Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-30
Additional Remarks
Are Made by Campbell

Are Made by Campbell
The partial teri of an Gddi-
tionGl statement By Commits
sioner C0mpbell:
My vote was to sustain the
recommendations of the Gray
board and the general manager
for the following reasons:
/. ! have had no personal
association with DR.. Open
heimer and no personal knowl-
edge as to his contributions to
the atomic energy program.
Neither do I have any personal
knowledge as to his character.
loyalty and associations.
The responsibility of q Com
missioner of the Atomic Energy
Commission in a proceeding of
this type is. in my view. an ap-
pelate responsibility.
Approves Board Setup.
2. Having examined the tram
script Of the hearings, it is estab-
lished that DIR. Oppenheimer had
an opportunity prior to the hear
ings to challenge the members
Of the board and did not choose
to do so. At all times, DR.. OPP
penheimer was represented by
four attorneys. At no time dur
ing the course of the hearings
has the integrity, honesty and
impartiality Of any of the board
members been subject to chal-
lenge by any parties to the pro-
ceedings. DR.. Oppenheimer,
through his counsel, has had the
opportunity to produce any wit
nesseS he desired to call on his
behalf. Through his counsel he
had opportunity to cross-ex-
anime any persons who testified
on items which he might have
considered to be of a derogatory
nature. Ample opportunity was
given to DR.. Oppenheimer's coun-
sci to present their case. In
fact. extensions and delays were
granted, which by some might
be considered unreasonable, so
that there can be no possibility
that there was any pressure of
time in the presentation of the
information which DR.. Open
heimer desired to place before
the board.
8. From an examination of
the transcript and from the re-
port, both majority and minor
ity of the board, it is evident
that the members of the board
were fully aware of the criteria
which had been established by
the Atomic Energy Commission
and by the various executive or
ders and public laws relative to
the clearance of individuals for
classified work. At no time was
any question raised by any party
to the proceedings as to the COM
petence of the board insofar as
it's knowledge of the criteria and
procedures under which the hear
ing was being conducted.
Managers Recommendation.
4. I have carefully studied the
recommendations of the general
manager and have concluded
that from the presentation OF
the testimony before the Person.
mel Security Board and the in
formation made available to the
parties in the proceedings from
the investigative files, the general
manager has arrived at the only
possible conclusion available to
a reasonable and prudent man.
The finding, by the general
manager, that the services of DR..
Oppenheimer are not indispen-
sable to the atomic energy pro-
gram, is compelling.
S. I have read the brief sub
mitted by counsel for DR.. Open
heimer to the Atomic Energy
Commission and though this
brief is agrumentative and per-
haps persuasive to some, it con-
tainS no new evidence and it
does not directly or indirectly
charge that DR.. Oppenheimer has
been unfairly treated or deprived
of a full and complete opportu-
nifty to make the best possible
presentation available in his de-
Tense.
H-BOmb Not Considered
Il neither concur nor dissent
from the findings of the Person.
mel Security Board\and the gen.
eral manager relating to the al
legation that DR.. Oppenheimer
initially opposed and later de-
clined to cooperate in the pro-
gram for the development of
thermometer weapons. 1t is my
view that the opinions and judg-
ments of DR.. Oppenheimer on
this subject were not relevant to
the inquiry. I, therefore, have
made my determination as to
DR.. Oppenheimer's fitness for
continued employment upon
other evidence and testimony
presented which bears on his
loyalty, character and aSsocia-
tionS.)
Conclusion Drawn.
l conclude, therefore, that
serious charges were brought
against DR.. Oppenheimer; that
he was afforded every opportu-
nifty to refute them; that a board
was appointed, composed of men
of the highest honor and in
tegrity, and that in their ma
jority opinion DR.. Oppenheimer
did not refute the serious