The professor of economics spoke first. “Of course I know your father.” But Dr. Spann, a strong advocate for a Christian corporate state, only knew Herr Lippert’s father by his last name. They were simply acquaintances. But Herr Lippert didn’t mind. The meeting was friendly. The professor invited the young man into his office, and their conversation would’ve been extended had Dr. Spann not appeared to be impatient. It was short and sweet, but at least it was an introduction, and that was all Herr Lippert wanted.
At first he hadn’t paid any attention, and after a while red posters began to appear and even then Herr Lippert hadn’t bother to read the driveling sentences, though the intent behind them was clear. From then on they demanded to see everyone papers, and they called themselves a party. The professor asked Herr Lippert if he belonged and when he didn’t admit that he wasn’t the professor assumed that he was. That’s when the professor began to talk about Communist dilettantism and seemed to confuse them with socialists. Herr Lippert understood from that that the professor didn’t like socialists and wasn’t friendly to Jews and that the professor himself had blocked the appointment of two Jews to the university (one was named Lazarsfeld), while calling Jews the enemy. Yes, they were Jewish, they were socialist, and just happened to be committed to empirical social research. Dr. Spann opposed such research and considered it “individualistic.” He rejected fact finding in favor of theoretical research.
The professor said, “It’s those students of mine, really. It is also worth pointing out that even if Lazarsfeld racially, politically and intellectually had been acceptable to the University, there was no way that expensive empirical social research could have received funding here.”
Herr Lippert asked, “Who is Lazarsfeld?”
The professor whispered, “He’s an upstart, who wants to replace me. He was a student here…like you…and like you he was active in the Socialist Student Movement.”
Herr Lippert thought, “That’s why I hadn’t heard of him.” And then said, “I was never part of the Socialist Student Movement.”
“For some reason I thought you were. In order to do the empirical research that Lazarsfeld wants to do, you need the machinery and the money that the university doesn’t have. The university is bankrupt, and we can hardly exist on what they pay us.”
Herr Lippert wondered how they got off on the subject of Lazarsfeld and said to the professor, “It must be hard then on everyone.” Then, as though speaking to himself, he said, “It must take a lot to get a position here.”
“I hope you haven’t come to ask me to sponsor you.”
From there Herr Lippert tried to make the best of the situation. “I am a student and will need an advisor if I pursue a post-graduate degree in economics.”
“You must know that I’m against empirical social research.”
“I am too, sir.”
“And you’re not a Jew. I know your dad, and you’re not a Jew. If you work hard, you should have a future here.”
That was where the meeting ended, and Herr Lippert felt as if he had been left hanging and feeling somewhat ashamed of himself for not being more direct.
A few days later there came a letter from Professor Spann, which went to Herr Lippert through his father. It suggest that he look up Herr Lazarsfeld at the Forschungestelle, where they needed people to conduct market research for such commodities as beer, butter, chocolate, coffee, milk, vinegar, shoes, and perfume. The letter was handwritten and signed by Dr. Othman Spann.
Herr Lippert thought, “He can’t do this to me. I’m not a Jew and don’t need his help. I wasn’t looking for an advisor. But he’s making me feel like a Jew.
Randy Ford
