I've often speculated, but have not tried to demonstrate, that the "crime" that the Establishment science community saw in Velikovsky's theses, were his choices of sources. I think it obvious that Velikovsky's use of biblical stories as one of several bits of evidence supporting his ideas ran into conflict with Establishment science's running feud with bible defending adversaries. After WWII, that adversarial argument was about to be firmly swinging to scientism's side, especially in the schools. I suspect that Establishment science feared that were Velikovsky taken seriously at that juncture, scientism's advance would have been hit with a very untimely setback.
So, starting with Harlow Shapely's unprescendented vehement displeasure in 1950, one after another of those with influence were either recruited to Shapely's side of the dispute or discredited. Were they given an ultimatum such as: "you're either with us or against us?" I'd like to know. It certainly seems to be likely.
Do you know if anyone has gone to the effort to follow up on facts that support a hypothesis such as mine? I'd like to read it.
Fascinating!
And I also think I ought to be more clear about my last question. The hypothesis of which I speak is the one involving the bible versus science dispute being a big reason for the poor treatment of Velikovsky, not the likeliness of a vendetta against those in science who didn't sign on to Shapely's side.