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Oppenheimer · 2023 — Chapter 26 of 28 · 2'38" · C1

Hill Blames Strauss at the Hearing, Explained: made mincemeat out of

At the confirmation hearing, David Hill testifies that most scientists want Strauss out of government. Pressed on why, he rejects the security explanation: the real cause was Strauss's private vindictiveness toward Oppenheimer, rooted in an old public humiliation that Strauss "never forgave."

What happens

David Hill is called to testify about Lewis Strauss. He grants Strauss's long government service, then says most scientists would rather see him out of government, and not because of security: it was Strauss's personal vindictiveness against Oppenheimer, driven by an old humiliation after Oppenheimer demolished his position on isotope shipments.

CourtroomAccusationsConfrontingExplainingC1slowamericanClean
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made mincemeat out ofsit in judgment ofthe animus ofpilloried

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Phrase of the scene

made mincemeat out of

把某人或某观点驳得体无完肤、剁成肉酱

希尔在参议院作证，说明斯特劳斯对奥本海默的敌意源自一次被当众驳倒的经历。

She made mincemeat out of his argument in the debate.

Also in this scene

  • sit in judgment of

    对某人作出审判、站在评判者的位置上

  • the animus of

    某人的敌意、恶意（多指深藏而持续的）

  • pilloried

    被公开羞辱；被众人当众嘲骂

Everything marked in this scene

33 notes across 33 lines

Phrase · C1would you care to do somethingwould you care to make a statement?
Phrase · B2be asked to do somethingI've been asked to testify about Lewis Strauss.
Phrase · B2years of serviceA man who has given years of service in high positions of government
Phrase · B2be known to be somethingand who is known to be earnest, hardworking and intelligent.
Phrase · B1be one's ownThe views I have to express are my own,
Phrase · B2much one has to saybut I believe that much I have to say will help to indicate
Phrase · B2prefer to see someone do somethingwhy most of the scientists in this country would prefer to see Mr. Strauss
Phrase · B2out of governmentcompletely out of government.
Phrase · B2directed toward someoneYou're... You're referring to the hostility of certain scientists directed toward Mr. Strauss because of his commitment to security
Phrase · C1personal vindictivenessBecause of the personal vindictiveness
Soundpersonal vindictiveness

stress

Because of the personal vindictiveness
Phrase · C1put someone through an ordealthat Robert Oppenheimer is now being pilloried and put through an ordeal because he expressed his honest opinions.
Grammar · C1is now being pilloried and put through an ordeal

passive progressive

that Robert Oppenheimer is now being pilloried and put through an ordeal because he expressed his honest opinions.
Soundpilloried and put through an ordeal

stress

that Robert Oppenheimer is now being pilloried and put through an ordeal because he expressed his honest opinions.
Phrase · C1perform a service to someoneDr. Bush, I thought I was performing a service to my country when hearing this case.
Phrase · C1sit in judgment of someoneNo board in this country should sit in judgment of a man because he expressed strong opinions.
Grammar · B2No board in this country should sit in judgment of a man

modal

No board in this country should sit in judgment of a man because he expressed strong opinions.
Phrase · C1try a caseIf you want to try that case, you should try me.
Phrase · C1bring charges against someoneDr. Hill, we've already heard that Mr. Strauss did not bring the charges
Phrase · B2participate in somethingor participate in the hearings against Dr. Oppenheimer.
Phrase · C1carry something throughThe Oppenheimer matter was initiated and carried through largely through the animus of Lewis Strauss.
Phrase · C1the animus of someoneThe Oppenheimer matter was initiated and carried through largely through the animus of Lewis Strauss.
Phrase · C1make mincemeat out of someoneOppenheimer made mincemeat out of Strauss's position on the shipment of isotopes to Norway,
Soundmade mincemeat out of

liaison

Oppenheimer made mincemeat out of Strauss's position on the shipment of isotopes to Norway,
Phrase · B2never forgive someoneand Strauss never forgave him this public humiliation.
Phrase · B2center around somethingAnother controversy between them centered around their differences in judgment on how the H-bomb would contribute to national security.
Phrase · C1differences in judgmentAnother controversy between them centered around their differences in judgment on how the H-bomb would contribute to national security.
Phrase · B2in order to do somethingStrauss turned to the personnel security system in order to destroy Oppenheimer's effectiveness,
Phrase · C1personnel security systemStrauss turned to the personnel security system in order to destroy Oppenheimer's effectiveness,
Grammar · B2in order to destroy Oppenheimer's effectiveness

purpose clause

Strauss turned to the personnel security system in order to destroy Oppenheimer's effectiveness,
Phrase · B1disagree with someoneand Strauss was able to find a few ambitious men who also disagreed with Oppenheimer's positions
Phrase · C1envy someone somethingand envied him his prestige in government circles.
Phrase · B2government circlesand envied him his prestige in government circles.

