John Bardeen on the period prior to the transistor being made public and the fear that the military might classify it.

Hoddeson:

Incidentally, you were talking about the secrecy period. Just before the transistor was made public, let’s see, I think first the military were informed.

Bardeen:

Yes, they were informed.

Hoddeson:

And then?

Bardeen:

— and we hoped they wouldn’t classify it, so we couldn’t publish. But we had already sent in manuscripts to the PHYSICAL REVIEW for publication. They were told to hold them back until we got word from the military that they wouldn’t be classified.

Hoddeson:

Why was there some concern that the military would classify them, the information?

Bardeen:

It wasn’ t done under any military contract or anything like that.

Hoddeson:

Was there any support from the military?

Bardeen:

There wasn’t any support from the military. It was entirely supported by Bell Labs. But any important discovery which might have military applications, it was desirable to clear it with the military.

Hoddeson:

I see, just a preventive —

Bardeen:

— just as a courtesy.

Hoddeson:

I see. OK.

Bardeen:

I don’t think the military recognized the importance of it. Perhaps not. Besides, it was so broad that, the possible applications would be so broad that it shouldn’t be classified.

Hoddeson:

OK.

Bardeen:

I believe that maybe in your story, that people who went down to talk with the military were told that similar work was being done in one of the government laboratories. It turned out not to be the case.