Chapter 169: Hello, I’m V!
“It would be great if the professor were really one of ours.”
1125 16th Street NW, Washington D.C., has been the location of the Soviet Union Embassy in America since 1933, until it moved to Wisconsin Avenue in the late 1970s.
Ambassador Dobrynin, as usual, started his morning by eating breakfast with the newspaper.
In that era, there were no electronic clickbait; newspapers served that function.
The leather chair, carpet, and bookshelf in the office, the sickle and hammer flag hanging on the wall, the American newspapers from mainstream and non-mainstream newspaper companies on the desk, and a direct line telephone to Moscow—all highly functional, with almost no luxury elements mixed in.
Only the heavy oak desk could perhaps be considered valuable.
New York Times
“President Johnson appoints renowned Chinese descent mathematician Randolph Lin as NASA Director, marking a new era of equality and progress
Washington D.C., January 15, 1964—President Lyndon B. Johnson announced today the appointment of distinguished scientist Professor Randolph Lin as the new Director of the America National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Professor Lin becomes the first minority scientist to hold this position, and this historic appointment is seen as an important step for America in the fields of racial equality and technological innovation.
Professor Lin, 28 years old, is an expert renowned in mathematics, aerospace engineering, and rocket science. He graduated from the University of Göttingen, taught at Columbia University, and after joining NASA as Special Assistant for Aerospace Affairs at the White House, he led several key projects including the Mercury Program. Under his leadership, NASA underwent fundamental improvements compared to the past.
President Johnson stated at the White House press conference: “Professor Lin’s appointment is not only recognition of his personal outstanding achievements but also an embodiment of America’s spirit of diversity and inclusivity. We are engaged in the space race with the Soviet Union, and NASA needs the best talent—no one will doubt that Professor Lin is such a person.”
In 1964, amid the high tide of the civil rights movement, this appointment holds special significance. The Senate has just completed the preliminary process for the Civil Rights Act, and we are moving forward toward eliminating racial discrimination.
Many progressives have warmly welcomed this appointment, viewing it as a symbol of America’s social progress. NAACP Chairman Roy Wilkins commented: “Professor Lin’s appointment sends a clear message to the world: in America, ability and talent are regardless of skin color.”
In an exclusive interview with the New York Times, Professor Lin stated: “My goal is to ensure NASA takes the lead in space exploration, while also inspiring more minority youth to pursue dreams in science and engineering. I will lead NASA to achieve one victory after another.”
Commentators believe this appointment will bring new perspectives and innovative thinking to NASA, helping America maintain its lead in the space race. Professor Lin is undoubtedly the best choice for NASA Director.
The New York Times believes: “At this critical moment in the Cold War, NASA needs to abandon racial prejudices and select the most outstanding talent. We are not appointing Professor Lin for leadership diversity—after James Webber’s departure, if the NASA Director position were not Professor Lin, that would be blatant racial discrimination. Professor Lin’s appointment embodies America getting back on track after President Kennedy’s death.”
This news is truly bad for the Soviet Union wanting to win the space race, Dobrynin thought.
Besides the reporting on the event itself, different newspapers also have different stances.
Like the Washington Post, which leans conservative, its report points out: “No one will doubt Professor Lin’s abilities are inadequate, but whether he has the experience to manage such a massive institution as NASA—we will have some doubts.
In the past, Professor Lin’s abilities were more demonstrated in research and development; in management, his performance lacks testing, and he even has a bad nickname of ‘tyrant.’
At this critical moment for national security and technological competition, NASA’s leadership should not become a sacrifice to political considerations. We hope Professor Lin can prove himself; this appointment has raised our concerns about NASA’s future stability.
Some insiders at NASA also hold reservations. A senior engineer who wished to remain anonymous said: Professor Lin enjoys a global reputation, but leading NASA requires more than academic achievements and fame—it also requires management experience and a profound understanding of NASA culture.”
After seeing this report, Dobrynin smiled, “Heh, NASA culture? A culture of how to fail? It would be great if Randolph had that culture too.”
Of course, it cannot be ruled out that some tabloids, to attract attention, portray Lin Ran as a major victory for the Soviet Union.
“1950s Julius Network Replicated at NASA”
Julius Rosenberg was an electrical engineer who, during World War II and the early Cold War, established an information transmission network through his social connections, providing sensitive information to the Soviet Union, especially Manhattan-related information.
The Soviet Union internally named it “Enormoz,” while America called it the Julius Network.
This included Oscar Seborer, an electrical engineer at Los Alamos Laboratory, who worked on the research for the atomic bomb explosion triggering device and defected to the Soviet Union in 1951.
Theodore Hall, the youngest physicist at Los Alamos, code name “Mlad,” proactively contacted the Soviet Union at the end of 1944, providing information on plutonium bomb development.
German-English physicist Klaus Fuchs, starting in 1943, participated in the Manhattan Project and provided the Soviet Union with key information on atomic bomb design, including implosion technology and early hydrogen bomb research details.
“Shadows of the Julius Network Reappear, Soviet Conspiracy Rises Again.
