- - T h e HUAC: Why I t Should Be A b o l i s h e d —
L a s t S u n d a y ' s New Y o r k Times Book R e v ie w S e c t i o n c a r r i e s n o t i c e o f a new volume
en titled
"The Committee and I t s C r i t i c s " a n d
House Committee on U n- A m er ic a n A c t i v i t i e s " .
and t he e d i t o n s o f N a t i o n a l ^ e v i e w ,
d i f f e r i n g a p p r a i s e r s o f the
uel S .Stratto n ,D em ocrat
it
is
com m ittee.
f r o m New
su b-titled
W r i t t e n by W i l l i a m F . B u c k l e y J r .
s u b m i t t e d f o r c o m e n t - r e v i e w t o two
The f i r s t
o f t h e s e , R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Sam­
Y o r k ,w h o h a s b e e n s y m p a t h e t i c t o the
makes f a v o r a b l e comment on the vo lu m e,
a g r e e i n g with i t s
" Congress has a c l e a r o b l i g a t i o n to inform i t s e l f
t h e e x t e n t o f an y a t t e m p t e d s u b v e r s i o n ,
quired
and
(to)
Committee
b a s ic p r o p o s itio n that
and the A m e ri c a n p e o p l e a bo ut
ta k e whatever
s t e p s may be r e ­
to p r o te c t the R e p u b lic ". A cco rdin gto R e p r e s e n ta ti e S t r a t t o n ," t h e
whelming m a j o r i t y o f
members o f t h e H o u s e , b e l i e v e t h a t
b u t must d e f e n d i t s e l f ,
the d e fe n se,an d
i n the p a s t ,
th a t a proper s p o t l i g h t
the answer i s n o t to a b o l i s h i t
it
c-n perform i t s
dom o f e x p r e s s i o n . " M r . B u c k l e y ,
la tter
over­
d e m o c ra c y n o t o n l y can
o f p u b lic opinion i s
one k e y o f
t h a t w h i l e m i s t a k e s have u n d o u b t e d l y be e n made b y the Committee
p r o c e d u r e s so t h a t
th is
"A Calm Re vi e w o f t h e
side,
b u t r a t h e r t o work t o p e r f e c t i t s
a s s i g n m e n t w i t h o u t harm t o i n d i v i d u a l f r e e
says R epresen tative S tra tto n ,
and i n s u p p o r t o f t h i s
contention,
he n o t e s
i s o f c o u r s e on
two s u g g e s t i o n s
made by M r . B u c k l e y , i n a n s w e r s to c r i t i s i c m s made o f t h e c o m m i t t e e ,
p u t t h e c om m itt e e on a b e t t e r
course.
" U n -A m e ri c a n " i n t h e C o m m i t t e e ' s name,
t h a t would
Thes e c o n s t i t u t e abandonment o f t h e word
and i n v e s t i g a t i o n by t h e c om m itt e e i n t o
movements on the R a d i c a l R i g h t w h ic h mght t h r e a t e n
' exp losive
in tern al
crisisS .
2
The o t h e r c om m e n t - re v i e w i s made b y R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Thomas Ludlow A s h l e y , D e m o c r a t
f r o m Ohio,who ha s b e e n among t h e c r i t i c s
o f the c o m m i t t e e , he s t a r t s
out with a
r e m i n d e r t h a t M r . B u c k l e y was a l s o t h e main c o n t r i b u t o r t o a work e n t i t l e d
C a r t h y and H^s E n e m i e s " ,
w h ic h a p p e a r e d
i n 1 9 5 4 * and he s a y s t h a t
"Ahe same
a d r o i t t e c h n i q u e s used t o v i n d i c a t e M c C a rt h y a r e p u t to work i n d e f e n s e
Committee.
In e a ch in s ta n c e
as they undertake
a
mat pose o f c r i t i c a l
t he a u t h o r s s t r i k e
to review
t h e r e c o r d and p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e i r
i n s t a n c e t h e v e r d i c t h a s a l r e a d y be e n r e a c h e d , h o w e v e r ,
thors p e r s is te n t
of charges that
p ractice
p nr po se i s
t h a t tne B u c k l e y
t o e s t a b l i s h a p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h y f o r our t im e
Communists and atom bombs e x i s t . '
f o r t h i n th e l e a d
ch a p te r,is
ex te rn a l threat is
unreal:
that
f
so g r a v e l y t h r e a t e n e d ,
t e l I s us)
we f i n d
and o i h b r w o r l d l y p r o n o u n c e m e n t s ,
M r.B u ck le y's t h e s i s , s e t
the Communist e f f o r t
and t h a t t h e r e f o r e
a n a c h r o n i s t i c ..........The t r a g e d y ,
' i n a w o r ld i n
' t h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n the i n t e r n a l and the
t h a t t h e sc o p e
the c o n v e n t i o n a l b o u n d a r i e s ,
not.
In each
j u s t i f y more t h a n M c Ca rth y and t h e House U n - A m er ic a n A c t i v i t i e s
which t h in g s l i k e
tution is
su bject.
o f t r e a t i n g e v i d e n c e a s p r o o f and a s s u m i n g hhe t r u t h
w h i c h a c c e p t s a u t h o r i t a r i a n i s m a s t h e o n l y means o f s u r v i v i n g
is
de t a c h m e n t
t h e y a r e p r e t e n d i n g t o t e s t . " And R e p r e s e n t a v i e A s h l e y g o e s on
Com m ittee.Its r e a l
State
o f the
which e x p l a i n s the au ­
t o s a y , o n an e v e n more a l a r m i n g - s e r i o u s n o t e , " I t becomes c l e a r
method s e e k s t o
"Mc­
the c o n v e n t io n a l v o c a b u la r y i s
i s t h a t a t t h s moment, when th e
o u r s e lv e s fr o z e n in i n a c t i o n by l o f t y
and he g o e s o n t o p r o p o s e t h a t
as p r e s e n t ly understood,
transcends
resilie n t
'if
the C o n s t i­
enough t o cope w i t h the co n­
3
t e m p o r a r y r e q u i r e m e n t s o f s u r v i v a l , t h e n the C o n s t i t u t i o n sho uld be m o d i f i e d . . . "
A l l o f the a u th o rs o f t h i s vo lu m e ,sa y s R e p r e s e n ta tiv e A sh le y ,
Com m ittee's c r i t i c s ,
and a s c r i b e
su c h c r i t i s i s m ,
t a k e a p a s s a t the
a s did Buckley to the c r i t i c s
o f M c C a r t h y , t o d i s t o r t i o n and f a l s e h o o d h a v i n g o r i g n g i n th e Communist p a r t y .
" T h i s f i n d . n g " s a y s R e p r e s e n t a v i e A s h l e y " h a s no more p l a u s i ^ f b l e f o u n d a t i o n th a n
ea rlier
con clusion s,
but a l l are e s s e n t i a l to the b o o k 's p urp ose.F or i t
them t h a t M r . B u c k l e y and h i s f o l l o w e r s r e l y i n r e a c h i n g t h e i r v e r d i c t
ica
c a n no l o n g e r a f f o r d
the lu x u ry o f a f r e e
T ha t t he New Y o r k ^imes saw f i t
to
i^upon
t h a t Amer­
so cie ty ."
su bm it t h i s volume t o t h e comments o f two
T7-
d iffe rin g p arties
A me ric n
is
sy m p t o m a t ic o f a w i d e n i n g c l e a v a g e
p u b lic opinion
6oihmittee.
u n d e r s t a n d why t h e r e
o p p o s i t i o n t h a t i n no way can b e a s c r i b e d
also
t o w e ig h i t
is
taking place
i s growing o p p o s it io n ,a n d
t o Communist p a r t y o r i g i n ,
it
is
some o f t he h i s t o r y and w o r k i n g s of the c o m m i tt e e as s u c h , an
w i t h i n t he l a r g e r framework o f c o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n ^ .
