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Richard Feynman's FBI Files Released

Posted by Unknown on from the soviet-sympathizers-beware dept.

v3rgEz writes "The FBI files of noted physicist, esteemed author and all-around geek Richard Feynman have been released. Feynman and the FBI had an extended encounter after the Bureau discovered he had been invited to speak at the USSR, which set off a flurry of investigations into his loyalty — even as he pestered the State Department for guidance on whether he should or shouldn't go, guidance they only gave belatedly. Of particular interest to the FBI was his avid devotion to the art of lock picking, his high school membership in a socialism club (for social reasons, he swore), and the fact that he was a godless scientist who loved his bongo drums. Original documents are available. One other element? A seven-page letter detailing a conspiracy theory that Feynman was a sleeper agent for enemies unknown, but probably communist ones."

9 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. During the Cold War by cpu6502 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The summary forgot this was during the height of the Cold War. Stuff like this doesn't happen today. The government wouldn't waste time doing a background check just because you flew to modern-day Democratic Russia.

    hahahahahahahahahahahaaha
    I kill me.

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    1. Re:During the Cold War by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Funny

      Nah, they'd already know what you were up to from having taped all your phone calls first.

    2. Re:During the Cold War by crazyjj · · Score: 4, Funny

      the NDAA which Congress passed by ~65% and Obama vetoed..... ooops, I mean signed.

      Yeah, but he didn't WANT to sign it, see. Or, at least, that's what he says when he's running for reelection.

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    3. Re:During the Cold War by nschubach · · Score: 4, Funny

      Those damn mind control pens!

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    4. Re:During the Cold War by crazyjj · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well, I'm sure that removing the few restrictions that corporations have on them and letting them do whatever they want, with absolutely NO ONE to stop them will make everything better. Certainly that's a better idea that trying to actually fix the government so it's NOT owned by the corporations.

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      What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  2. surely they're joking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    surely they're joking

    1. Re:surely they're joking by blind+monkey+3 · · Score: 3, Funny

      stop calling me Shirley

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  3. Sleeper agent? by T.E.D. · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wouldn't a Theoretical Physicist (not under government contract) make a really crappy "sleeper agent"? When you activate him, what is he going to do, change Relativity?

    1. Re:Sleeper agent? by pseudofengshui · · Score: 3, Funny

      Wouldn't a Theoretical Physicist (not under government contract) make a really crappy "sleeper agent"? When you activate him, what is he going to do, change Relativity?

      Theoretically.

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