This letter by Ladislav Hejdánek, dated July 24, 1968, captures the tense atmosphere in Czechoslovakia shortly before the Warsaw Pact invasion. The author combines personal family news with profound reflections on the political situation and his professional engagements. He mentions the publication of his work in the American journal RCDA and a meeting with political scientist Kenneth L. Maxwell. A central part of the document is Hejdánek’s account of a conversation with philosopher Jan Patočka, who viewed the Czechoslovak experiment with 'socialism that does not lie' as a global hope, while simultaneously warning of the catastrophic consequences of a potential Soviet crackdown. Hejdánek describes his own psychological strain, including nightmares about arriving tanks. The letter also touches upon editorial matters regarding Jaspers and Patočka and mentions the family's upcoming trip to East Germany, from which they returned on the very night the occupation began. The text serves as a significant testimony to the intellectual climate and uncertainty of the fateful summer of 1968.