C o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n g o e s f a r b a c k i n o u r h i s t o r y . The f i r s t
took place
in
a b o u t t h e w o r t h ^ o f t h e House U n - a m e r i c a n A c t i v i t i e s
I n o r d e r t o more f u l l y
n ecessary to tr a c e
that
ju st f iv e
such i n q u i r y
y e a r s a f t e r t h e w r i t i n g o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n when i n 1 7 $ 2
th e House o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a p p o i n t e d
a c om m itt ee t o i n q u i r e i n t o t h e d i s a s t e r
t h a t had b e f a l l e n a m i l i t a r y e x p d e i t i o n a g a i n s t some I n d i a n s , b nee t h a t e a r l y
y e a r t h e r e ha s been no p e r i o d
i n A m e r ic a n h i s t o r y t h a t has n o t be en marked by
c o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , s o m e o f them s p e c t a c u l a r and n o t a f e w c h a r a c t e r i -
4
zed by a c r i m o n i o u s c o n t r o v e r s y o v e r the n a t u r e and u se o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i n g pow­
er.
One su c h s e n s a t i o n a l c a s e o c c u - r r e d
o n t h e ev e o f t h e C i v i l War,when i n D ec ­
ember o f 1 8 5 9 , the U n i t e d S t a t e s S e n a t e v o t e d u n a n i m o u s l y to a u t h o r i z e an i n q u i r y
i n t o John B r o w n ' s r a i d
p a rticu la r,
to ^ in d
tion i n t e n d t o
on t he U n i t e d S t a g e s A r s e n a l a t H a r p e r ' s ^ e r r y ,
o u t w h e t h e r the r a i d
"was made under c o l o r a f a ny o r g a n i z a ­
s u b v e r t the g o v e r n m e n t o f a n y o f t h e S t a & e s o f t h e U n i o n ; w h a t
was t he c h a r a c t e r and e x t e n t o f s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n ;
th e United S t a t e s ,
A c om m itt e e o f f i v e
not p r e s e n t,w e r e
members under
was d u l y a p p o i n t e d and i n the
c it r a n t w itness,one
im plicated
and w h e t h e r an y c i t i z e n s o f
th erein ,
or a c c e s s o r y t h e r e t o . "
the c h a i r m a n s h i p o f S e n a t o r Mason o f V i r g i n i a
course
of i t s
in q u iries
came a c r o s s a r e c a l ­
Thaddeus H y a t t , w h o r e f u s e d t o a p p e a r b e f o r e t h e c om m itt ee
under subpoena and t o answer i t s
q u e s t i o n s . He was found i n contempt and im­
p r i s o n e d . T h e r e was a l e n & t h y d e b a t e i n the S e n a t e
the
and,in
upon the who le s u b j e c t o f
i n v e s t i g a i n g power o f C o n g r e s s and t he r i g h t s and p r o c e d u r e s r e l a t e d
^n the one hand,
t h e i n v e s t i g a t i n g power and t h e s u b p o e n a i n g o f p r i v a t e
thereto
persons
a s w i t n e s s e s were v i g o r o u s l y d e f e n d e d a s e s s e n t i a l menas o f s u p p l y i n g C o n g r e s s
w ith f a c t s l e a d i n g to the enactm ent of wise l e g i s l a t i o n , a n d
t h e y were
on t h e o t h e r h a n d ,
j u s t a s v i g o r o u s l y condemned a s u n l a w f u l e n c r o a c h m e n t s upon the p e r s o n *
al lib ertjrw
o f i n d i v i d u a l w i t n e s s e s . Sp eaking t o the
form er p o s i t i o n ,
Senator
F e s s e n d e n o f Maine s a i d :
"...
p r o p o s i n g to legislate,we want information
but,suppose
the
p e r s o n whom we a s k w i l l n o t g i v e
compel him to come b e f o r e
to i n q u i r e
then,as
into i s :
is
it
t o u s . . . . H a v e we n o t power to
u s ? . . . S i r , w i t h regard
th is a legitim ate
t o t h e mode o f a c c o m p l i s h i n g i t ,
c ously,calm ly,m od erately, a l l
and i n h e r e n t , i n
take i t , I
vio late
to m y s e l f , a l l I ha v e
and p r o p e r o b j e c t . . . . a n d
I am r e a d y to use
the power w h i c h I b e l i e v e i s n e c e s s a r y
o r d e r t o do t h a t w h i c h I am a p p o i n t e d
no r i g h t s ,
judi-
t o d o ; and
,1
e i t h e r o f the p e o p l e g e n e r a l l y or o f the
in d iv id u a l,b y that co u rse ."
The o p p o s i n g v i e w was t y p i f i e d
i n t he f o l l o w i n g r e a m r k d s made b y S e a n t o r Sumner
of M assachusetts:
" I know i t
is
said
that
t h i s power i s n e c e s s a r y i n a id
of l e g i s l a t i o n .
I deny t he n e c e s s i t y . C o n v e n i e n t , a t t i m e s , i t may b e ; b u t n e c e s s a r y , n e v e r .
Me do n o t d r a g the
members o f t h e C a b i n e t or the ^ r e s i d e n t to t e s t i f y
b e f o r e a c o m m i tt e e i n a i d
of l e g i s l a t i o n ;
&trt I s a y , w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n ,
t h e y can c t ^ i m no imm unity w h i c h d o e s no t b e l o n g e q u a l l y to the h u m b l e s t
c i t i z e n ..........
To a i d a c o m m i tt e e o f t h i s body m e r e l y i n a l e g i s l a t i v e p u r p o s e , a c i t i z e n ,
g u ilty
o f no c r i m e , c h a r g e d w i t h no o f f e n c e , p r e s u m e d
may be s e i z e d , h a n d c u f f e d ,
across State lin e s ,
kidnapped,
t o be i n n o c e n t . . . .
and d r a g g e d away f r o m h i s h o m e , h u r r i e d
brought here as a c r im in a l,
and t h e n t h r u s t i n t o
ja il.
The mere s t a t e m e n t o f th e c a s e shows the d a n g e r o u s a b s u r d i t y o f s u c h a
claim ."
o
I n o ur own c e n t u r y l \ a p r a t f r o m the House Committee on Un-A e r i . a n A c t i v i t i e s ,
t h e r e h a s been v i g o r o u s c o n t r o v e r s y o v e r t h e i n v e s t i g a t i n g p o w t r . B e r i n g the
decade o f the 2 0 ' s , f o r i n s t a
ce,
t h e r e were i n v e s t i g a t i o n s
t h e H a r d i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . T h e s e were h i g h l y p r o d u c t i v e ,
in to the scan dals of
i n s o f a r as t h e y l e d to
t h e r e c o v e r y o f go ve rn m en t p D o p e r t y , t h e r e s i g n a t i o n o f h i g h p u b l i c
the c o n v i c t i o n o f M h e r s f o r crim e ,
ple
o fficers,an d
but t h e y w er e b i t t e r l y a t t a c k ^/ by many p e o ­
both because o f t h e i r p o l i t i c a a h a r a c t e r , a n d
b e c a u s e o f the
b u l l y i n g p r o c e d u r e s used by t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r s . W h i t e r L i p p m a n n , i n h i s volume
" P u b lic O pinion" r e f e r r e d
a tro city ...in
t o the C o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n a s
which c o n g ressm en ,starved
6f th e ir legitim ate
"that le g a lize d
food f o r thought,
go on a w i l d and f e y d B h s h manhunt,and do n o t s t o p a t c a n n i b a l i s m . " A^d the
sc h l a r , D e a n John H.Wigmore, w r i t i n g o f t h e same s i t u a t i o n
r i a l debauch o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n —
t h e .s&Ngi-s o f p o l i t i c a l
,sa id :
legal
"The S e n a t o ­
p o k i n g i n t o p o l i t i c a l g a r b a g e c a n s and d r a g g i n g
in trigu e--
fille d
t h e w i n t e r o f 1 $23-24. w i t h a s t e n c h
w h ic h has n o t y e t p a s s e d a w a y . "
Before
givin g
sp ecific
a t t e n t i o n to the House Committee on Un- American A c t i v -
itie s,
we s h o u ld n o t e two o t h e r a s p e c t s o f the m a t t e r .
