Walking in his grandfather’s footsteps

Abstract

During his August 11 visit to the Lab, Charles Oppenheimer participated in several events, and encountered a few surprises along the way Charles Oppenheimer never met his grandfather J. Robert Oppenheimer — the famed physicist died before Charles was born. But through family lore, popular narrative, and retracing his footsteps in Los Alamos, most recently on August 11, Charles knows this man well. Charles speaks on behalf of the Oppenheimer family, offering a perspective so many authors, filmmakers, and interviewers have forgotten to ask for. "The thing that stands out most is the family culture of being supportive of Robert Oppenheimer. It’s something I experienced as family culture … he had these really wide interests and was able to pursue them to his heart’s content," Charles said. During his visit Charles participated in a panel discussion with Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, DOE Under Secretary and National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Jill Hruby, and Lab Director Thom Mason following a screening of an abbreviated version of the National Security Research Center’s (NSRC) newly-released documentary, “Oppenheimer: Science, mission, legacy.” He then toured the Bradbury Science Museum and his grandparent’s Los Alamos residence.