Part 13 (1/2)

THE C CARRIER C CLINIC, formerly a sanatorium for the senile and retarded, was one of only two private mental hospitals in New Jersey Located in the picturesque ha hills and lush farmland, Carrier was just five miles north of Princeton Despite its easy proxienerally avoided by Princetonians As Robert Garber, a former president of the American Psychiatric association as Carrier's medical director at the time, recalled: ”They didn't want to be in a psychiatric facility close to ho like today The idea was to get as far away as possible” formerly a sanatorium for the senile and retarded, was one of only two private mental hospitals in New Jersey Located in the picturesque ha hills and lush farmland, Carrier was just five miles north of Princeton Despite its easy proxienerally avoided by Princetonians As Robert Garber, a former president of the American Psychiatric association as Carrier's medical director at the time, recalled: ”They didn't want to be in a psychiatric facility close to ho like today The idea was to get as far away as possible”1 Princetonians regarded Carrier, which had the look of a slightly seedy boarding school, with some distaste for another reason as well Carrier had none of the prestige of top-of-the-line institutions like McLean, Austin Riggs, or Chestnut Lodge, whose acade-terarded, especially by academics, as more humane and appropriate, especially for the well-educated Popular views of psychiatry were being shaped by One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, and the libertarian views of Thomas Szasz, who held that insanity was a social construct rather than a symptom of disease and the libertarian views of Thomas Szasz, who held that insanity was a social construct rather than a sy popularity, especially on caressive use of ”chemical straitjackets” and electroshock, and short-term cookie-cutter approaches tailored to the time limits set by insurance policies At the ti popularity, especially on caressive use of ”chemical straitjackets” and electroshock, and short-term cookie-cutter approaches tailored to the time limits set by insurance policies

The Carrier staff, well aware of such attitudes, defended itself by arguing that its approach was s, Chestnut Lodge, Shepherd Pratt, and Institute for Living, these were all much fancier,” said William Otis, a psychiatrist on Carrier's staff ”We were very clinical None of us had any fancy training None of us were stars But the ironic thing is that if you were sick you were much better off at Carrier”3 Garber said: ”At Carrier ere proud of the fact that we set ourselves up as a short-term treatment center That's ere so successful We were able to treat the patients and get thee, which were notorious for having schizophrenic patients there for four, five, and seven years” Garber said: ”At Carrier ere proud of the fact that we set ourselves up as a short-term treatment center That's ere so successful We were able to treat the patients and get thee, which were notorious for having schizophrenic patients there for four, five, and seven years”4 It was Alicia who, despite the i divorce, felt responsible for Nash, and therefore had to face the decision5 It took a great deal of courage, as anyone who has had to make such a decision knows As one psychiatrist at Carrier said, ”Commitments always created terrible conflicts in the family It was very hard to find soreat deal of courage, as anyone who has had to make such a decision knows As one psychiatrist at Carrier said, ”Commitments always created terrible conflicts in the family It was very hard to find somebody anted to take the responsibility”6 Alicia, like everyone else around Nash, abhorred the idea of involuntary co uncertain of success, carried the risks of irreparable harm But she also knew that Nash was on a disastrous course and was convinced that failure to act would almost certainly lead to further deterioration The psychoanalysts at McLean had failed, the effects of the shock treatments at Trenton had proved short-lived She was prepared to try soious hospitals were unaffordable At Carrier, patients' fahty dollars a day plus hourly fees for group and individual therapy; Virginia was able to pay that Besides, it was important to Alicia that Nash be close by, so that she and his old acquaintances at Princeton could visit him Alicia, like everyone else around Nash, abhorred the idea of involuntary co uncertain of success, carried the risks of irreparable harm But she also knew that Nash was on a disastrous course and was convinced that failure to act would almost certainly lead to further deterioration The psychoanalysts at McLean had failed, the effects of the shock treatments at Trenton had proved short-lived She was prepared to try soious hospitals were unaffordable At Carrier, patients' fahty dollars a day plus hourly fees for group and individual therapy; Virginia was able to pay that Besides, it was important to Alicia that Nash be close by, so that she and his old acquaintances at Princeton could visit him