or o t h e r w i s e ,
The f i r s t
h a s t o do w i t h
6^t h a t a r e a dv a nc e d o r ^ n o t a d v a n c e d , i n b e h a l f o f
the r e a s o n s ,
valid
the e x e r c i z e
o f C o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i n g power. A lth o u g h C o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s ­
t i g a t i o n i s a l m o s t a s o ld a s C o n g r e s s i t s e l f ,
in the C o n s t it u t io n ,
there
i s no word a b o u t t h e
subj c t
and a c c o r d i n g to R o b e r t C a r r , P r o c e s s o r o f Law and P l i t i c a l
7
S c i e n c e a t D art m out h C o l l e g e , " t h e
g a t i n g c o m m i t t e e s a r e nowhere
ate ru le
organ ization ,
s y s te m a tic a lly define*
or c o u r t d e c i s i o n . " Howev r
d e s is io n s bearing
exercise
in s t a t u t e ,
clear
House or S e n ­
t he l e g a l s t a t u s and powe rs o f
the r i g h t s and o b l i g a t i o n s
as{sed t o c o o p e r a t e w i t h them. R e l a t i v e
t h a t h a s be en g i v e n r a t h e r
and p u r p o s e s o f i n v e s t i ­
t h e r e have b e e n some l e g i s l a t i o n and c o u r t
upon t h e s u b j e c t , b o t h a s to
i n v e s t i g a t i n g c o m m i t t e e s , and
powers,
o f w i t n e s s e s j j h o are
to l e g a l s t a t u s and p o w e r s , t h e one r e a s o n
l e g a l a c k n o w le d g e m e n t a s be^ng v a l i d
of C o n g r e s s io n a l i n v e s t i g a t i n g
f o r the
power h a s be e n t h a t o f o b t a i n i n g i n f o r ­
m a t i o n whi ch i s needed i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the e n a c t m e n t o f s t a t u t e s . T h i s , a s note^.
was t h e argu ment o f S e n a t o r F e s s e n d o n more t h a n a c e n t u r y a g o , a n d down a c r o s s
t h e y e a r s i t h a s b e e n assumed and a c t e d upon a s v a l i d
one and o n l y v a l i d
r e a s o n s E v e n so ,
t h a t t h i s m o t i v a t i o n was c l e a r l y
r e a s o n ,a s p o s s i b l y the
s u r p r i s i n g l y en o ug h,
sanctiohed
i t was no t u n t i l 1 9 2 7
t y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Supreme C o u r t
i n t he c a s e o f McGrain v e r s u s D a u g h e r t y when the
Court appr&vtd a Senate i n v e s ­
t i g a t i o n on t he gr.iund t h a t t h e power t o c n n d u c t a s e a r c h f o r f a c t s c o u l d be
im p l/e d f r o m the e x p r e s s power t o l e g i s l a t e .
I n t h e o p i n i o n b y J u s t i c e Van De-
v a n te r the cou rt s t a t e d :
"We a r e o f o p i n i o n t h a t t h e power o f i n q u i r y - - w i t h p r o c e s s t o e n f o r c e
it--
i s an e s s e n t i a l and a p p r o p r i a t e a u x i l i a r y t o t h e
le g isla tiv e
f u n c t i o n .........."
A second r e a s o n ,
3 ^ n e ^ ^ y ^ T r o ? l C ^ r r , h a s t o do w i t h t h e c l a i m e d j u s t i f i c a t i o n o f c h e c k i n g
8
the e x e c u t i v e
b r a n s h i n o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e w he th er a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m a c h in er y i s
a d e q u a t e f o r la w - e n f o r m e c e m n t p u r p o s e s or e x e c u t v i e o f f i c e r s
p o l i c y i n t h e way i n w h i c h C o n g r e s s i n t e n d e d
basis,
it
are
c a r r y i n g out
s h o u l d b e . O p e r a t i n g upon t h i s
t h e r e h a / e be e n any number o f C o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i a g i t i o n s
and t h e i r a a b i n t e s ,
Treasury,
and t he
^ productive.
of Presiden ts
and i n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f such d e p a r t m e n t s a s t h o s e o f the
In terior,
and t h e I n e r n a l Revenue B u r e a u . S^me o f t h e s e have
The 1 9 5 2 i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f
the
, n t e r n a l Revenue B u r ea u ,
for
in stan ce,
r e v e a l e d e x t e n s i v e e v i d e n c e o f i n e f f i c i e n c y and c o r r u p t i o n i n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n
o f t h e f e d e r a l income t a x l a w s and r e s u l t e d
Bureau. S t i l l ,
i n a nee ded ed r e o r g a n i z a t i o n of the
the Supreme C o u r t has n e v e r e x p r e s s l y a p p r o v e d t h i s second
pse o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n s ,
a l t h o u g h a p p r o v a l h a s be en i m p l i c i t
opin­
i o n s . By and l a r g e ,
the
form o f g o v e r n m e n t ,
and a l t h o u g h the b a l a c n e i s d e l i c a t e and n e c e s s a r i l y o v e r -
lap in g,
s e p a r a t i o n o f p ow e rs h a s be e n h e l d
i n some o f t i s
pru-
n e v e r t h e l e s s no one o f the
t o become suppeme. J u s t r e c e n t l y ,
MaNamara i n v o l k e d
three
t o be b a s i c f o r our
b r a n c h e s o f go ve rn e m nt can be a l l o w e d
P r e s i d e n t Kennedy and D e f e n s e s e c r e t a r y
the d o c tr in e o f e x e c u t iv e p r i v i l e g e
to r e p e l e f f o r t s by some
s e n a t o r s t o p i n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y on i n d i v i d u a l s i n the d e f e n s e d e p a r t m e n t who h a d ,
on o r d e r s f r o m t h e s e c r e t a r y , c e n s o r e d
the
The e d i t o r s
in a re ca n t
o f the C h r i s t ia n Cntury,
t h a t the P r e s i d e n t a c t e d r i g h t l y
s p e e c h e s o f some h i g h m i l i t a r y o f f i c e r s
in r e p e llin g
e x e c u t i v e ^ ! d e p a r t m e n t ' s a u t h o r i t y . For
issu e o f that p u b lca tio n ,
state
t h s a t t e m p t e d i n v a s i o n o f the
, a l t h o u g h t he pow r s o f t h e e x e c u t i v e
b r a n c h a r e n o t a b s o l u t e . h a v i n g t o o p e r a t e u nd er la w wh ic h i s made by the l e g i s ­
la tive
and i n t e r p r e t e d
by t he
9
j u d i c i a l b r a n c h e s o f g o v e r n m e n t , n e v e r t h e l e s s when
t h e S e n a t e o r the House r e a c h e s i n t o
the E c e c u t i v e b r a n c h and t r i e s
by e x p o s u r e or i n o t h e r ways p e r o n s who have c a r r i e d
t
su perios,
it
exceeds i t s
out t h e o r d e r s o f t h e i r
a u t h o r i t y and b r e a k s down t h e R e p a r a t i o n o f p o w e r s . A c ­
c o r d i n g to t h e C h r i s t i a n C e n t u r y e d i t o r i a l ,
s e p a r a t i o n o f powers i s
to punish
" t h e most p e r s i s t e n t o f f e n d e r a g a i n s t
t h e House Committee on U n - A m e r ic a n A c t i v i t i e s ,
wh ic h
t a k e s u nto i t s e l f
j u d i c i a l f u n c t i o n and a t t e m p t s to u s u r p e x e c u t i v e f u n c t i o n !
