Part 1 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

wbtsoever. As for himelf, he looked upon it as the great-
est opportunity of his life.32
The letter was for later use. On the 14th of June, Flel~ner
cabled Mrs. Bailey the happy news that Dr. Einstein had accepted the
offer, and that tern were agreeably arrsnged. Then Hrs. Bailey, fearing
that the news of these confidenti~l matters might becane public, took
the news in both the letter and the ~ b l to e the Founders in Newark. 33
Meanwhile Flexner insisred thzt & be the first to communicate
his arrangerent with Peblen to Dean Eisenhart, since he was conremed
"that every step I take shall be marked by the utmost courtesy and con-
sideration for you 2nd for those zt Princeton vho...have helped rrre so
freely and generousfy." Again he wzrned Qeblen that he b d authority
for only three appointmnta, m d could not exceed it.34 Dr. Veblen ac-
cepted the offer on the 5th of June, recapitulating the arguments Flex-
ner should advance to Eisenhart and Hiss Jones by which he justified
leaving the Pine chair, He could not decline the generous retirement
benefits prmised for himself, and for his wife should she sunive him,
Moreover, the Departmnt of Mathematics was top-heavy vith senior men;
his going would benefit his colleagues -- indeed, one ox two more might
leave with even greater benefit -- making way for necesszry prountions,
the accessfon of younger men, and even the call 1% of an arrioge. Re
had long wanted to establish an institute for =themtical research, and
to refuse nou to do so would be illogical. He would continue in the new
pzsition what he and Efsenhart had done together fn the past: i.e.,
build mathematics in the United States "and on a larger scale En the aame
direction." Bearing out the 1 st statmnt, he cnclased a prospective