So in the third week of April, after it had become all too clear that Nash was unprepared to enter treateain, she asked Martha and Virginia to con the commitment papers

From the outset, however, Alicia drew the line at electroshock7 ”We debated electroshock therapy,” Martha recalled ”But we didn't want to mess with his memory” ”We debated electroshock therapy,” Martha recalled ”But we didn't want to mess with his memory”8 At Carrier, electroshock was frequently used for schizophrenic patients, who generally got three tiht - as patients suffering fro to do was to gain control of that patient - to break through his excitement, panic, depression - in the shortest possible tiain control of that patient - to break through his excitement, panic, depression - in the shortest possible time”10 Generally, psychotic patients were initially treated with Thorazine, and those whose disturbed behavior didn't improve quickly were also treated with electroshock Some of the psychiatrists at Carrier felt that the shock treatments were effective and produced fewer side effects than neuroleptic drugs In any case, despite the nearly universal belief around Princeton that Nash received electroshock treatments at Carrier, he apparently did not Generally, psychotic patients were initially treated with Thorazine, and those whose disturbed behavior didn't improve quickly were also treated with electroshock Some of the psychiatrists at Carrier felt that the shock treatments were effective and produced fewer side effects than neuroleptic drugs In any case, despite the nearly universal belief around Princeton that Nash received electroshock treatments at Carrier, he apparently did not

Nash spent most of the next five months of 1963 in Kindred One, the only locked ward at Carrier He said later that he made efforts to overturn his commitment; if so, they were not successful Frank L Scott recalled that Nash went AWOL froround privileges - and that he had to track him down and return him to the hospital11 Compared to Trenton, however, Carrier was, if no country club, at least hty patients, the majority of whom came from comfortable middle-class homes, many from New York and Philadelphia, andaddiction, and depression rather than from psychotic illnesses Philadelphia, andaddiction, and depression rather than from psychotic illnesses12 Carrier had a dozen psychiatrists on its staff, astaff than at Trenton, and a reasonable coists, and social workers Carrier had a dozen psychiatrists on its staff, astaff than at Trenton, and a reasonable coists, and social workers

Kindred One had single and double rooms Nash, it seems, had a room to himself He had access to a telephone He was allowed to wear his own clothing Patients were addressed by their titles and last names, so he was Dr Nash, not Johnny as he was at Trenton Nash's wishes regarding his vegetarianism - which ”doesn't exclude animal products, for example, milk, but only the animal products which become available only at the death (execution of the aniularly, as did a nu theularly, as did a nu the that happened to Nash at Carrier was that he met a psychiatrist, Howard S Mele, as to play an important and positive role in his life for the next two years15 The psychiatrist, who happened to be on duty the night that Nash was brought to Carrier, was assigned to care for hiot his e of Medicine and did his residency at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York City, Mele was quiet and careful The psychiatrist, who happened to be on duty the night that Nash was brought to Carrier, was assigned to care for hiot his e of Medicine and did his residency at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York City, Mele was quiet and careful16 Described by his forDescribed by his for 17 He was respected by the nursing staff Belle Parmet, the institute's social worker at the time, said of Mele and the other staff psychiatrists: ”They weren't just pill pushers or prescription writers They were all hu staff Belle Parmet, the institute's social worker at the time, said of Mele and the other staff psychiatrists: ”They weren't just pill pushers or prescription writers They were all humanistic”18 Nash responded quite quickly to his initial treatment with Thorazine If someone responds at all to what are now called ”typical” neuroleptics, draes are usually evident within a week, and the full effect becomes apparent within six weeks Teeks after his commitment, Nash wrote a relatively lucid letter to Norbert Wiener, saying, as, ”My problems seem to be essentially problems of communications I don't kno they can be resolved Perhaps I shall be able to approach their solution as a result of begging for aid (However, this isn't a begging letter!)”19 At this point, Nash was seeing Mele for therapy sessions and also participating in group therapy, which Mele particularly favored20 There was, however, no thought of releasing him quickly As Garber said, ”Paranoid schizophrenics are not that responsive Once you do get them under control, you have to satisfy yourself that they've stabilized You don't want a relapse, especially if there's been a commitment because then you and the family would have to start all over” There was, however, no thought of releasing him quickly As Garber said, ”Paranoid schizophrenics are not that responsive Once you do get them under control, you have to satisfy yourself that they've stabilized You don't want a relapse, especially if there's been a commitment because then you and the faust, Nash was beginning to look forward to getting out of Carrier He wrote to Virginia that he was anticipating Alicia's visit on the weekend and was ”thinking of getting out”21 He added that ”Mele thinks it depends on having a He added that ”Mele thinks it depends on having a job” Nash admitted that he was ill and in need of treatht have been a better deal” He asked Milnor for help in getting a job On Septe that Sunday was ”a sad day” because Alicia had to work overtime and couldn't come to take him out He said that the Institute for Advanced Study had decided to offer him a position job” Nash admitted that he was ill and in need of treatht have been a better deal” He asked Milnor for help in getting a job On Septe that Sunday was ”a sad day” because Alicia had to work overtime and couldn't come to take him out He said that the Institute for Advanced Study had decided to offer hiain, he wrote that he was thinking of buying a car and that there were ”good propects for a reconciliation” with Alicia A week later, upbeat again, he wrote that he was thinking of buying a car and that there were ”good propects for a reconciliation” with Alicia23 It is a discouraging but well-documented fact that people who suffer froh risk of suicide, comparable to those who suffer froeneral population24 This risk is greatest not when the person is sickest, but shortly after a course of treath no one else can truly know the state of ine that this is a tis, including very painful ones, to e for reatest not when the person is sickest, but shortly after a course of treath no one else can truly know the state of ine that this is a tis, including very painful ones, to e for months collide with harsh reality