Hill Blames Strauss at the Hearing, explained

What's really going on

The scene is the trial's counterargument, and it is delivered in the calm of a sworn statement rather than a speech. Hill is careful to concede Strauss's virtues first—earnest, hardworking, intelligent—so that what follows lands harder. His explanation of the case is one sentence of motive: "The Oppenheimer matter was initiated and carried through largely through the animus of Lewis Strauss." The rest is the paper trail of a grudge, from an isotope dispute in which Oppenheimer "made mincemeat out of Strauss's position" to a security system used to destroy a rival's influence. What makes the scene sting is that nobody here is shouting; Hill even pre-empts the charge of bias by admitting he has become stirred, and then finishes the job.

Theme

RevengeHill names a personal grudge as the real reason for the hearing against Oppenheimer.
PowerThe testimony shows a security system used to destroy a rival's influence inside government.

Listen for

  • personal vindictiveness — stress
  • pilloried and put through an ordeal — stress
  • made mincemeat out of — liaison
No board in this country should sit in judgment of a man because he expressed strong opinions.

The principle Hill states: a hearing must not punish someone for holding unpopular views.

If you want to try that case, you should try me.

He offers himself as a target, making the accusation personal and public.

The Oppenheimer matter was initiated and carried through largely through the animus of Lewis Strauss.

The key claim: the case was powered by Strauss's personal hostility, not security.

Strauss turned to the personnel security system in order to destroy Oppenheimer's effectiveness,

The mechanism of the grudge: a security process used deliberately to neutralize a rival.

Questions about this scene

Who is David Hill and why is he testifying?

He is a scientist asked to testify about Lewis Strauss, and he speaks about how Strauss treated Oppenheimer rather than about security itself.

What reason does Hill give for the case against Oppenheimer?

He says it was driven by the animus of Lewis Strauss, who never forgave Oppenheimer for publicly humiliating him, and who used the security system to destroy his influence.

What did Oppenheimer do to Strauss?

Oppenheimer made mincemeat out of Strauss's position on shipping isotopes to Norway, and Strauss never forgave the public humiliation.

What does Hill say a board should not do?

He says no board in the country should sit in judgment of a man merely because he expressed strong opinions, and offers himself to be tried instead.

What does "sit in judgment of" mean here?

It means to put someone on trial and judge them; Hill argues that a board should not judge a man for his opinions.

Oppenheimer · 28 chapters

All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 27Haven't the slightest ideaKitty Testifies Before the Board
Chapter 1leaves a little to be desiredBohr Sends Oppenheimer to GöttingenChapter 2the man for the jobStrauss Offers Oppenheimer a JobChapter 3seek outRabi Meets Oppenheimer on a TrainChapter 4a vicious cycleOppenheimer Starts His Quantum SeminarChapter 5wiggle roomPolitical Debate at a PartyChapter 6wring your neckOppenheimer Names Los AlamosChapter 7from moneyOppenheimer Explains Empty SpaceChapter 8herd intoLawrence Shuts Down the UnionChapter 9point takenGroves Offers Oppenheimer the JobChapter 10a point of no returnOppenheimer Asks Einstein About DoomsdayChapter 11pass onChevalier Suggests Passing SecretsChapter 12the business at handTeller Pitches the H-BombChapter 13Thanks for nothingCondon Quits Los AlamosChapter 14drop in and outOppenheimer's Last Night With JeanChapter 15a cock-and-bull storyOppenheimer's Cock-and-Bull StoryChapter 16took a wrong turnBohr Warns of the AftermathChapter 17go down this roadThe GAC Debates the H-BombChapter 18a lot of latitudeThe Target Committee Debates the BombChapter 19gallows humorWaiting Out the Storm at TrinityChapter 20blood on my handsOppenheimer Meets President TrumanChapter 21A man of convictionThe Fuchs Spy Case Comes UpChapter 22curse the name ofOppenheimer Refuses the Super BombChapter 23how the game is playedPlanning Oppenheimer's DownfallChapter 24MermaidsRabi Defends OppenheimerChapter 25cuts both waysBorden Reads the Accusation LetterWatching · Chapter 26made mincemeat out ofHill Blames Strauss at the HearingChapter 27Haven't the slightest ideaKitty Testifies Before the BoardChapter 28moral scruplesOppenheimer Is Cross-Examined
Chapter 26 of 28 · about 6 min to go