The Astin Case

On August 21st, one hundred and forty‐four stormy days after the forced resignation of Allen V. Astin as director of the National Bureau of Standards (see Physics Today, VI, 5, 20, May 1953), Secretary of Commerce Sinclair Weeks issued the following press release:

“I have asked Dr. Allen V. Astin to continue as Director of the National Bureau of Standards and he has agreed to do so. I am taking this action because I am convinced that it is in the best interests of the Bureau and the public.