Louisa Cauvin, who married Jean-Pierre Cauvin in the su memory, which likely dates from that summer, the only time she ever talked with Nash25 They met at a party (Presumably he was home from Carrier on a pass) Nash told Louisa that he didn't feel life orth living and saw no reason why he should not do aith himself There is no evidence to show that Nash ever caht But he was certainly depressed His hope for a reconciliation with Alicia, for example, proved overly optimistic Alicia insisted that Nash live apart from her and Johnny (as John Charles was now called), so, instead ofback to Spruce Street, Nash found himself in a rented room at 142 Mercer Street, a few doors down fro his Princeton years They met at a party (Presumably he was home from Carrier on a pass) Nash told Louisa that he didn't feel life orth living and saw no reason why he should not do aith himself There is no evidence to show that Nash ever caht But he was certainly depressed His hope for a reconciliation with Alicia, for example, proved overly optimistic Alicia insisted that Nash live apart from her and Johnny (as John Charles was now called), so, instead ofback to Spruce Street, Nash found himself in a rented room at 142 Mercer Street, a few doors down fro his Princeton years

Once again, Borel and Selberg had arranged a one-year h this time they did so with less hope26 The 196364 membershi+p was probably a rescue mission Borel later said, ”All work It was only to present the case to ues” The 196364 membershi+p was probably a rescue mission Borel later said, ”All work It was only to present the case to ues”27” Oppenheimer decided this ti in a note to Selberg, ”This enterprise see that, in contrast to the previous 196162 appointment, this one was more clearly a charitable exercise28 Meanwhile, Nash's old friends outside Princeton had not lost interest in his progress A letter frooenstern, gives a flavor of the level of interest in and concern about Nash's situation: We got onto the subject of John Nash and wondered what his present situation was, in particular with regard to his state of hison medically nor did we know of any one else who knew We had all heard ru frothat disturbed us was not our own lack of knowledge about Nash's condition but the thought that perhaps everyone in the mathematical community was in the saetting the best possible medical attention It is certainly true that the mathematical community has provided fellowshi+ps and jobs of various sorts for Nash whenever he has needed them This is as much as we should be expected to do, provided some other competent, infor after the medical situation Since Nash is now at the Institute, I thought you ht be in a position to knohether such a person exists and to reassure us that everything that can be done is being taken care of If it should turn out that for lack of ht to have, I'roup to see what could be done about it29

