28 : The FDA Injunction and Reich’s Responses: 1951-1955None of Reich’s work after the Oranur experiment, nor his personal life, can be
understood without considering the impact of the FDA investigation as it reemerged around
1951, culminating in the injunction brought against him in February 1954. In August 1951,
Reich had learned that the FDA was visiting accumulator users again. But when nothing fur-
ther was heard about the FDA for the remainder of the year, he once more hoped that the
investigation had ceased.
It had not. On July 29, 1952, three men—one regular FDA inspector, one FDA
medical director, and one FDA physicist—came unannounced to the Observatory at
Orgonon to “inspect the premises.” In order to drive to the Observatory, which was at the
top ofthe hill,one had to take down two chains barring vehicular access. The FDA repre-
sentatives moved the chains and appeared at the Observatory entrance without any prior
notification.
In writing and speaking about this encounter, Reich was to refer to it constantly as
a prime example of the contemptuous actions against him. He hated to be interrupted by
telephone or unannounced visits; he liked written appointments and screened telephone
calls. Those working for him had to make very sure that they were confronted with an emer-
gency before they put through a call to him when he was writing or working in the
Observatory. During the Oranur period and the accelerated FDA pressure, his rage over
interruptions and violations of his space and time increased greatly. One reason for this was
that often there was no one on the property except him. Nathan C. Hale, a sculptor, writer,
and supporter ofReich’s, remembers calling once to see if there were any orgone therapists
in California. He expected a secretary to answer but got Reich, who proceeded to shout at
him in a way that left Hale shaking^1.
Trespassers on the property were frequent. People would just drive on up to see the
“orgies”or whatever. Reich was apoplectic about such curiosity and sometimes innocent
persons were caught in his rage. Once, some Rangeley citizens were looking over a proper-
ty for sale adjacent to Orgonon. In the belief that they were on his property, Reich came
running out with gun in hand to chase them away. Reports of such incidents, probably made
even more eccentric and dangerous in the retelling, did not help his image in Rangeley.
On the afternoon of July 29, Ilse met the FDA representatives on the first floor of
the Observatory, saying that Reich did not see people without an appointment. They per-
suaded her to let Reich know that two of the men had made a special trip from Washington
to see him. Hearing this, Reich changed his mind and came down, probably motivated more