It
c o n c l u d e s the C h r i s t i n a C e n t u r y e d i t o r i a l , t o
is reassuring,
e x e c u t i v e branch,
its
se e t h a t the
which has in r e c e n t y e a r s not been s u f f i c i e n t l y a s s e r t i v e
proper fu n c tio n ,
has developed the
spunk t o r e s i s t
leg isla tive
of
invaders
who a r e r e a d y t o o v e r t h r o w o u r go ve rn m en t t o s a v e i t . "
A thrid
desire
pnnpose t h a t h a s o f t e n b e e n p r e s e n t i n i n v e s t i a t i o n s has be e n t h e
to in f lu e n c e p u b li c
he became P r e s i d e n t ,
o p i n i o n . Back i n 1 8 8 $* Woodrow W i l s o n ,
w r o t e a s c h o l a r l y volume c a l l e d
long b e fo re
" C o n g r e s s i o n a l Gov ernment"
i n whi ch he s o u g h t t o draw a t t e n t i o n t o " the i n s t r u c t i o n and g u i d a n c e
p o l i t i c a l a f f a i r s w h i c h the p e o p l e m ig ht r e c e i v e
n a tio n a l concerns su ffu sed
s i o n was t h a t
its
f r o m a &ody w h i c h k e p t a l l
i n a braod d a y l i g h t o f d i s c u s s i o n . " A^d h i s
conclu­
" t h e i n f o r m i n g f u n c t i o n o f C o n g r e s s s h o u ld be p r e f e r r e d e v e n to
leg isla tiv e
be e n u s e d ,
in
f u n c t i o n . " T h i s i n f o r m i n g f u n c t i o n ^ f C o n g r e s s h a s many t i m e s
and i n some i n s t a n c e s ,
t i g a t i o n of the 1 9 3 0 's ,
it
such a s t h e L a F o l l e t t e C i v i l L i b e r t i e s
h a s be en e x e r c i z e d w i t h f u l l r e g a r d t o
p r o c e d u r e and h a s b e e n p r o d u c t i v e
in ves­
ju d icial
o f a c q u a i n t i n g the p u b l i c with s i g n i f i c a n t
10
f a c t s . However,
t he r e a d y abu se t h a t h a s be en made o f t h i s i n f o r m i n g f u n c t i o n ,
i n t h e way o f d i s t o r t i o n ,
made i t
and p o l i t i c a l m a n i p u l a t on,
valid
or i n v a l i d
a s t h e y may b e ,
*
w i t h i n or bhind c o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s
a. d n e v e r b r o u g h t f o r t h a s
a d esire fo r p o lit ic a l
t o s e e k t o c l i m b the p o l i t i c a l l a d e r ,
o f XNEk i n v e s t i g a t i n g c o m m i t t e s s ,
ter m a f t r
It
is natural
and some o f them
on one c o m m i tt e e o r a n o t h e r . N
them sevles,
would
o f i n v e s t i g a t i n g com m ittees i s
ia.-e^S 4 <ce,or s w e l l i n g them w i t h g l o r y ,
T ha t some have c a p i t a l i z e d
appears r a t h e r obvous,
o f th e
would u n d o u b t e d l y n e v e r h a ve r i s e n as h i g h
in c lu d in g the p a r t i c i p a n t s
term.
part
One i s
w h e t h e r d e l i b e r a t e l y o r n o t making use
ha d^not been l i m e - l i g h t e d
p u r p s o s e or j u s t i f i c a t i o n
p o liticisn a s
s e ld o m e x p r e s s e d
i n su c h an i n v e s t i a g v t a i o n .
such a s H a r r y Truman and R i c h a r d N i x o n ,
however,
are
adv a nc e m e nt and p e r s o n a l g l o r y on t h e
of course f o r p o l i t i c i a n s
a s t h e y d i d 1 #—
that
courts.
t h e r e a r e o t h e r mo-
a r g u m e n t s on b a h e l f o f such i n v e s t i g a t i o n s .
c o n g r e s s m a n who c o n d u c t or p a r t i c i a p t e
one,
has a l w a y s
somewhat s u s p e c t and h a s n e v e r b o u g h t e x p r e s s a p p r o v a l from the
Beyond suc h r e a s o n s ,
tiv .s
ex g g e r a t i o n ,
ever argue that
th e
th a t o f advancing
or k e e p i n g them e l e c t e d
upn such c o m m i t t e s s f o r
such ends,
b u t no one would d a r e t o d e f e n d a c o m m i tt e e on su c h a
p ...j? a-eiaa 1 b a s i s .
And l i k e w i s e w i t h t h e <&^e o f a co m m i tt e t o g a i n p a r t y a d v a n t a g e . Time and
a g a i n C o n g r e s s h a s be en opened w i t h a p r a y e r and t h e n t h e a d m i n s t r a t i o n has
be en s he e n s u b e j c t t o a c o n g r e s s i o n a l p r o b e f o r p a r t i s a n e n d s . T h i s was the
ca^e,
for
instance,
in the i n v e s t i g a t i o n s
o f t h e H a r d in g a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and i t
was used a s a t h r e a t a g a i n s f t h e Truman a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . The i t c h f o r p a r t i s a n
advantage in i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i s an e x p e c te d p o l i t i c a l f a c t ,
and t h e r e s u l t s i n
CM.
some i n s t a n c e s may be s o c i a l l y g o od ,
valid
tow rd
b u t no o ne , a g a i n
&
re a s o n f o r i n v e s t i g a t i n g committees i s
to give
, would a r g u e
t h a t the
p a r t i s a n power d i r e c t e d
p a r t i s a n ends.
The one p o i n t upon w h i c h t h e r e i s r a t h e r g e n e r a l c o n s e n s u s o f o p i n i p o n , s u p ­
p o r t e d otaiy b^ r a t h e
exercize
d e l a y e d U n i t d S t a t e s Supreme C o u r t d e c i s i o n ,
o f C o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i n g power i s w a r r a n t e d
is
in the c o l l e c t i o n
o f i n f o r m a t on l o o k i n g , t o p o s s i b l e
nee ded ^ch an ge
The o t h e r
s ho ul d be b o r n e i n mind,when i t
poiB tderation that
of le g isla tio n .
w e i g h i n g the House Committe on U n - A m er ic a n A c t i v t i e s ,
and o b l i g a t i o n s
o f w i t n e s s e s who a r e asked
to c o o p e r a t e d w i t h s u c h i n v e s t i g a ­
moral d u t y t o c o o p e r a t e w i t h c o n g r e s s i o n a l c o m m i t t e e s ,
However,
comes to
h a s to do w i t h the r i g h t s
t i n g c o m m i t t e e s . There h a s l o n g b e e n a g e n e r a l f e e l i n g t h a t
o b l i g a t i o n t o g i v e r e a d i l y and f r e e l y
t h a t the
t he c i t i z e n h a s a
t h a t he sho
f e e l the
o f a ny i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t he may p o s s e s s .
c o n g r e s s i o n a l c o m m i t t e e s v e r y e a r l y i n t h e i r e x i s t e c n e be gan to r u n
into r e c a l c i t r a n t w itn esses,
gree or a n o th e r,
refused
The New Y o rk T mes,
t h o s e who f o r
to t e s t i f y .