To co over, to see one's old friends and colleagues again was not easy Nash stayed out of sight at the Institute Few of that year's visitors recalled seeing hi lonely”30 He and Alicia still attended parties together, but she resisted any idea of their resu difficulties at her job and found her son hard to handle But when her mother took John Charles to El Salvador for several months that winter, shein March that ”Alicia is seeing a psychiatrist She is very depressed She was crying” He and Alicia still attended parties together, but she resisted any idea of their resu difficulties at her job and found her son hard to handle But when her mother took John Charles to El Salvador for several months that winter, shein March that ”Alicia is seeing a psychiatrist She is very depressed She was crying”31 Yet he also said that he was ”learning new things” and then, in Dece positions for him either at MIT or Berkeley32 He continued to hope for a reconciliation; he and Alicia continued to socialize as a couple Nash seemed, as the fall unfolded, to be in far better shape than he had been during his previous interlude at the Institute As he said in his Madrid lecture, he ”had an idea which is referred to as Nash Blowing UP which I discussed with an eminent mathematician named Hironaka” He continued to hope for a reconciliation; he and Alicia continued to socialize as a couple Nash seemed, as the fall unfolded, to be in far better shape than he had been during his previous interlude at the Institute As he said in his Madrid lecture, he ”had an idea which is referred to as Nash Blowing UP which I discussed with an eminent mathematician named Hironaka”33 (Hironaka eventually wrote the conjecture up) (Hironaka eventually wrote the conjecture up)34 Willia at the Institute that year, recalled: ”Nash orking on real algebraic varieties nobody else had been thinking about these proble at the Institute that year, recalled: ”Nash orking on real algebraic varieties nobody else had been thinking about these proble the winter, Milnor, by now chairreatly i ideas [of Nash's] in algebraic geometry”36 The neork sparked a wave of opti feeling, both at the institute and at the university, that Nash ht well be able to resume his interrupted career The neork sparked a wave of opti feeling, both at the institute and at the university, that Nash ht well be able to resume his interrupted career Milnor decided to offer Nash a one-year post as research mathematician and lecturer In April 1964, Milnor tentatively proposed that Nash teach one course the following fall and perhaps two in the spring Milnor decided to offer Nash a one-year post as research mathematician and lecturer In April 1964, Milnor tentatively proposed that Nash teach one course the following fall and perhaps two in the spring37 Milnor consulted Nash's psychiatrist, Howard Mele, who confirularly for psychotherapy, noting that this was the first tireed to seek outpatient treatment since the onset of his illness38 Garber recalled: ”[Mele] tried to keep him on medication He also helped Nash initiate relationshi+ps with other people In my experience, positive relationshi+ps plus medrcation does wonders 'Someone likes me': that's an experience that's almost impossible for a schizophrenic to have” Garber recalled: ”[Mele] tried to keep him on medication He also helped Nash initiate relationshi+ps with other people In my experience, positive relationshi+ps plus medrcation does wonders 'Someone likes me': that's an experience that's almost impossible for a schizophrenic to have”39 Mele felt that Nash's recovery was permanent and that he could handle one or two courses without difficulty during the next acadeuarantee his future mental health (any more than I could ly that a recurrence is unlikely in his case”40 Dean of Faculty Douglas Brorote to President Goheen, saying, ”This is a special situation,” adding that Nash ”is now recoveredHe needs a chance to get back into teaching gradually and to re-establish his status”41 Brown said that the mathematics departly inclined to go along It is a part of our job, I feel, in putting one of our most brilliant PhDs back into top productivity” The appointment was made officially on May 1 Brown said that the mathematics departly inclined to go along It is a part of our job, I feel, in putting one of our most brilliant PhDs back into top productivity” The appoints looked brightest, and despite all of Nash's hard work, Mele's support, and the outpouring of goodwill on the part of colleagues and the university, another stor of sleeplessness and of his ”inary coless sort”43 A co back into delusions” suggests that Nash was already being besieged by such thoughts A co back into delusions” suggests that Nash was already being besieged by such thoughts44 And by the end of that month, Nash, who said he still hoped for a reconciliation with Alicia, ht have to leave Princeton And by the end of that month, Nash, who said he still hoped for a reconciliation with Alicia, ht have to leave Princeton45 By the time the Princeton job was offered, Nash was already convinced that he ought to return to France, clear evidence that he was nowhere near as well as his behavior suggested46 His letters hoe to alarm Martha, who contacted Mele His letters hoe to alar; he wrote back that Nash was no longer taking medication, but that Nash was still in therapy and that the therapy see; he wrote back that Nash was no longer taking medication, but that Nash was still in therapy and that the therapy seely, apparently in reply to questions fro Mele Nash also wrote reassuringly, apparently in reply to questions fro Mele49 But around that time, Nash paid an unexpected call on his former French professor Karl Uitti He appeared ”rather anxious,” Uitti recalled ”He said, 'I' the addresses of Jean Cocteau and Andre Gide I have to write theently infor letters to them would be i letters to them would be impossible Nash was very, very disappointed”50 By May, Nash was co: ”I have some ideas but many of them don't seem to work out”51 Nash had apparently been in touch with Grothendieck once more Grothendieck evidently responded with an invitation to the IHES for the following year At the beginning of the su that he wished to spend the following year in France rather than stay in Princeton and accept the university's offer”52 Nash co that he had difficulty when he tried to work on mathematics, and also that his relations with various faculty and students at the university were troubled as well It is not clear to who - the job offer from the mathematics department had been supported unanimously by Milnor and the rest of the faculty and Nash's contacts with students were presumably limited to the Fine Hall coe by June 1, but that he wasn't certain of that, adding: ”Si ma situation reste essentiellement la meme comme c'est de maintenant” (If my situation re a circle in the e accompanied by the parenthetical remark, ”(Ici-co my family situation) He went on, ”Et si je peux travailler effectivement aux mathematiques par le temps de l'automne, je pense que je devrais accepter l'offre de Grothendieck plutot que l'offre de l'Universite, s'il pourra encore me donner cet offre d'emploi” (And if I can work effectively at mathematics by the fall, I think I should accept Grothendieck's offer over the offer from the university, if he will still extend me this offer of employ to spend the entire summer at Fuld Hall, with the exception of about three weeks, before going to France in the fall On May 24, in response to a note fro hi that you will re the summer,” Nash wrote that he planned to be away froh July 19 at a conference in Woods Hole on Cape Cod, organized by John Tate, on the theory of singularities, classifications of surfaces and y, zeta-functions, and arith to Tate and other participants, Nash never went to the conference According to Tate and other participants, Nash never went to the conference54 Instead, he went to Europe Instead, he went to Europe

