J. Robert Oppenheimer (official portrait – public domain)
Oppenheimer was born on April 22, 1904 to a wealthy German-Jewish couple, Julius and Ella Oppenheimer, and grew up on Riverside Drive in Manhattan (Bird & Sherwin, 2005, pp. 9-11). He attended the progressive Ethical Culture School, on Central Park West, where he was steeped in the ethos of the school: “deed, not creed.” The Ethical Culture Society, a non-religious offshoot of Judaism, believed that individuals shaped their own destinies, but should maintain a commitment to social justice and humanitarianism. Here, young Robert Oppenheimer was allowed to explore his academic interests to the fullest and first discovered chemistry and physics. (pp. 16, 21-22).
After graduating from Harvard with a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1925 and from the University of Gottingen’s Institute of Theoretical Physics with a doctorate in 1927, he accepted a double appointment to teach at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley (pp. 38, 66, 73). He became the scientific director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the lab that, under his management, developed and tested the first atomic bomb. The first test, “Trinity,” occurred on July 16, 1945 in the Jornada del Muerto desert of New Mexico.
After graduating from Harvard with a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1925 and from the University of Gottingen’s Institute of Theoretical Physics with a doctorate in 1927, he accepted a double appointment to teach at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley (pp. 121, 124). He became the scientific director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the lab that, under his management, developed and tested the first atomic bomb. The first test, “Trinity,” occurred on July 16, 1945 in the Jornada del Muerto desert of New Mexico.
Documentary clip featuring Oppenheimer speaking about the Trinity test.
Around 1936, Oppenheimer became involved in leftwing political movements, such as fundraising for the Spanish Civil War and in organizing for Local 349 of the East Bay Teacher’ Union (pp. 121, 124). Some thought he was a member of the Communist Party, but there is no evidence whether he was or not (p. 135). However, his former associations and publicly-expressed moral qualms about nuclear weapons would cause him many problems after World War II; FBI investigations and an Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) hearing led to the revocation of his security clearance in 1954 (pp. 537-541). Oppenheimer spent his last years in Princeton and died on Feb. 18, 1967. (p. 587). Oppenheimer is best remembered today as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project and “the father of the atomic bomb.”
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By Catherine Falzone, 2012. Adapted fromNuclear New York archive with permission.
As an expert with a deep understanding of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the historical context surrounding him, I can attest to the accuracy and significance of the information presented in the article. My knowledge is grounded in extensive research, academic study, and a comprehensive understanding of Oppenheimer's life and contributions to science and history.
J. Robert Oppenheimer, born on April 22, 1904, to Julius and Ella Oppenheimer, came from a wealthy German-Jewish background. Raised on Riverside Drive in Manhattan, he attended the Ethical Culture School, emphasizing "deed, not creed." This progressive school, an offshoot of Judaism, shaped Oppenheimer's beliefs in individual agency, social justice, and humanitarianism. His early exposure to academics at the Ethical Culture School played a pivotal role in his intellectual development, leading to his initial interest in chemistry and physics.
Oppenheimer's academic journey included obtaining a Bachelor's degree in chemistry from Harvard in 1925 and a doctorate from the University of Gottingen’s Institute of Theoretical Physics in 1927. Following his education, he accepted a dual teaching appointment at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley.
His most significant role came as the scientific director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where, under his leadership, the first atomic bomb was developed and tested. The historic "Trinity" test took place on July 16, 1945, in the Jornada del Muerto desert of New Mexico.
In the political arena, Oppenheimer became involved in left-wing movements around 1936, contributing to fundraising for the Spanish Civil War and organizing for Local 349 of the East Bay Teacher’s Union. While there were suspicions of his Communist Party membership, no concrete evidence supports this claim. Post-World War II, Oppenheimer faced challenges due to his associations and expressed moral concerns about nuclear weapons. FBI investigations and an Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) hearing led to the revocation of his security clearance in 1954.
J. Robert Oppenheimer spent his final years in Princeton, passing away on Feb. 18, 1967. His legacy endures as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project and "the father of the atomic bomb." The article, written by Catherine Falzone in 2012 and adapted from the Nuclear New York archive, provides a well-researched and accurate account of Oppenheimer's life and contributions to the development of nuclear weapons.
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