I am told that this letter is to be opened in the year 2100. It is difficult for me to write something sensible for people who will have had another century of history, experience and events. At the close of the 20th century, I have four grandchildren. I hope that in the year 2100, 1 will have an additional 64 descendents. Perhaps, at least these 64 will read this letter.

This letter is written at a time of both great good fortune and very real danger. The contradiction implied here is, in my opinion, an essential part of history.

The good fortune is that the Cold War is over. Even better: the United States has won the Cold War without any bloodshed. This victory was made possible by scientific advances and technical progress that sufficed to eliminate violent confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This technical progress was due, to a considerable extent, to accomplishments at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The extent of the success is best understood by comparing the first and second halves of the 20th century. In the first half, the wars have killed people to the tune of at least 50 million. In the second half, loss of lives was reduced to a few percent of the 50 million.

The explanation of the difference lies in the fact of weapons in possession of those who did not want to use them.

At the same time, at the turn of the millennium, the year 2000 has brought along strong feelings and objections to technology, science and progress. The sensational formulation of events favored by great portions of the media emphasizes the circumstance that modern technology may have catastrophic consequences due, for instance, to a nuclear war and a spreading of radioactivity. It is a fact that any new developments may be used or misused. I have confidence in the coming generations to believe that they will on the whole find a way to avoid misuse.

For example, I keep wondering about recent discoveries in the cloning of mammals. That, of course, may be a step toward the cloning of humans. If that ever becomes possible, it certainly will need regulation. Its proper use might be of the greatest benefit. The Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, itself, is working on the elucidation of that part of chemistry that carries in our bodies our inherited and inheritable properties. It worries me that more people are talking about the dangers of cloning, and practically no emphasis is given to a statement "love your brother because he is like yourself." I hope that a hundred years from now science may have produced not only a more complete but a much more wonderful way of what is involved in the word "brotherhood."

To my mind, the most important fact about the future is that it is unknown. Modem fears are contrary to an older American attitude of believing that what is new will be good. Livermore was founded in that spirit. I hope that past and future successes will fully justify that hope.