Oleon's Division Chie? aal the lev York physician hot iniicstsi to ne thct they cculi see nothiny dishonest or morally cuostionnble in connostion wish lis retireuens.) br. Clsen saia everyone, incluiing ro, wao in a pict to "et" him; le ssii I and the others Prew the mister plan Ser the plot, ard he vantel to kneu vhat it was. Ke said he had failed in his cob, that te vas so lisgraced he could rot fce retümnin to his femily. Ho sail ho Pelt he vas guilty o sccurity viclusions bccsuse he felt he on occasions hai exceedel his intorpretatien of the neei-to-kcw prinsiple. Exeept in certain well definod crens he spoke intelli ently and rationally, and he acteà in a cosially acceptaele mamnpr.

The follcvin: mornine (Friday) ve drove vith the physicins to his Nev York orrice. There ve had a conferenes durinz vich the piysician tola Dr. Olson that hospitalisaticn vouiiì be in his best interests. After a vhilo Dr. Olsoa ccreol. Dr. Olson preferrei scme place near his bomo anl frienis, so aftor diseussion sni a telephone ccnference vith iy Division Chief, a private kospital zear-Weshington vas seleeted. The physician rade arrangerents vith the hospital, but they hed to prepere his room end could rot take Dr. Olscn wntil the follcving day (Saturuay). Dr. Olson azreed he vouli be a voluntary patient (it was ngreed he woulá not be forzlly coritted).

Ve could obtiin no reservations for a return to Uashington that day, so ve mnde reservations for Saturlay mornin; ani checkel into the Statler Hotel. At this time ani for the rozzinder o the evenins, Dr. Olson appeerei no longer particularly depressei, ana aluost the Dr. Olson I imew prior to the exparinest, althouch he still maintained the varicus misconceptions I have tentionni before. He vasked out his diry clothis, and vhen I czllel his Division Chier to clcar our proposei ccurse or astion vith hin, Dr. Clson talkel to hiz in a

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cheerful ranner ard happily anticipated meeting bin at the Weshinzter Airport upon our arrivl there. On kis o voliticn he telenhonei his wise (this vas the first time he felt he iarei speak to her). At about lSzo we vent to the hotel's rain cochtsil lounte and eoch red two martinis. At scoo ve cnterei the main dinir ropu cnd had linner, leaving for our recs at 22co. At both the ccektail lounge anl the dining roo ke vas ekeorful ani cppoarei to ency the entertcirent. He spote frealy of tke hospitalisctios the follovinc dcy, cnl indicated he vantel books frcs hoze to stuiy, cai otker thin-s he wzntei to so while hospitalizei. (The piysicien had nssurei hin he could do this, and had sail he voulà holp outline some cetivities of mutusl scientifis intorest Dr. Olson cculs vork on.)

After returnin; to our roo=, ve vatchel telovision for a vhile, then Dr. Olson suzzettel bei, saying he felt mers relaxel snl contertei than he hai since ve cre to tov York. He cskei the hotel telephcne operator to call ts at a specifiei time in the morninc (so ve couli make cur plcue).. I vould guoss it vas a little after 23o0 vhen ve retirci.

Sonevhere cround 0230 Paturiay mornin: I vas avakered by a lcud noise. Dr. Olson ked ereshei tirough the elosei viries blinl and the closel vinicu ant he fall to his ieath frcn the vinisv of cur room on the tenth floor of the Statler Totel. Later in the day I officialiy identifiei the boly for ths lcv York culhorities.

ROESKT V. LASIERCOK

7 Decenber 1953