Thus,
one J.W. SI m on ton ,
one r e a s o n o r a n o t h e r ,
back i n 1 8 5 7 ,
was asked by t h e
w i t h t h e names o f c e r t a * n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s ,
who,he h a i d ,
money t h r o u g h him f o r t h e i r v o t e s on c e r t a i n b i l l s .
or i n one d e ­
a correspondent
of
c om m itt e e t o s u p p l y i t
had a t t e m p t e d t o p r o c u r e
He re f u s e d , o n the
ground
12
" I cannot w ithou t a v i o l a t i o n of c o n fid e n c e ,
a n y t h i n g . " As a r e s u l t o f h i s o b s t i n a n c y ,
g o i n g beyond an e a r l i e r
only fo r
than which I ^ o u l d
rather
suffer
C o n g r e s s e n a c t e d l e g i s l a t i o n w h ic h
r u l i n g t h a t had a l l o w e d
imprisonemnet f o r
c on te m pt bu t
t h e r e m a i n i n g t im e o f t h e c o n g r e s s i o n a l s e e s i o n i n which t h e c on te m pt
had been c o m m i t t e d ,
provided f o r
im p ri so n m en t gram from one month to one y e a r
and f o r a f i n e from $ 1 0 0 t o $ l , o o o .
p e r s o n a c c u s e d o f centmpmt f ro m
In the a c t ,
C o n g r e s s s o u g h t t o p r o t e c t the
l e n g t h y and i r r e g u l a r p r o c e e d i n g s b e f o r e t he
ba r o f e i t h e r h o u s e , b y p r o v i d i n g f o r c o u r t t r i a l s f o r s u c h p e r s o n s ,
t r i a l by j u o r y and a l l
o f the safe guard
of due p r o c e s s o f l a w would be a v a i l a b l e
T^e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h i s A c t o f 1 8 5 7 was
1 8 9 7 ,although the Court a ls o ru led
o f C^ng e e s s t o use i t s
u ph e ld by the Supreme C ^ u rt i n
t h a t the s t a t u t e
did not supersede the r i g h t
own power to p u n i s h a r e c a l c i t r a n t w i t n e s s d i r e c t l y
w ithout b e n e fit o f a cou rt t r i a l .
the p r e s e n t da y a s the
i n which
This l 8$7 s t a t u t e
has served
c o n tin u o u sly to
l e g a l s a n c t i o n c o m p e l l i n g c o o p e r a t i o n by c om m itt ee w i t ­
nesses.
S i n c e 18 57 r e c a l c i t r a n t w i t n e s s e s have s o u g h t t o
ju s tify th eir refu sal
c o o p e r ^ ^ ^ w i t h i n v e s t i g a t i n g c o m m i t t e e s on v a r i o u s g r o n d s .
i t has be en on the ground t h a t
p er one,
enabling r e s o lu tio n .
I n some i n s t a n c e s
th e s u b j e c t o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i s n o t a p r o ­
e i t h e r i n the sense th a t i t l i e s
a u t h o r it y o f Congress,
to
o u t s i d e t he l i m i t s
of th e c o n s t i t u t i o n s
o r e x c e e d s t he a u t h o r i t y g r a n t e d to a com mitte e Up. i t s
I n o n l y two i n s t a n c e s ,
however,
h a s t h e Supreme C u r t r u l e d
i n f a v o r o f w i t n e s s e s who have used t h i s a r g u m e n t . A d no more f u r i t f u l a s d e -
13 ,
f e n s e h a s be e n t h e ground sometimes used t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n s
t o the
s u b j e c t und er i n v e s t i g a t i o n . The C o u r t ha s a l m o s t a l w a y s r u l e d t h a t
q u e s t i o n s a r e or may be p e r t i n e n t .
The one ground
b y a l a r g e number o f w i t n e s s e s i n r e c e n t
states
that
i n a ny c r i m i n a l c a s e t o be a w i t n e s s
Court d e c i s i o n t h a t c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e s the r i g h t
to in crim in ate
the f a c t
th a t h a s ^ s u c c e s s f u l l y invoked
" S u r p r i s n i n g l y en o u g h " s a y s P r o f . C a r r "
i o n a l committees to r e f u s e
to t e s t i f y
there is
on t h e ground
o f the f i f t h
its
t a t in
the f i f t h amendment however h a s c a r r i e d
o f im plied g u i l t ,
w e d e n t i n g the i m p l i c a t i o n ,
f r e e d o m o f s p e e c h and p r e s s
his p o litic a l b e lie fs
and a f f i l a i t i o n s .
ha v e s o u g h t t o j u s t i f y
amendment,
I n o n l y one c a s e ,
contending th at
however,
^hat was i n 1 $ 5 7 when the
6 to 1 d e c i s i o n in the W atkins c a s e .
has th e Su­
cou rt reached
a
S a i d C h e i f J u s t i c e Warren, s p e a k i n g f o r
tho ugh t h e i n v e s t i g a t i n g power i s , n o
itse lf....in v e stig a tio n s
the s t i g m a
j u s t i f y a w it n e s s in r e f u s i n g to t e s t i t y concerning
preme C o u r t uph el d t h i s a r g u m e n t ,
the m a j o r i t y " B r a o d
the r f h t
s u c h as a d m i n i s t r a ­
t i v e com m issions." P lead in g
t h e i r r e f u s a l t o comply on the ground o f t h e f i r s t
spite of
a p p l i c a t i o n i s much b r o a d e r
and d o e s e x t e n d t o w i t n e s s e s b e f o r e n o n - j u d i c i a l a g e n c i e s ,
and some,
congress­
t h a t t h e i r a n s w e r s might
amendment s e e m i n g l y l i m i t s
s o l e l y to the defendeant in a c rim in a l c a s e . . . ,
no Surpeme
o f w itn esses before
them, ^ u t t^ e c o u r t s have r e p e a t e d l y r u l e d
t h a t t he l a n g u a g e
the
y e a r s i s t h e * i f t h Amendment whi^ch
"no p e r s o n . . . s h a l l be c o m p e l l e d
against h im s e lf."
tend
are not p e r t i n e n t
c o n d u c t e d s o l e l y f o r t he
in q uiry is
an end i n
p e rs o n a l aggrandizement of
the i n v e s t i g a t o r s
14
or t o p u n i s h t h o s e
in vestigated
y e a r s la t e r , i n the B a r e n b l a t t c a s e , t h e
a r e i n d e f e n s i b l e . " But two
court reversed
m a rg in o f 5 t o 4* and s h r o t l y t h e r e a f t e r
it
its
p o s i t i o n by t h e narrow
u ph e ld by t h e same m a r g i n c on te m pt
c h a r g e s b r o u g h t by the House Un*Amercian A c t i v i t i e s Co mmittee a g a i n s t
^ r ad en and F r a n k W i l k i n s o n ,
first
who l i k e
amendment. S a i d J u s t i c e B l a c k ,
Carl
W at kin s and B a r e n b l a t t had i n v o l k e d
in h i s d i s s e n t
the
c o n c e n r i n g the B r a d e n d e c i ­
sion:
"The f o u n d e r s o f t h i s n a t i o n were n o t t h e n w i l l i n g
o f 1 s t . amendment
f r e e d o m t o C o n g r e s s or t h i s c o u r t ,
are grim rem in ders a l l
around t h e w o rl d
d u a l l i b e r t y and f i r i n g
squ ard
overru le B a re n b la tt...a n d
B i l l of R ig h ts .T h e ...
Said J u s t i c e
"I
its
course
...d is s e n t b e ca u se...
was n o t t o . . .
the
aid
p e t i t i o n e r and e x p o s e him f o r
Said J u s t ic e
Black,
"I th in k i t
again,
nor am I now. T^ere
t h a t the d i s t a n c e be t w e e n i n d i v i ­
i s not always as f a r
progeny,
as i t
ana r e t u r n t o the
the c o u r t i s f o l l o w i n g
Brennan i n h i s d i s s e n t
p u rp o se....
t o t r u s t the d e f i n i t i o n
s e e m s . I would
la n g a u g e o f t he
is too dangerous."
i n the W i l k i n s o n c a s e :
in feren ce
is
inescapable
t h a t the dominant
in law -m ak in g....b u t rather
the
to
h a r a s s the
s a ke o f e x p o s l u r e . "
in the W ilkinson c a s e :
c l e a r t h a t h i s c a s e i n o v l v e s n o t h i n g more o r l e s s t h a n an
a t t e m p t by t h e U n- Am er ic a n A c t i v i t i f s Committee to use the
c on te m pt
power o f t h e House o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a s a weapon a g a i n s t t h o s e
criticize
it."
who
A^d J u s t i c e D o u g l a s ,
in h i s d i s s e n t ,
" C r i t i c i s m o f government f i n d s
A m e n d m e n t .l t i s
o f the p r e s s ,
said :
s a n c t u a r y i n s e v e r a l p o r t i o n s Bf the f i r s t
p a r t o f the r i g h t o f f r e e
speech.
