Who was Lewis Strauss and why did he hate Oppenheimer?

Among the captivating characters in Christopher Nolan’s recently released film, "Oppenheimer," one who has notably captured the audience's attention is Lewis Strauss, portrayed by Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr.

The post-World War II era witnessed intense animosity between Strauss, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), and renowned scientist J Robert Oppenheimer. Strauss, in his real-life role as Oppenheimer's nemesis, seemingly went to great lengths to undermine the scientist's career.

So, who was Lewis Strauss?

 Born in 1896 to Jewish emigrant parents in West Virginia, Strauss initially aspired to study physics but found himself working as a shoe salesman to support his father's business. Eventually, he became an assistant to Herbert Hoover during World War II.

After the war, Strauss rose to success as an investment banker and played a key role in securing financing for renowned projects, such as the Polaroid camera. He also served as a naval officer during World War II. In 1946, he was appointed to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), where he fervently advocated for the development of thermonuclear weapons, including the Hydrogen bomb.

This stance put him at odds with Oppenheimer, who played a pivotal role in designing the atomic bombs that devastated the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While Oppenheimer expressed remorse over the destruction caused by his inventions, Strauss championed the development of even more powerful weapons, such as hydrogen bombs.

Strauss vs Oppenheimer

The clash between Strauss and Oppenheimer revolved around their differing perspectives on nuclear weapons. Oppenheimer favored halting their development and sharing nuclear data with the United States, whereas Strauss sought to keep more sinister biological weapons data classified.

Strauss suspected Oppenheimer of being a communist and leaking sensitive information to the Soviet Union. This suspicion intensified after Strauss assumed the role of Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1953.

Why was Strauss so miffed with Oppenheimer?

The roots of Strauss's resentment against Oppenheimer can be traced back to an incident in 1949 when Oppenheimer publicly humiliated him for selling radioisotopes to foreign nations.

Additionally, a scene depicted in the movie, where Oppenheimer seemingly made a dismissive remark to Albert Einstein while ignoring Strauss, further fueled Strauss's animosity. However, it was later revealed in the movie that Oppenheimer's comment was not directed at Strauss.

In 1953, Strauss requested FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to investigate Oppenheimer, leading to illegal phone tapping to build a case against him. Strauss also initiated a separate security proceeding within the AEC, alleging Oppenheimer's communist affiliations, which eventually led to the revocation of Oppenheimer's security clearances. Strauss accused him of being a Soviet agent.

While Oppenheimer's security clearance was permanently revoked due to his involvement in communist activities, Strauss failed in his quest to completely terminate the scientist's career.

The movie Oppenheimer

The film "Oppenheimer," a biological thriller drama written and directed by Nolan, draws inspiration from the 2005 book "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer."

The movie delves into various aspects of Oppenheimer's life, portraying his internal conflict and regret over having designed nuclear weapons, which caused immense destruction during World War II.