Mrs. Oppenheimer's Reflections on Communist Party Membership

Mrs. Oppenheimer questions the connection between her husband and the Communist Party despite his financial contributions.

### Mrs. Oppenheimer's Reflections on Communism and Her Husband's Involvement
* 🤔 Mrs. Oppenheimer expresses uncertainty about her past membership in the Communist Party, stating, "**I haven't the slightest idea**" regarding the existence of a membership card.
* 💭 She acknowledges that joining the party likely involved **financial contributions and receiving a card**, but admits to **forgetting the details due to the passage of time**.
* 🌍 When asked about the distinction between Soviet communism and communism, she reflects on her past beliefs, saying she once thought they were **separate**, but now sees them as **interconnected globally**.
* 💰 Mrs. Oppenheimer confirms her awareness of her husband Robert's financial contributions to the Spanish Civil War, stating, "I knew that Robert **gave money from time to time**."
* 🔗 She acknowledges that these contributions were funneled through **Communist Party channels**, indicating a link to the party despite her reluctance to classify Robert's involvement as **direct**.
* ❓ The questioning leads to a clarification of terms, as she disputes the phrasing of her husband's relationship with the Communist Party, emphasizing that he **never had a formal connection** to it.
* 🧠 Mrs. Oppenheimer differentiates between "**intellectual Communists**" and those more actively engaged with the party, highlighting the **complexity of her husband's interests** in communist ideas.

Mrs. Oppenheimer, did you have a Communist Party membership card? I'm I'm not sure. Not sure. Well, well, I mean, presumably the act of joining the party required sending some money and receiving a card. No, sorry. Yes, it's just it was also very long ago, Mr.

Rob, wasn't it long enough to have forgotten? Did you return the card or rip it up? The card whose existence I've forgotten. You Communist Party membership card? I haven't the slightest idea. Can a distinction be made between Soviet communism and communism? Well, in

the days when I was a member, I thought they were definitely two things. Oh, I thought that the Communist Party of the United States was concerned with our domestic problems. I now no longer believe this. I believe the whole thing is linked together and spread all over the

world, and I have believed this since I left the party 16 years ago. 17 years ago, my mistake. But you said, sorry, 18, 18 years ago. Are you familiar with the fact that your husband was making contributions to the Spanish Civil War as late as 1942?

I knew that Robert gave money from time to time. Did you know this money was going into Communist Party channels? Don't you mean through, pardon me, thank you. Mean through Communist Party channels? Don't you? Yes, yes, yes, yes. Then would it be fair to say that this meant that by

1942, your husband had not stopped having anything to do with the Communist Party? You don't have to answer that yes or no. You can answer that any way you wish. I know that. Thank you. It's your question. It's not properly phrased. Do

you understand what I'm getting at? I do. Why don't you answer that? Because I don't like your phrase having anything to do with the Communist party because Robert never had anything to do with the Communist party as such. I know he gave money to Spanish refugees. I know he took

an intellectual interest in communist ideas. The two types of Communists, intellectual Communists and your playing all regular Commi... well, I couldn't answer that one. I couldn't [Music] either.

"Oppenheimer" clip: Emily Blunt and Jason Clarke

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Mrs. Oppenheimer's Communist Party Membership

Inquiry about Mrs. Oppenheimer's past Communist Party membership.

Uncertainty about the existence and return of a party membership card.

Mrs. Oppenheimer's evolving views on the relationship between Soviet and US communism.

Question regarding Mr. Oppenheimer's contributions to the Spanish Civil War.

Mr. Oppenheimer's Involvement with the Communist Party

Confirmation that Mrs. Oppenheimer knew her husband donated to Communist Party channels.

Discussion about the phrasing of the question regarding Mr. Oppenheimer's involvement.

Mrs. Oppenheimer's explanation of her husband's involvement, distinguishing between financial contributions and intellectual interest.

Distinction between Intellectual and Active Communist Involvement

Inability to categorize Mr. Oppenheimer's involvement simply as 'Communist'.