In an intentional effort to influence the prison officials to take a tough line with
Reich, Goldhammer thoroughly distorted the information his own agency, the FDA, had
collected in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State about Reich’s Norwegian trou-
bles. In 1952, a member of the U.S. Embassy in Oslo had conducted quite careful and objec-
tive interviews with Reich’s friends and foes in that country^7. He came to the conclusion
that much of Reich’s work was held in high professional esteem, although his bion research
was generally considered invalid. Yet all the complexity of the embassy officer’s report was
dropped by Goldhammer.
Reich’s day-to-day relations in the prison community were far less tempestuous
than any of these reports would indicate. For example, the social worker said Reich was
“contemptuous of authority.” However, the prison record cited no evidence of his disobey-
ing prison rules or failing to meet any of the requirements of prison life. Nor was there any
evidence that he made a habit of asking for “special treatment,” as the Classification Study
had predicted. All he asked for was Vaseline for his skin condition, which had erupted again,
and the opportunity to take baths several times a week during a period when he was both-
ered by the heavy DOR atmosphere. Both of these requests were granted. The prison per-
sonnel seem to have treated Reich quite decently. He was given a work assignment in the
prison library, a fitting task^8.
The one member of the staff Reich talked with at some length was the Protestant
chaplain, Frederick Silber, who later became Chief Chaplain for the Federal Bureau of
Prisons. In 1972, 1 interviewed Reverend Silber after he had retired^9.
Silber saw Reich frequently, as the latter often sought him out. The chaplain’s office
was on a main pathway and the prisoners would go by it several times a day. The men could
drop in freely.Silber did not know much about Reich’s concepts and the little he did know,
he “didn’t buy.” However, he enjoyed his talks with him. Reich did not discuss his “sexual
theories,” and Silber indicated he would not have agreed with them anyway. Nor did Reich
talk much about orgone energy. He talked about human nature. Reich occasionally referred
to a“conspiracy” against him, but did not belabor this theme. For Silber, it was no different
from what many prisoners said about being “railroaded” into jail. Except for the conspira-
cy theme, Silber found Reich quite rational in their discussions.
Reich was generally quiet and apart from others. “Not many people knew him or
what his theories were. He obeyed the rules and went about his business quietly. He got
along with the guards.” Silber does not remember Reich being openly angry, though at times
his withdrawal and preoccupation could be interpreted as reflecting anger.
Emotionally, Silber said, Reich was most preoccupied with Aurora Karrer and vis-
iting and writing privileges, especially as they related to her. Reich and Karrer very much
wanted to marry, but this was not possible according to the prison rules of that time.
Silber had not noted any signs ofphysical deterioration in Reich save for a “shuf-
fling” when he walked down the corridor.
At the end ofthe interview, I asked Silber if there was any final comment he would
like to make.He replied:
32 : Prison and Death: 1957 437