He sailed on the Queen Mary, Queen Mary, stopped briefly in London, and went to Paris stopped briefly in London, and went to Paris55 There he tried to get in touch with Grothendieck, who evidently wasn't in town There he tried to get in touch with Grothendieck, who evidently wasn't in town56 After hanging around a few more days, Nash flew to Roreat but secret religious figure” After hanging around a few more days, Nash flew to Roreat but secret religious figure”57 This may have This may have accounted for his desire to be in Rome, where, as he later said, he visited ”the Forum and the catacombs but avoided the Vatican” accounted for his desire to be in Rome, where, as he later said, he visited ”the Forum and the catacombs but avoided the Vatican”58 The Pope was, in any case, not in Rome at the time The Pope was, in any case, not in Ro in front of the Foruan to hear voices ”like telepathic phone calls from private individuals”59 They seemed to him, at the time, he said in Madrid in 1996, to be the voices of ”mathematicians opposed to my ideas” He wrote in a letter later in the 1960s: ”I observed the local Ro into telephone booths and talking on the telephone and one of their favorite words was pronto So it's like ping-pong, pinging back again the bell pinged to me” They seemed to him, at the time, he said in Madrid in 1996, to be the voices of ”mathematicians opposed to my ideas” He wrote in a letter later in the 1960s: ”I observed the local Ro into telephone booths and talking on the telephone and one of their favorite words was pronto So it's like ping-pong, pinging back again the bell pinged to , he concluded Harold Kuhn later said, ”The strea fed into a central lish The lish, into his brain” So, he concluded Harold Kuhn later said, ”The strea fed into a central lish The lish, into his brain”61 Nash, however, did send a postcard fro to Paris and that he had attempted to contact Grothendieck and otherat the Grand Hotel de Mont Blanc, where he and Alicia had stayed five years earlier Two days later, he was back in Paris, but had not yet ed to see Grothendieck, as apparently away He said he would be staying at the Grand Hotel de Mont Blanc, where he and Alicia had stayed five years earlier Two days later, he was back in Paris, but had not yet ed to see Grothendieck, as apparently away63 The staff at the IHES ”suggested contacting Jean-Pierre Serre,” but Serre does not re in touch with hi Jean-Pierre Serre,” but Serre does not re in touch with hie: a card devoid of any writing, with a Parisian scene and a French coin and a long number for a return address Nash's next postcard ho, with a Parisian scene and a French coin and a long number for a return address65 Meanwhile, Nash had not informed theto take their offer Finally, on Septe the appointone to the University of Paris66 Nash hung around Paris a few ave up In inia fro on the Queen Mary Queen Mary on the twenty-fourth, adding a postscript: ”Situation looks dis a postscript: ”Situation looks disain and turning up at the Institute to write strange es on the blackboards of various se several Social Security nu recalled ”He claimed that he was born in a county named Mercer that had a town nan”68 By ain, it was Alicia who had to make the painful decision A letter written to John Milnor sho fast Nash's thoughts were racing and how one association prompted another - even as Nash was conscious that Milnor would find the letter mad Labeled ”crazy letter for your entertain froles and equations froain took over Nash's care and Nash once again responded quickly and drah in early April 1965 to leave Carrier for the day to attend a banquet with John Danskin at another game-theory conference in Princeton quickly and drah in early April 1965 to leave Carrier for the day to attend a banquet with John Danskin at another game-theory conference in Princeton70 As Danskin recalled, ”Nash's naht it would be nice to produce hi ht it would be nice to produce hi, he telephoned Harold Kuhn and asked hia that ”it was a barracks-like place, not , he telephoned Harold Kuhn and asked hia that ”it was a barracks-like place, not much privacy”72 Nash stayed on at Carrier until midsummer, his departure delayed until Mele was confident that both a job and a psychiatrist aiting for his patient Nash stayed on at Carrier until midsummer, his departure delayed until Mele was confident that both a job and a psychiatrist aiting for his patient