^an e d i t o r s be summoned b e f o r e
I t embraces freedom
the Committee and be made
to account fo r
t h e i r e d i t o r i s a l d e n o u n c i n g the Co m m it te e,
its
its
p ractices,
ta ctics,
p o l i c i e s ? I f ^ p t i t i o n e r can be q u e s t i o n e d c o n c e n n i n g
h i s o p p o s i t i o n t o the C o m m i t t ee ,
immune. The l i s t
its
t h e n I see no r e a s o n why e d i t o r s are
o f e d i t o r s w i l l be l o n g a s e v i d e n t
p r o t e s t s a g a i n s t t he C o m m i t t e e ' s a c t i v i t i e s ,
from the e d i t o r i a l
in clu d in g i t s
recent film
O p e r a t i o n A b o l i t i o n . " A^d he went on t o q u o t e C h i e f J u s t i c e Hughes,
s p e a k i n g f o r t h e C o u r t i n t h e De Jo ng e c a s e ,
who
said :
"T^e g r e a t e r the i m p o r t a n c e o f s a f e g u a r d i n g t h e community f r o m i n c i t e m nts
t o t h e o v e r t h r o w o f our i n s t i t u t i o n s b y f o r c e
more i m p e r a t i y b i s
t h e need to p r e s e r v e i n v i o l a t e
r i g h t s of 3ree speech,
free
p r e s s and
d sired,
t o the w i l l
the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
f r e e a s s e m b l y i n o r d e r to m a i n t a i n
the o p p o r t u n i t y f o r f r e e p o l i t i c a l d i s c u s s i o n ,
ment may be r e s p o n s i v e
and v i o l e n c e , t h e
t o th e end t h a t
o f t h e p e o p l e and
that c h a n g e s ,if
may be o b t a i n e d by p e a c e f u l mea ns. T h e r e i n l i e s
o f th e R e p u b l i c ,
the v e r y f o u n d a t i o n o f c o n s t i t u t i
T i e House U^ -Am erican A c t i v i t i e s C m m it t e e was c r e a t e d
a s a s p e c i a l i n v e s t i g a t i n g Committee w i t h l i m i t e d
govern­
the s e c u r i t y
nal governm ent."
i n 1 $ 3 8 . ^t was d e s i g n a t e
tenure.
I t wa s to su b m it i t s
16
f i n a l r e p o r t on J a n u a r y 1 , 1 9 3 9 * a s c a n t
s e v e n months a f t e r
its
creation .
r e o l u t i o n o f 1938 u n d e r w h i c h the Co mmittee f u n c t i o n a u t h r o i z e d
gate-- l)th e
extent,
character,
i n the U n i t e e S t a t e s , a n d
2 ) t h e d i f f u s i o n w i t h i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s o f s u b v e r s i v e
i n s t i g a t e d fom f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s
d o m e s t i c o r i g i n and a t t a c k s
the p r i n c i p e
b y our Con t i t u t i o n .
the
B ehi nd
H a m il t o n F i s h , a n d the f i r s t
creation of
the Committee was R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
c h a i r m a n o f the
w er e among the most a p p l a u d e
or o f a
o f t he f o m o f go ve rn m en t a s g u a r a n t e e d
com mitte e was M a r t i n D i e s ,
o f t he k e y members o f the c o m m i t t e e was R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
John E .
and one
ankin. A l l th ree
A m e r ic a n s o f t h e N a z i p ro p o g a n d a M i n i s t r y . D i e s
managed t o g e t t h e mandate
fo r the
c o m m i tt e e e x t e n d e d beyond
th e J a n a u r y
and he was q u i c k l y h i t t i n g p a y d i r t w i t h Red c h a r g e s a g a i n s t c o u n t l e s s
i n d i v i d u a l s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,
not e x c e p t i n g
t h e B^y S c o u t s and the Camp F i r e
G irls.
At t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e 4-0 ' s
o f the
so mm it tee w i t h h a t e - p e d l l e r s and f a s c i s t ,
, however,
th e
t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the c o m m i t t e e . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
H^use:
to i n v e s t i ­
and o b j e c t s o f u n- A m e ri c a n p ro p o ga nd a a c t i v i t i e s
and u n -A m e ri a n pr op o ga nd a t h a t i s
deadline,
it
T"e
a l l too obvious a s s o c i a t i o n
n a zi sym pathizers,
threatened
Samuel D i c k s t e i n t o l d t h e
" 1 1 0 f a s c i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t s have h a d , and h a ve now,
the k e y t o t h e b a c k d o o r o f t he Un*American A c t i v i t i e s C o m m i t t e e . " Rot o n l y
di d t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s f e e d
sivers,
the c o m m i tt e e f i l e s
but t h e i r p u b l i c a t i o n s c a r r ie d
m i t t e e members. I r o n i c a l l y enough*
it
w i t h names o f a l l e g e d
subver-
Committee m a t e r i a l and a r t i c l e s b y com­
was t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s , p r i n c i p a l l y
J o s e p h P . K a m p 's
" C ^ n s t i t u t n a l E d u c a t i o n a l L e a g u e " and F a t h e r C o u g h l i n ' s C h r i s ­
t i a n F r o n t , t h a t l a r g e l y sa ve d
w i t h an a v a l a n c h e o f l e t t e r s
t e e . Again in 1 9 4 4 '
things,
M artin D ie s,
electio n .
it
sensing d e fe a t,
A^deven more,
t o choke i t
o p e n in g da y o f
transformed
cedent,
com mitte e m ight d i e .
A^ong o t h e r
t he c o m m i tt e e had become so o p e n l y a n t i - A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
it
a s a R e p u b l i c a n p o l t i c a l i n s t r u m e n t and were
o f f i n the Ho us e. But R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
the C^n r e s s
i n 1945*
from th e f o u n d i n g
n e v e r been c o n s t i t u t e d
commit­
had announed t h a t he would n o t s e e k r e -
John ^ a n k i n on t h e
a d r o i t l y managed t o g e t
f ro m a t e m p o r a r y t o a pe rma nent s t a t u s .
since
by d e l u g i n g C o n g r e s s
and t e l e g r a m s demanding c o n t i n u t t i n o f the
l o o k e d a s thou, h the
t h a t t he D e m o c r a t s r e g a r d e d
prepared
the c o m m i tt e e f o r t h e t i m e ,
the c om m itt e e
T h i s was b r e a k i n g a l l
the R e p u b l i c , i n v e s t i g a t i n g
pre­
c o m m i t t e e s had
a s pe rma nent b o d i e s . Warned m a j o r i t y l e a d e r McCormack:
"Mark what we a r e d o i n g . T h i s i s no t a q u e s t i o n o f e s t a b l i s h i n g an i n v e s t i g a t
t i n g c o m m i tt e e t o i n v e s t i g a t e
it
con d ition s that a re ise
i s a q u e s t i o n o f amending t h e r u l e s o f
from t i m e t o t i m e ;
the House t o p r o v i d e f o r a p e r ­
manent s t a n d i n g c om m itt ee t h a t do es no t c o n s i d e r l e g i s l a t i o n , b u t h a s one
su bject,
one f i e l d ,
the f i e l d
adopted,
a s f a r a s I know,
it
of in v e stig a tin g ....