Looking back to the 1950s, Julius Rosenberg and the network of personal connections he built sold atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union, an act that shocked the entire nation.
Now, history seems poised to repeat itself in an even more dangerous way. Professor Lin’s appointment is likely a replication of the Julius Network at NASA, with a cunning Soviet conspiracy hidden behind it.
Professor Lin has had multiple public contacts with Korolev, but no third American knew the content of their conversations throughout, and his whereabouts and motives are chilling.
‘The Cold War is in full swing, and NASA is America’s strategic fortress against the Soviet Union.’ Renowned commentator William Buckley angrily warned, “Pushing a minority scientist with a suspicious background to the Director’s seat is tantamount to handing our space program to the Soviet Union!”
He denounced this move as a foolish compromise under political correctness, completely ignoring the fundamental bottom line of national security.
Professor Lin’s minority identity is the focus of recent controversy. Amid the clamor of the civil rights movement and social turmoil, conservatives point out that President Johnson’s move is merely a political ploy to cater to minority voters, rather than a prudent decision based on loyalty.
‘America needs leaders who are loyally devoted to the nation, not aliens who might side with foreign enemies! Professor Lin’s background is unsettling, and his loyalty must be thoroughly questioned!’ William Buckley stated.
Senator Barry Goldwater stated bluntly: ‘NASA must not become a playground for Soviet people! Professor Lin’s appointment will greatly amplify that possibility, a blatant provocation to our national security!’
As the core of the space program, NASA holds countless cutting-edge technologies and military secrets. If Professor Lin shows even a hint of sympathy toward the Soviet Union or socialism, these secrets could all fall into enemy hands, causing America to suffer a crushing defeat in the space race.
Although Professor Lin has never shown sympathy for socialism, he has more than once expressed identification with Chinese culture. This cultural connection can even transcend time and geographical limits, leading him out of sympathy for Chinese compatriots to pass NASA’s high-end technology to China, indirectly causing America’s technology to fall into Soviet hands.
‘The Soviet Union has long been coveting our technology,’ former NASA official John Smith said heartbrokenly. ‘Professor Lin’s behavior pattern is identical to the Julius Network; we absolutely cannot let the tragedy of the 1950s repeat!’
Conservatives following the late Senator Joseph McCarthy are even more furious.”
Dobrynin thought, it would be great if the professor were Julius.
The Soviet Union could directly announce victory in the space race ahead of time.
“Could we make some noise to hint that the American professor is connected to the Soviet Union?
Make some ambiguous statements to give them illusions and delay their moon landing progress.” Dobrynin pondered inwardly.
Although the Soviet Union and America had various unpleasant incidents during the Kennedy era, from an overall macro perspective, the tense situation had eased significantly.
Now, Lyndon Johnson’s stance on the Cold War is clearly different from Kennedy’s.
The Soviet side also realizes that the previous easing situation can hardly continue, and both sides still need to engage in real confrontation.
So they will definitely try every means to obstruct each other.
Actually, the Soviet Union has always had similar ideas, to create signs that Lin Ran is connected to them.
It’s just that Korolev disagreed, believing it would cause top talent to stay away from us.
The Soviet Union does not have the saying “win hearts with virtue,” but has a similar proverb: “We do not seize with force, but win with goodwill.”
Alexander Nevsky’s benevolent diplomacy and Kutuzov shaped by Tolstoy in War and Peace also illustrate that they have such a cultural tradition.
After Lin Ran’s convex optimization paper helped the Soviet side achieve the first moon soft landing, such views gradually gained the upper hand.
So the Soviet Union has never caused trouble for Lin Ran.
Dobrynin shook his head helplessly; he knew his proposal would definitely not gain Moscow’s approval.
After all, Korolev is in Moscow, while he can only communicate information via telephone or telegraph.
Compared to causing trouble for Lin Ran, Lin Ran is about to cause trouble for Dobrynin.
“Ding ding ding~ Ding ding ding~”
After being out and about all day, upon returning to the embassy in the evening, Dobrynin was about to lie down and rest when the phone in the room kept ringing.
This phone is his private line, known to very few people.
Even fewer people would call him at this time.
Dobrynin slowly got up from the bed,
“Hello, Dobrynin.”
“Hello, this is V.”
A strange voice came from the other end of the phone, and Dobrynin, who had some doubts, suddenly became alert: “That V from Guy Fox?”
Originally, Dobrynin did not know this English allusion.
Mainly in the recent months, V has frequently appeared on the front pages of newspapers, with his image and deeds everywhere.
His fame rivals Jack the Ripper.
Plus, America is frantically trying to shift the blame.
Hoover absolutely does not want to take the blame for assassinating Kennedy.
Therefore, the Warren Commission responsible for the investigation occasionally releases messages hinting that Kennedy’s death is related to V, that V staged this play himself.
But they cannot pin it down, as they are unclear how much material V has.
So they dare not speak definitively, only using evidence and logic to steer public opinion toward V.
Dobrynin immediately thought of this name.
The mysterious V calling on an ordinary night in a mysterious way—isn’t that very reasonable?
“Mr. V, hello, glad to receive your call.”