In April Richard Palais, a mathematician at Brandeis, drove down to the institute to turn in a manuscript ”That day Borel said why not have lunch with Jack Milnor and h they started talking about Nash Milnor and Borel thought Nash wasfor hiet back to acadeood place MIT and Harvard would be too difficult after he had insisted on resigning from MIT and threatened to sue the university The Harvard depart to hire him The Institute in those days didn't have five-year membershi+ps, and it was almost unheard of to have soh they started talking about Nash Milnor and Borel thought Nash wasfor hiet back to acadeood place MIT and Harvard would be too difficult after he had insisted on resigning from MIT and threatened to sue the university The Harvard depart to hire him The Institute in those days didn't have five-year membershi+ps, and it was almost unheard of to have someone more than two years74 Norman Levinson, who had been in contact with Mele, Milnor, and Borel, offered to support Nash with his ONR and NSF grants He felt that it was too soon for Nash to have an office at MIT Palais recalled: I had a feeling they were on the level in helping hiet back to the mainstreae, away from Princeton It was very late I' But the [Brandeis] administration really liked the et anted

There was a lot of that feeling [about Nash] People were expecting an awful lot frouy In any four- or five-year span, there are one or two young bright people who are recognized as special Everybody tries to get theory He was very special75

When Nash got out of Carrier this tihts at John Milnor's house and then took a train to Boston76 He was, once again, hopeful and, in contrast to a year earlier, accepted the likelihood that he ain, hopeful and, in contrast to a year earlier, accepted the likelihood that he ht have to start a new life without Alicia