Haakon Chevalier facts for kids

Haakon Maurice Chevalier (born September 10, 1901, in Lakewood Township, New Jersey – died July 4, 1985) was an American writer, translator, and professor. He taught French literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He is most known for being a close friend of the famous physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. They met in Berkeley, California in 1937.

Their friendship became a big topic in 1954 during a special meeting of the United States Atomic Energy Commission. This meeting was about Oppenheimer's security clearance, which allowed him to work on important government projects. Because of concerns raised during this meeting, Oppenheimer's clearance was taken away.

Early Life and Adventures

Haakon Chevalier was born on September 10, 1901. His parents were from France and Norway. When he was in his twenties, he loved the idea of sailing the seas. He decided to work as a deckhand on a large sailing ship called the Rosamond. This ship was one of the last commercial sailing ships. He sailed all the way to the southern ocean and Cape Town. He later wrote a book about his exciting journey called The Last Voyage of the Schooner Rosamond. It shares his memories of a time when big sailing ships were still common.

A Life of Translation

Chevalier was a talented translator. In 1945, he worked as a translator for the Nuremberg Trials. These were important trials held after World War II to bring justice to those responsible for terrible crimes. He translated many books and writings from French into English. Some of the famous artists and writers whose works he translated include Salvador Dalí, André Malraux, and Frantz Fanon.

Friendship with J. Robert Oppenheimer

Chevalier and Oppenheimer became friends in 1937 when Chevalier was a professor at Berkeley. They both shared an interest in helping others and even started a local teachers' group together. This group supported causes that aimed to improve society.

In 1942, Chevalier told Oppenheimer about a conversation he had heard. This conversation suggested that some people might be trying to get secret information about the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was a top-secret effort to build the first atomic bomb. Oppenheimer later reported this conversation, but he didn't immediately share all the details. This delay and his attempts to keep Chevalier's name out of it became a major issue.

Years later, in 1954, this event was a key part of the special hearing about Oppenheimer's security clearance. The hearing led to Oppenheimer losing his clearance, meaning he could no longer work on sensitive government projects. Chevalier was also interviewed for a documentary film about Oppenheimer and the atomic bomb called The Day After Trinity (1981).

Later Years and Passing

After the special hearing, Chevalier lost his job at Berkeley in 1950. He found it very hard to get another teaching job in the United States. So, he moved to France, where he continued his work as a translator. He briefly returned to the United States in 1965 for his daughter's wedding in San Francisco. Haakon Chevalier passed away in 1985 in Paris, France, at the age of 83.

See also

• J. Robert Oppenheimer
• Oppenheimer security hearing