Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Unabomber's Death Brings Closure For Some With Physical, Emotional Scars
The Washington Post: Before He Was The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski Was A Mind-Control Test Subject
Ted Kaczynski entered Harvard University as a 16-year-old on a scholarship, after skipping the sixth and 11th grades. It was there that he was subjected to an experiment run by Harvard psychologist Henry A. Murray that was backed by the Central Intelligence Agency. ... The program sought to understand how to control subjects’ minds, sometimes using substances such as LSD, according to a document the CIA made publicly available in 2018. (There has not been evidence to suggest LSD or similar substances were used at Harvard on Kaczynski.) (Pietsch, 6/11)
ABC13 Houston: 'Close The Chapter': Son Of Victim Of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski Feels 'Closure' After Convicted Terrorist's Death
Novato, Calif., resident Jonathan Epstein says the death of Ted Kaczynski means closure for his family. "My first reaction was 'Finally we can close that chapter on this part of our life.' I was glad to hear the news," Epstein said. His father, UCSF Geneticist Dr. Charles Epstein, was one of the Unabomber's targets in 1993 when a package was delivered to the family's Tiburon home. (Barnard, 6/11)
KSLTV: Man Who Survived The Unabomber Found Unique Path To Heal, Forgive
Feb. 20, 1987, will forever remain a notorious date in Utah’s history, marking the time the Unabomber struck here and claimed one of his many victims. The events of that day, though, couldn’t have come more out-of-the-blue for Gary Wright. “I feel lucky to at least be telling the story,” said Wright. ... “The bomb exploded and basically knocked me back about 22 feet,” he said. “(I was) bouncing around as if I were on a pogo stick.” (Adams, 6/10)
A look back —
NPR: Mass Murder: When Your Family Member Does The Unthinkable
In the wake of mass murder, the families of victims must navigate a complicated emotional landscape. But so, too, must the families of those charged with the crimes. Among the questions such families must grapple with are troubling ones about their own responsibility. (8/1/12)
Psychology Today: My Brother, The Unabomber
I don't remember a time when I wasn't aware that my brother was "special," a tricky word that can mean either above or below average, or completely off the scale. Ted was special because he was so intelligent. In school he skipped two grades, and he garnered a genius-level IQ score of 165. In the Kaczynski family, intelligence carried high value. Despite our age difference—Ted was seven and a half years older—we grew up deeply bonded. He was consistently kind to me and went out of his way to offer help and encouragement. In return, he won my admiration and deep affection. (David Kaczynski, 1/5/16)
