The Biden administration is reversing a 1954 decision that revoked J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, of his security clearance and ultimately ended his career as a physicist.
American nuclear physicist and father of the atom bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer is pictured in the 1940s.American nuclear physicist and father of the atom bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer is pictured in the 1940s.
The famed physicist became one of the world's leading researchers in theoretical physics — and became an integral figure in the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II —During, the Atomic Energy Commission, which preceded the Department of Energy, launched an investigation that stripped Oppenheimer of his security clearance. The 1954 decision irreversibly damaged his career.
But now the Department of Energy is revoking its previous decision — calling the investigation a"flawed process that violated the Commission's own regulations," Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a"As time has passed, more evidence has come to light of the bias and unfairness of the process that Dr. Oppenheimer was subjected to while the evidence of his loyalty and love of country have only been further affirmed," Granholm said.
"History matters and what was done to Oppenheimer in 1954 was a travesty, a black mark on the honor of the nation," Kai Bird, co-author of the Oppenheimer biography"Students of American history will now be able to read the last chapter and see that what was done to Oppenheimer in that kangaroo court proceeding was not the last word."
Granholm said the Department of Energy is also reversing the decision because of a"responsibility to correct the historical record and honor Dr. Oppenheimer's profound contributions to our national defense and the scientific enterprise at large."
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