Taking the King’s Shilling: The Pleasures and Consequences of Working ‘Inside’ Available to Purchase

When a British soldier in the 19th century accepted the king’s shilling as a bounty for his enlistment, he committed himself to obey the king’s regulations and the king’s orders as given by the officers of his unit. Similarly, when an academic physicist decides to accept a job in government, and particularly when he accepts a political appointment serving “at the pleasure of the president,” he also accepts the obligation to obey a web of regulations, written and unwritten, governing his activities and his freedom to speak his mind in public. The restrictions can last the rest of the person’s lifetime. If you did accept the shilling, you may not be allowed to speak on certain subjects. Or at least you must submit the piece for review and clearance, which can be a lengthy process. Clearance is difficult to achieve, and it sometimes seems as if it is withheld to...