This video features a conversation between two senior scientists, Bill Goddard and Harry Gray, as they share personal anecdotes and recollections of the renowned chemist and Nobel laureate Linus Pauling. The discussion paints a vivid picture of Pauling's personality, highlighting his encyclopedic knowledge, immense self-confidence, and his specific approach to science. Key themes include Pauling's aversion to complex quantum mechanical calculations that couldn't be done on a "slide rule," which explained his antagonism towards emerging fields like ligand field theory. The speakers recount memorable stories, including Pauling's masterclass in deflecting scientific criticism, his famous 1935 paper on oxyhemoglobin, and his legendary impromptu speech at an ACS meeting where he described inventing orbital hybridization in a single day. The conversation also touches on the difficult circumstances surrounding his departure from Caltech due to his peace activism and his lasting legacy, which continues to influence science decades after his death.
Recollections of Linus Pauling: A Conversation with his Colleagues
0:01:24 A Master of Deflection: Bill Goddard recalls his only meeting with Pauling as a graduate student. When he tried to present issues with Pauling's theories, Pauling masterfully distracted him with other topics and papers, completely avoiding the core criticisms. This illustrated Pauling's formidable intellect and encyclopedic knowledge.
0:03:46 The "Slide Rule" Rule: Goddard explains that Pauling had no patience for quantum mechanics calculations that were too complex to be done on a slide rule. Because of this, they never discussed Goddard's Generalized Valence Bond (GVB) theory, even though it provided a quantum mechanical basis for many of Pauling's own ideas.
0:06:42 First Encounters with Pauling's Work: Harry Gray shares his introduction to Pauling's work. His boss in Copenhagen threw Pauling's book, The Nature of the Chemical Bond, at him, calling it "terrible" for dismissing his area of research, ligand field theory, in a single sentence.
0:07:58 Scientific Disagreements by Mail: Gray recounts his early correspondence with Pauling, who wrote to him stating that his work on ligand field theory "is not going anywhere." Gray's defense was that his theory could explain the colors of compounds, something Pauling's theories could not.
10:00 A Battle of Theories: Pauling challenged Gray's paper on ferrocene by claiming he could explain the molecule better with over 1,500 resonance structures. Gray's retort was that his molecular orbital theory could explain it with a single diagram.
13:54 The Ultimate Display of Confidence: Gray tells a story about experimentally proving Pauling's 1935 paper on oxyhemoglobin was correct, despite a new study claiming it was wrong. When Gray presented his exhaustive data to Pauling, expecting him to be pleased, Pauling simply asked, "Why did you waste your time? You should have known that I was right all along."
18:31 Pauling's Popularity: Goddard recalls Pauling's immense popularity with undergraduates at UC San Diego, who would pack lecture halls and crowd around him after his talks, showcasing his charismatic appeal.
20:59 A Legendary Talk in Denver: Gray recounts a story from an ACS meeting in the early 90s. Pauling, who wasn't on the program, was given a lunchtime slot to speak. The room was mobbed.
23:40 "A Pretty Good Day": In his talk, Pauling described how, in a single day in 1931, he developed the concepts for SP, SP2, and SP3 hybridization before lunch, and DSP2 and D2SP3 hybridization after lunch. He concluded his story by looking at the audience and saying, "You know, that was a pretty good day," which earned him a seven-minute standing ovation.
29:02 Activism and Controversy: The discussion touches on Pauling's Nobel Peace Prize and his signing of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto against nuclear testing. His political views created friction with the Caltech administration and trustees, contributing to his departure.
30:23 The Lawsuit Against William F. Buckley: Gray tells the story of Pauling suing commentator William F. Buckley for libel after being called a communist. Pauling ultimately lost the case, with the judge ruling that as a prominent international figure, he was subject to such public criticism.
33:03 An Enduring Legacy: The speakers reflect on Pauling's remarkable and lasting scientific legacy, noting that some of his predictions from decades prior are still being explored and validated today.