From 1937 to 1942, Oppenheimer was a member at Berkeley of what he called a "discussion group", which was later identified by fellow members, Haakon Chevalier and Gordon Griffiths, as a "closed" (secret) unit of the Communist Party for Berkeley faculty.
Dende 1937 ata 1942 Oppenheimer foi membro do que el mesmo chamou "grupo de debate" en Berkeley, que posteriormente os seus compañeiros Haakon Chevalier e Gordon Griffiths identificaron como unha unidade secreta e pechada do Partido Comunista na facultade de Berkeley.