Loyalty and security tests spread through the federal government . At these inquiries , federal employees were asked questions such as : Strauss , Teller , Borden , and Robb would never escape the public identification of them with the case . In a 1962 television interview , Eric F. Goldman asked Teller whether he favored restoring Oppenheimer 's security clearance . Teller was struck dumb , unable to find an answer . The question was deleted from the version that was aired , but the news got out and made headlines . President John F. Kennedy decided that the time had come to rehabilitate Oppenheimer . Teller nominated Oppenheimer for the 1963 Enrico Fermi Award . The nomination was unanimously approved by the GAC and AEC , and announced on April 5 , 1963 . On November 22 , the White House confirmed that Kennedy would personally present the award , but he was assassinated later that day . The award was presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson instead . Oppenheimer died of cancer on February 18 , 1967
assassinated later that day
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Oppenheimer security hearing