Albert Einstein (l) and J Robert Oppenheimer (r), c. 1950. Public Domain.
Einstein and Oppenheimer
Nolan’s dramatized Oppenheimer and famous physicist Albert Einstein had the two on friendly terms. In reality, their early relationship was strained by common academic conflict. Einstein was not supportive of Oppenheimer’s field of study, quantum physics. Oppenheimer considered Einstein rather outdated, and as he put it, “Einstein is complete cuckoo.” But Einstein and other leading scientists became vocally concerned about Germany’s atomic weapons program and suggested the US develop their own. The USA listened, setting up the Manhattan Project featured in Nolan’s movie. Yet Einstein was barred from the project because his leftist views were considered a security risk. Oppenheimer was barred from consulting Einstein about the Manhattan Project. Which was probably fine with Einstein. After the attack, Einstein was burdened with remorse for recommending the atomic bomb program. He said, “Had I known that the Germans would not succeed in developing the atomic bomb, I would have done nothing.”