Why Einstein Became Famous in America

Abstract

An attempt is made to explain why Einstein became a celebrity in America in 1919-21. The initial factor was the sudden great interest in the theory of relativity that developed because of the dramatic way it was announced as being confirmed, and because of the phrases that happened to be associated with it. These phrases were particularly suited to generate interest in America, which at that time was especially xenophobic, suspicious of science, fearful of domination, but also greatly concerned with advancement and self-improvement. The fame of the theory naturally led to curiosity about Einstein, the theory's creator. When Einstein came to the United States in 1921 as part of a Zionist delegation, the warm welcome American Jews gave the delegation, and Chaim Weizmann in particular, was mistakenly described by the American press as a hero's welcome for Einstein. This led to a complex series of interactions between the Yiddish and English language press that resulted in Einstein being considered a hero and a secular saint. But the xenophobia and suspicion that had played a part in the theory's fame, also contributed to Einstein's growing personal fame.