Evening star., 1949-06-14
.0ppenheimer, Brother
.0f Atomic Scientist,
Quits University Post


brother of the atomic scientist.
announced after testifying before
the House Committee on Un-
American Activities today that he
had resigned as assistant pro-
fessor of physics at the University
of Minnesota. He said he fully
and freely" answered all commit
tee questions as to his and his
wife's prewar membership in the
Communist Party.
DR.. Oppenheiner said he had
resigned his teaching post TO give
university officials complete free
dom in passing on his future
status.
DR.. Oppenheimer told reporters
ne and his wife joined the Com
munist Party In 1887 and resigned
two and healf years later without
rejoining since. The professor
testified briefly this morning and
he and his wife. Jacquenette. were
to reappear this afternoon.
Brother of Atom Scientist.
DIR. Oppenheimer. who was as
sociated himself with the develop
ment of the atomic bomb, is the
brother of DR.. J. Robert Open
heimer, chairman of the General
Advisory Committee Of the Atomic
Energy Commission and director
of the Princeton Institute of Ad-
vanced Studies.
DR.. Frank Oppenheimer said he
answered every possible question
regarding his own afiliation with
the party before the war. but had
refused to answer other questions
regarding the political affiliations
and activities of certain associates
because he lacked detailed infor-
nation.
The slender. dark-haired sci
enlist, who looks younger than his
SO years. told reporters that if he
had any suspicious activities
among his acquaintance during
the war he would have reported
them Immediately to United States
security agents.
May Go Back to Job.
The assistant professor said he
handed his resignation several
days ago." but plans to go back to
the university after appearing here
to learn If the officials have ac-
cepted his resignation. If not, he
said, he would go back to his job.
Dr.. Oppenheimer and his wife
were represented before the COM
mittee by Attorney Clifford Durr
Of Washington, who gave report
ers brief statement from DR..
Oppenheimer as the latter left the
committee room. 1t was explained
this statement was not formally
submitted to the committee, but
that its contents were discussed
In a general way.
Attached to the statement was
photostatic copy of letter Of
commentator and appreciation
to DR.. Frank Oppenheimer from
1t. Gen. Leslie r. Groves, war
time director of atomic bomb de-
velopment. The letter. bearing
the date of September 90. 1945,
said in part. THE War Depart
ment, the Manhattan Engineer
District and I personally appre-
ciate the contribution which you
have made to the development of
the atomic bomb.
Work Held "of Great Value"
The research and development
work which you carried out in
the radiation laboratory of the
University of California. which
with the work of others led to the
electromagnetic process for the
separation of uranium. was an
essential factor in our success.
Your further work in Tennessee
and in New Mexico were also Of
great value"
DR.. Oppenheimer had worked at
Los Alamos and Oak Ridge. He
was connected with the atomic
project from the fall of 1941 until
the spring of 1947. he said.
DR.. Oppenheimer explained that
he and his wife joined the party
seeking an answer to the prob
lens of unemployme ent and want
in the wealthiest and most pro-
ductive country in the world"