Oppenheimer's security clearance was revoked due to his political affiliations from "summary" of The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes
Oppenheimer's security clearance was revoked after the war because of his past associations with Communist sympathizers. During the 1930s, Oppenheimer had been involved with various leftist groups and had associated with individuals who were later identified as Communists. These connections came back to haunt him during the Red Scare of the post-war years when the government became increasingly suspicious of anyone with ties to the Communist Party. The FBI had been keeping tabs on Oppenheimer for years, and they used his past affiliations as justification for revoking his security clearance. The fear was that someone with Communist leanings could potentially leak sensitive information to the Soviet Union, putting national security at risk. Oppenheimer's reputation as a brilliant scientist was not enough to shield him from these suspicions, and he was ultimately deemed a security risk by the government. Oppenheimer's case became a lightning rod for the debate over loyalty and security in the United States. Many saw him as a scapegoat, targeted for his political beliefs rather than any actual wrongdoing. Others believed that his past associations were cause for concern and that his security clearance should be revoked. The controversy surrounding Oppenheimer's case highlighted the tension between civil liberties and national security in the post-war era. In the end, Oppenheimer's security clearance was revoked, effectively ending his career in government service. He was no longer able to work on classified projects or have access to sensitive information. The decision was a blow to Oppenheimer, who had once been hailed as a hero for his role in the Manhattan Project. But in the eyes of the government, his political affiliations made him a liability, and he was forced to step away from the work that had defined his career.
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