Oppenheimer and anti-communist paranoia
out communist sympathizers'. 4 McCarthyism operated two stages: firstly, objectionable groups and individuals were identified; then, they were punished, usually by being fired. 5 Many ordinary Americans were labelled traitors, an estimated ten to twelve thousand people lost jobs and hundreds were imprisoned. 6 Whilst Oppenheimer had long been suspected of communist views, his vital importance to the Manhattan project had previously meant that he had full security clearance and his position not threatened. However, by the 1950s the anti-communist movement had grown considerably, and as the Manhattan project had been successfully achieved, Oppenheimer was no longer such a precious asset to the US government. Attention then returned to his politics and the accusations began. Despite numerous previous examinations, Oppenheimer had always been deemed 'safe'. However, as the Cold War developed, Oppenheimer was accused of inconsistent behaviour with regard to his associations with communism. He told that after an assessment of his 'character, associations and loyalty, and review of your personnel security file,' 7 his security clearance was revoked. On appeal in 1954, despite the verdict of the hearing being that, 'Oppenheimer was loyal and discreet with atomic secrets', the hearing 'did not recommend that his security clearance be reinstated due to evaluation of the sources'. 8 An article published by the New York Times in 2014, entitled, 'Transcripts Kept Secret for 60 Years Bolster Defence of Oppenheimer’s Loyalty' 9 argued that previously classified transcripts revealed there was 'no damning evidence against him', and that the classified testimony 'tends to exonerate him'.
Who and what were the reasons that brought Oppenheimer to his security hearing?
A key source is the 'Borden letter' 10 written by Willian Borden, a former executive director of the Joint Atomic Energy Committee, in November 1953 to Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI. Borden stated that 'based upon years of study, of the available classified evidence, that more probable than not Robert Oppenheimer is an agent of the Soviet Union'. The letter carried great weight as it addressed the proposed threat of Oppenheimer and referenced much of the government's massive investigative 4 Storrs, L.R.Y., 2017. McCarthyism and the Second Red Scare. Oxford Research Encyclopaedia of American History. Available at: https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore- 9780199329175-e-6. [Accessed 28 August 2023]. 5 En.wikipedia.org. (2023).McCarthyism. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism#Victims_of_McCarthyism. [Accessed 27 August 2023]. 6 Oppenheimer, J. R. Nuclear Files. Nuclear Files . Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20080514020045/http:/www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/library/correspondence/op penheimer-robert/corr_oppenheimer_1954-03-04.htm. 7 J. Robert Oppenheimer Personnel Hearings Transcripts. J. Robert Oppenheimer Personnel Hearings Transcripts . Available at: https://www.osti.gov/opennet/hearing. [Accessed 28 August 2023]. 8 En.wikipedia.org.(2023).Oppenheimer Security Hearing. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppenheimer_security_hearing. [Accessed 28 August 2023]. 9 Broad, W.J., 2014. Transcripts Kept Secret for 60 Years Bolster Defense of Oppenheimer’s LoyaltyTranscripts Kept Secret for 60 Years Bolster Defense of Oppenheimer’s Loya lty. The New York Times . Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/us/transcripts-kept-secret-for-60-years-bolster-defense-of- oppenheimers-loyalty.html?smid=tw-share. [Accessed 28 August 2023]. 10 Letter from William L. Borden to J. Edgar Hoover, November 7, 1953. Wikisource, the free online library . Available at: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Letter_from_William_L._Borden_to_J._Edgar_Hoover,_November_7,_1953.
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