Oppenheimer was probably lucky to have gone through this, long term, to be accused by these clowns instead of endorsed. He saw it as the sham it was, and the characterization of a “broken man” is misleading. Had many years of lecturing, writing books, and leading the Institute for Advanced study after this, with deep support from the scientific community. Although it was deeply hurtful.. he was a loyal man, a soldier basically during the war, and his country betrayed him.
His consulting contract to the AEC was expiring in December 1953, but as a political takedown he was officially accused instead of simply not renewing. Oppenheimer had the option to compromise and resign, but he declined writing Strauss: “Under the circumstances, this course of action would mean that I accept and concur in the view that I am not fit to serve this government, that I have now served for some twelve years. This I cannot do. If I were thus unworthy I could hardly have served our country as I have tried, or been the Director of our Institute in Princeton, or have spoken, as on more than one occasion I have found myself speaking, in the name our science and our country”.*
He was found to be absolutely loyal, he was not even accused of violating any security regulations. But was accused of not being sufficiently enthusiastic about a crash program to build a hydrogen bomb, and that this lack of enthusiasm was a sign of a character flaw.
This “trial” marked an end of extremely wide public respect for scientists. And a new era where technical and scientific achievements are to be harvested by military industrial complex, and used by right wing strategists. It put scientists in their place..
*American Prometheus - p484