Oppenheimer was clearly leftist, and the best way to slur a leftist, certainly in the 50s, and especially if you had agenda (cough Teller cough), was to call th

Oppenheimer was clearly leftist, and the best way to slur a leftist, certainly in the 50s, and especially if you had agenda (cough Teller cough), was to call them a Commie, no matter where their loyalties lie. See also: House Un-American Activities Committee.