w i l l be the f i r s t
If
t h i s amendment i s
time i n t h i s
body t h a t a
c o m m i tt e e o f t h i s k in d was e v e r e s t a b l i s h e d a s a permannet s t a n d i n g com­
m i t t e e . " The amendment was a d o p t e d ,
to the p r e s e n t.
and t he
committee h a s c o n t i n u e d down
18
O ve r i t s
near quarter century o f e x is te n c e ,
r e c o r d s . As ^r ank Don ne r,
out,
its
in h is r e c e n t z x h x x x i i x x st u d y o f thecommitte p o in ts
near twenty f i v e
ni sm and s u b v e r s i o n - - i s
non-stope probe,
the c o m m i tt e e h a s b r o k e n a number o f
y e a r o ld
in v e s t ig a t io n in to a sin gle
i n i t s e l f a wonder o f the l e g i s l a t i v e
s u b j e c t - Commu­
wor&d. I n i t s
i t h a s p u b l i s h e d mere t h a n 50,000 p a g e s o f h e a r i n g s and r e ­
p o r t s ---- e a s i l y o u t d i s t a n c i n g a l l o t h e r c o n g r e s s i o n a l c o m m i t t e e s combined i n
th is respect.
term o f i t s
I t has issu e d
o v e r 5 * 0 0 0 s u b p o e n a s ---- a n o t h e r r e c o r d . D u r i n g t he
fu n ctio n in g a s a standing com ittee i t
t i m e s t he numer o f w i t n e s s e s c i t e d
n d i n t h e same p e r i o e d .
p rin tin g,
i t has r e c e i v e d
hy a l l
In a d d i t i o n t o
o t h e r c o n g r e s s i o n a l c o m m i t t e e s combi -
the l a r g e
sums w h ic h i t h a s expended f o r
$327,000 was g r e a t e r
Means Committee and t h e J u d i c i a r y Commitee,
C o m m i t t e e s o n E d u c a t i o n and L a b o r ,
it
a sk ed f o r and r e c e i v e d
m re
th is,
o n l y one la w ,
what ha s i t
the
of le g is la tio n ,
Its
t h a n t h a t f o r t h e Ways and
t h a n dou l e
t h a t f o r the
F o r e i g n A f f a i r s and B a n k i n g and C u r r e n c y . 1 ^
$331*000 , an a p p r o p r i a t i o n e x c e e d i n g t h a t
a l m o s t any o t h e r com mitte e o f t h e Ho use. For t h i s y e a r , i t
V.^th a l l
f o r conte mpt f i v e
and s p e n t i n s a l a r i e s a l o n e a l m o s t $5 m i l l i o n .
annual a p p r o r i a t i n f o r 1959,
1961,
has c it e d
produced? In i t s
long
of
i s r e q u e s t i n g $ 3 5 0 *°o o
h i s o t r y i t has processed
I n t e r n a l S e c u r i t y A c t o f 1 9 5 0 .a h i g h l y c o n t r o v e r s i a l p e i c e
w h ic h was p a s s e d o v e r P r e s i d e n t Tr u m an 's v e t o , and the
co n sti­
t u t i o n a l i t y o f which ha s n o t y e t been d e t e r m i n e d b y the U n i t e d S t a t e s Supreme
C o u r t . From the p o i n t o f v i e w o f the one v a l i d
f u n c t i o n t h t may be g r a n t e d t o
19
a c o n g r e s s i o n a l i n v e s t i g a t i n g com m ittee,
XhaExKmHXHxMnMarxXzacKxjtBiixiXiMxSanmxx
na m ely the c o l l e c t i n g o f i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h a v i e w toward p o s s i b l e l e g i l a t i o n ,
t h e House Committe on Unamerian A c t i v i t i e s h a s p r o v e n i t s e l f
t o t a l n o n - e n t i t y . From the v e r y b e g i n n i n g ,
gathering w ell-rcrn d ed ,
e n d s. Rather
exposure,
exposure
i t h a s e v i d e n c e d no i n t e r e s t i n
f a c t u a l i n f o r m a t i o n and u t i l i z i n g
i t has operated
s o l e l y on t h e b a s i s o f i t s
o f t h e Communist menance.
from l ^ ' it i m a T e l e g i s l a t i v e
w i t n s s e s o f such b a s i c
s a f e g u a r d s as t h e r i g h t
and l i v e l i h o o d x x ,
agency,
i t for
leg isla tive
fu n c tio n being th at
As such i t h a s a r r o g a t e d
s e l f power f a r r^ p o v e d
h a s f u n c t i ned a s a i b l a c k l i s t i n g
t o be an a l m o s t
of
to i t ­
i n q u i r y and ha s d i v e s t e d
t o c r o s s - e x a m n e an a c c u s e r .
d e p r i v i n g A m e ri c a n s o f t h e i r
It
jo b s
o s t r a c i s i n g them i n t h e i r c o m m u n i t i e s . D i s r e g a r d i n g any o b l i ­
gation of l e g i s l a t i v e
purpose,
i t has in te rv en e d a s a p l i t i c a l
instrum ent
in
a l m o s t e v e r y a r e a o f c o n c e r n t o t he A m e r ic a n p e o p l e . '-Lhnaughout i t s l o n g h i s t o r y
its
p o l i t i c a l p a t i s a n s h i p has been h a n ife s *
r a c i s t gr o u p s and the x x u l t r a - r i g h t
its
in i t s
o v e r t and c o v e r t l i n k s w i t h
w i n g on t h e A m e ri c a n s c e n e . J u s t r e c e n t l y
c h i e f c o u n s e l was c o m p e l l e d t o r e s i g n , b u t was moved i n t o
a year,
when e v i d e n c e was s u b m i t t e d
c h i e f c o u n s e l o f the co m i t t e e ,
he was a t the
another
to he House t h a t w h i l e
job at
a c t i n g as
same time b e i n g p a id a s a n a d v i ­
s o r t o a g e n e t i c s r e s e a r c h f o n d a t i o n s e t up t o p r o v e t h a t N e g r o e s a r e
p e o p l e . On t h e o t h e r hand,
so much on Com uni t
t h e c om m itt e e has c o s t a n t l y f o c u s s e d i t s
s u b v e r s i o n where i t
has uncovered l i t t l e
in ferior
fire,n o t
i f a n y t h i n g and
20
n o t h i n g n o t a l r e a d y known t o t h e FB I
and o t h e r a g e n c i e s ,
b u t upon a l l k i n d s
o f i n d i v i d u a l s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s o p e n l y and l e g i t i m a t e l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h i n t e ­
gratio n ,
p e a c e and c i v i l r i g h t s and l i b e r t i e s .
Ther e h a s l o n g be e n p r o t e s t a b o u t the natu^B
d u r e s . To ea y t h e ^ e ; s
ris in g protest,
o f t h e c om m itt ee and i t s
proce­
from numerous i n d i v i d u a l s and o r g a n z a t i o n s
t h a t by no s t r e t c h o f t h e i m a g i n a t i o n can be w r i t t e n o f f a s communist d u p e s ,
c a llin g for ab o litio n
o f the com m ittee.
