Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-30
Zuckert AmpIifies
Statement on Scientist


Statement on Scientist
The partial teTt of an Gddi-
tional statement by Commits
Sioner Zuckert:
In subscribing to the majority
decision and the substance of
the commission opinion, have
considered the evidence as a
whole and no single factor as
decisive. For example, DR.. OPP
penheimer's early Communist as
sociations by themselves would
not have led me to my conclu-
sion. The more recent connec-
lions such as those with Lo-
manitz and Bohm, would not
have been decisive. The serious
1943 incident involving Cheva-
lier would not have been con-
elusive. although most disturb
ing and certainly aggravated by
the continuation of the relation
ship between Chevalier and DR..
Oppenheimer. Individual in
stances of lack of veracity, con-
scious disregard of security con-
siderations and obstruction OF
proper security inquiries would
not have been decisive.
But when I see such COM
bination of seriously disturbing
actions and events as are pres
ent in this case, then believe
the risk of security passes ac-
ceptable bounds. All these ac-
lions and events and the rela-
ton between them make no 9TH
er conclusion possible in my
opinion than to deny clearance
to DR.. Oppenheimer.
There follow some additional
observations of my own which I
believe are pertinent in the con-
Sideration Of this case and the
problems underlying it.
It is a source of real sadness
to me that my last act as a
public official should be partici-
patton in the determination OF
this matter, involving as it does,
an individual who has made a
substantial contribution to the
United States. This matter GER
tainly reflects the difficult times
in which we live. -.
There have been suggestions
that there may be a possible
alternative short of finding Dr..
Oppenheimer a security risk. One
possibility suggested was that
the Commission might merely
allow Dr.. Oppenheimer's con-
Sultant'S contract to lapse when
it expires on June 80, 1854, and
thereafter not use his services. !
have given the most serious con-
sideration to this possibility and
have concluded that it is not
practical.
The unique place that DR.. OPP
penheimer has built for himself
in the scientific world and as a
top Government adviser make it
necessary that there be a clear
cut determination whether he is
to be given access to the security
information within the jurisdic-
ton of the Commission.
AS a scientist, DR.. Open
heimer's greatest usefulness has
been as a scientific administrator
and a scientific critic. He has
been looked to for scientific
judgment by people within the
profession. He is a personality
in whom students place par
ticular reliance for leadership
end inspiration. These qualities,
coupled with a nature that en-
ables him to keep in active touch
with great numbers of people in
the scientific professions, have
given him a unique place in the
scientific &C immunity.
Active as COnsuItant.
The Commissions clearance
has permitted DIR. Oppenheimer
to carry out his role as an active
conSultant of scientists. For ex-
ample, Los AllmoS Laboratory
reports on the most intimate de-
tails of the progress of the
thermonuclear end f1SSion pro-
grams have continued to flow to
him. l would gather that these
reports were sent to DR.. Open
heimer because his leadership
and scientific judgment were rec
ognized and it was felt that he
should be kept intensively
abreast Of the development of
the weapon art.
think the Commission is
clearly obligated to determine l