Security risk controversy Kamen came under long-term suspicion of espionage activity as a result of two incidents in 1944. He has described his experiences during this era in his autobiography, Radiant Science, Dark Politics. He first aroused suspicion while working at Oak Ridge. A cyclotron operator prepared radioactive sodium for an experiment, and Kamen was surprised that the resulting sodium had a purple glow, indicating it was much more intensely radioactive than could be produced in a cyclotron. Kamen recognized immediately that the sodium must have been irradiated in a nuclear reactor elsewhere in the facility. Because of wartime secrecy, he had not been aware of the reactor's existence. He excitedly told Ernest O. Lawrence about his discovery, in the hearing of Lawrence's Army escort. Shortly thereafter, an investigation was launched to find out who had leaked the information to Kamen. thumb|A surveillance photograph of Kheifets, Kamen and Kasparov After returning to Berkeley, Kamen met two Russian officials at a party given by his friend, the violinist Isaac Stern, whom he sometimes accompanied as a viola player in social evenings of chamber music. The Russians were Grigory Kheifets and Grigory Kasparov, posted as undercover KGB officers in the Soviet Union's San Francisco consulate. One of them asked Kamen for assistance in getting in touch with Rad Lab scientist John H. Lawrence about an experimental radiation treatment for a colleague with leukemia (Commander Kalinin of the Russian Navy, under treatment at the United States Navy Hospital in Seattle, Washington). Kamen put them in contact, and in appreciation he was invited for dinner at a local restaurant. FBI agents observed the dinner, on July 1, 1944, took a photograph of the men together, and submitted a report alleging Kamen to have discussed atomic research with Kheifets.Report of January 11, 1944, FBI Silvermaster File, serial 3378 In a memorandum of July 11, 1944, Army officials ordered Lawrence to have Martin Kamen dismissed from his Berkeley position and his work on the Manhattan Project on suspicion of being a “security risk.” There was no hearing or method of appeal.
Security risk controversy Kamen came under long-term suspicion of espionage activity as a result of two incidents in 1944 He has described his experiences during this era in his autobiography Radiant Science Dark Politics He first aroused suspicion while working at Oak Ridge A cyclotron operator prepared radioactive sodium for an experiment and Kamen was surprised that the resulting sodium had a purple glow indicating it was much more intensely radioactive than could be produced in a cyclotron Kamen recognized immediately that the sodium must have been irradiated in a nuclear reactor elsewhere in the facility Because of wartime secrecy he had not been aware of the reactor's existence He excitedly told Ernest O Lawrence about his discovery in the hearing of Lawrence's Army escort Shortly thereafter an investigation was launched to find out who had leaked the information to Kamen thumb|A surveillance photograph of Kheifets Kamen and Kasparov After returning to Berkeley Kamen met two Russian officials at a party given by his friend the violinist Isaac Stern whom he sometimes accompanied as a viola player in social evenings of chamber music The Russians were Grigory Kheifets and Grigory Kasparov posted as undercover KGB officers in the Soviet Union's San Francisco consulate One of them asked Kamen for assistance in getting in touch with Rad Lab scientist John H Lawrence about an experimental radiation treatment for a colleague with leukemia (Commander Kalinin of the Russian Navy under treatment at the United States Navy Hospital in Seattle Washington) Kamen put them in contact and in appreciation he was invited for dinner at a local restaurant FBI agents observed the dinner on July 1 1944 took a photograph of the men together and submitted a report alleging Kamen to have discussed atomic research with KheifetsReport of January 11 1944 FBI Silvermaster File serial 3378 In a memorandum of July 11 1944 Army officials ordered Lawrence to have Martin Kamen dismissed from his Berkeley position and his work on the Manhattan Project on suspicion of being a “security risk” There was no hearing or method of appeal