One o f the l e a d i n g C o n g r e s s i o n a l oppo­
n e n t s o f t h e committe h a s b e e n Co ng re ss m a n
a s p e e c h on the House f l o o r ,
counts:
he c a l l e d
James R o o s e v e l t . Two y e a r s a g o ,
for
in
t h e C o m m i t t e e ' s a b o l i t i o n on e i g h t
the Committee had* s p e n t l a r g e amonts o f time , money,
and e n e r g y p o n d e r -
u s l y e x p l o r i n g t he a b su rd and s e l f - e v i d e n t ;
t h e c om m itt e e wars b l i n d l y f a n a t i c
in e v a lu a tin g
victim s;
the p o l i t i c a l
c a l l y encroached^ on th e
orthodoxy of i t s
t h e c o m m i tt e e s y s t e m a t i ­
j u r i s d i c t i n o f o t h e r C o n g r e s s i o n a l c o m m i t t e e s ; the
c o m m i tt e e makes no c o n t r i b t u i c n t o t h e d e f e n s e o f t h e N a t i o n ' s
commi tte h a s t r a n s f o r m e d
itse lf
into a ro v in g p o lic e
t o h a l p e r s o n s and g r o u p s b e f o r e i t , a c c u s e
secu rity;
the
f o r c e and p r o s e c u t i n g a g e n c
them and f o r c e them e i t h e r to an swe r
under o a t h o r c l a i m t h e i r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o t e c t i o n . Y ^ t
it
a c t s w i t h the a i d
of
im m u n it it ls and powers we would n o t dream o f g r a n t i n g our p o l i c e and p u b l i c p r o s ­
ecu tes;
t h e c om m itt e e ha s u su rp ed th e f u n c t i o n s o f t h e c o u r t s . . . . h e r e
again,
i t h a s i g n o r a e d t h e s t a n d a r d s o f f a i r n e s s and i m p a r t i a l i t y whi ch we impose upon
our j u d i c i a r y ;
t h e c o m m i t t e e ' s mandate i s
trad itio n s
How di d we erne t o e s t a b l i s h
in h e ren tly contrary
t o our d e m o c r a t i c
a c o m m i tt e e t o d e c i d e what was ' u n -
2i
American,
and s t i l l
worse,
how d i d we p e r s u a d e
was a f i t
s u b j e c t f o r r e g u l a t i o n b y i n q u i s i t i o n a l t e c h n i q u e s su c h as the Com­
m i t t e e e m p l o y s ; and e i g h t h ,
the
ourselves t h t
propoganda,speech,
c o m m i tt e e h a s been an a g e n c y f o r
t he d e s t r u c t i o n
o f human d i g n i t y and c o n s t i t u t i o n a l rights."*.*.^ ha ve become a c c u st o m ed t o t h i n k
o f t h o s e whom i t
s u b p o e n a s or l a b e l s as v i c t i m s r a t h e r t h a n w i t n e s s e s , e n d l e s s l y
t h e y a r e d ra g o o n e d b e f o r e
rudeness,
t h e Committee and a c c u s e d . S e c r o e t s o u r c e s ,
arrogance,
t h a t ma ximiz e d e f a m a t i o n and t h e t h r e a t o f p r o s e c u t i o n e i t h e r f o r
p e r j u r y o r c on te m pt i f
t h e y do no t s e e k t h e r e f u g e
in g r e d ie n ts of t h i s degrading s p e c t a c l e .
Beyond
o f s i le n c e are
the co n s ta n t
t h e i s t h e Committee i s
san cti-
m o n e o u sl y c r u e l . Those who would an shw er t h e c h a r g e s a g a i n s t t h e m s e l v e s a r e
forced
to a ccuse o t h e r s . . . . "
E d i t o r i a l comment h a s f o l l o w e d i R z x x z m g x i i n z i i n l i k e m an ner .Th e L o u i s v i l l e
C o u r ie r Jou rn al said
i n 1 9 5 7 * " t h e c o m m i tt e e h a s d r a g g e d t he
pend d r y w i t n o u t r e v e a l i n g any p & o t s , t r u t h s or c o n s p i r a c i e s
k n o w ^ ....it
has conducted i t s
m ig ht be g l e a n e d
ob jective
th at w e ren 't a lre a d y
a c t i v i t i e s w i t h an eye to t h e n o t o r e e t y t h a t
but w itn o u t any r e a l l e g i s l a t i v e
o t h e n t h a n the
communist f i s h
p u r p o s e i n mind o r any
embarassment and h u m i l i a t i o n of w i t n e s s e s and
the
g a t h e r i n g o f h e a d l i n e s . " The Newark E v e n i n g N e w s , i n i 9 6 0 , making comment up&V%^
committees 1959 annual r e p o r t ,
w r o t e : " the committees e a r l y d a ys w r e
i t methods n e v e r e a r n e d p u b l i c
confidnce,
file
the 1 959 r e p o r t ,
discharge
so perhaps i t
is
the C o m m i t t e e z i l h x x i t x z k x
sad,
and
time t o r e c e i v e and
....
and l e a v e the
22
f i g h t a g a i n s t Communism i n a l l
d i m e n s i o n s t o t he FBI and o t h e r a g e n c i e s more
f
a d e u q a te ly equpped."
i
And t he W a s h i n g t o p f P o s t , f o l l o w i n g upon R o o s e v e l t ' s
w r t o e , " t h e House o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o u g h t s o b e r l y t o a s k i t s e l f
if it
speech,
wants t o
go on i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y p n i s h i n g A m e r i c a n s f o r r e s i s t i n g a Committee w h ic h has
l o n g c e a s e d t o s e r v e any u s e f u l p u rp o se and w h i c h h a s probed r e l e n e t l e e s s l y
i n t o the area o f p r i v a t e
c o n s c i e n c e and b e l i e f . "
I t w i l l be no e a s y m a t t e r to a b o l i s h
ities.
the House Committee on Un am er ica n A c t i v ­
1'he B u c k l e y s and many o t h e r s w i l l f i g h t
tain i t .
But a b o l i s h e d
it
and f i g h t d e s p e r a t e l y t o main­
s ho ul d b e , and a b o l i s h e d
it
must b e ,
t o m a i n t a i n o ur for,'^ o f govern m ent and a r e g o i n g t o r e g a i n the
th e B i l l o r R i g h t s .
if
we are g o i n g
f u l l exercize
of
ORDER OF SERVICE
ANN0UN8EMENTS
Sunday, April 1, 1 % 2 at 11:00
Preludes:
Prelude (alia Berlioz)
Maestoso
Opening Words
WEEK'S CALENDAR
S. Karg-Elert
Jan Bender
^
Today
7:1$ p.m.
Channing Club
Tuesday
8:00 p.m.
Book Discussion Group
Wednesday*
-M
Song No. 55
"Light Of Ages"
Reading:
^
from "Communismj Threat To Freedom"
recently* published by National
Catholic Welfare Conference
Interlude:
Dedication
Aspiration:
"A Poem in Praise*"
from "Selected Poems" by Charles Norman
Chorus
Springtime (Rilke)
Laughing Song (Blake)
Unitarian Deadline
Friday and
Saturday 8:30 p.m.
Unitarian Divertimento
Concert Series
NEXT WEEK
Song No. 63
Bela Bartok
Hindemith
Earl George
"America's Black Muslims Who and Why?"
Mr. Storm
Forum:
"Youth Conservation Today"
Speaker:
"Song For A New Year"
Offertoiy:
Chorale
SERMON:
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN
ACTIVITIES — WHY IT SHOULD BE
ABOLISHED
Mr. Storm
Song No. 28
"Onward Brothers'*
Helmut Walcha
Closing Words
Postlude
Sermon:
Canon
Thomas Nee
Ruth Wise
-K*Late Comers May Be Seated
Flor Peeters
Music Director
Organist
Music:
Vincent P. Reis, Director of
- Prevention and Parole Services,
Department of Correction.
Piano Selections by Miss Sarah Ramras
It will be first come, first served, Friday and
Saturday nights at eight-thirty for GILBERT AND
SULLIVAN a la carte. Fully staged sequences
from five Gilbert and Sullivan favorite operas
will be sung by* Helen Rice, Joan Lindusky, Yale
Marshall and John Jaeger, and narration will be
by Arnold Walker. All are veterans of many
Gilbert and Sullivan productions here and in the
East. Tell your friends, and bring your family*
to this grand finale of our concert series.
Tickets are on sale this morning in the lobby.
Adults, $1.75; children, $ .7$.