Mr. Counsel, do you have anything more to say before we adjourn for the day? Mr. TAVENNER. Nothing more at this time. Mr. CLARDY. Any suggestions from members of the subcommittee? Very well, then, the proceedings stand adjourned until 9:30 tomorrow morning. (Whereupon, at 3:40 p. m., the hearing recessed to 9:30 a. m., Tuesday, May 4, 1954.) INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN-PART 1 (Detroit-Education) TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1954 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, Detroit, Mich. The subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to call, at 1:32 p. m., in room 855, Federal Building, Hon. Kit Clardy presiding. Committee members present: Representatives Kit Clardy and Gordon H. Scherer (appearance noted in transcript). Staff members present: Frank S. Tavenner, Jr., counsel; Donald T. Appell, investigator; and Mrs. Juliette P. Joray, acting clerk. Mr. CLARDY. The hearing will come to order. The witness will stand and be sworn. You do solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mrs. RAPOPORT. I do. Mr. CLARDY. You may be seated. TESTIMONY OF SHIRLEY RAPOPORT, ACCOMPANIED BY HER COUNSEL, BERNARD FIEGER Mr. TAVENNER. What is your name, please? Mrs. RAPOPORT. Shirley Rapoport. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you accompanied by counsel? Mrs. RAPOPORT. Yes, sir. Mr. TAVENNER. Will counsel please identify himself for the record. Mr. FIEGER. Bernard Fieger. Mr. TAVENNER. Did you give your married name? Mrs. RAPOPORT. Yes, sir. Mr. TAVENNER. What was your maiden name? Mrs. RAPOPORT. Shirley Goodman. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you a native of Detroit? Mr. TAVENNER. Have you lived in Detroit constantly since that time? 1 Released by the committee. Mrs. RAPOPORT. No, sir. In the year 1937-38 I went back to Champaign, Ill., to finish college. Mr. TAVENNER. What has been your educational training? Mrs. RAPOPORT. I was graduated in 1938 from the University of Illinois with a bachelor of science degree, and then in 1943 I was granted a teaching certificate from Wayne University. (Representative Gordon H. Scherer entered the hearing room at this point.) Mr. TAVENNER. What has been your occupation since 1943 ? Mrs. RAPOPORT. I taught in Detroit between 1940-let me see. I taught in 1943 and 1944, and then I was on a maternity leave and had a child, and then I went back in 1947 and taught until 1951, at which time I had another child. I now have 3, and I am now a housewife. Mr. TAVENNER. Were you teaching in the public schools of Detroit or in private schools? Mrs. RAPOPORT. In the public schools of Detroit. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committe, please, whether or not during the period that you were teaching you were a member of the Communist Party? (At this point Mrs. Rapoport conferred with Mr. Fieger.) Mrs. RAPOPORT. I have to decline to answer that, sir, on the grounds of the privilege of the freedom of speech of the first amendment and the immunity granted to me by the fifth amendment to the Constitution. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, in light of the witness' answer, I think it is apparently worthless to pursue the investigation further so far as she is concerned, so I have no further questions. Mr. CLARDY. Did she raise the fifth amendment? I didn't hear. Mr. TAVENNER. Yes. Mr. FIEGER. To the question you specifically asked. Mr. TAVENNER. The fifth amendment? Mr. FIEGER. I say to the question you specifically asked. Mr. FIEGER. Yes. Mr. CLARDY. I didn't hear. I heard the first amendment which, of course, if you were here yesterday, you know we do not recognize. We do the fifth amendment if it is properly invoked. I will ask her one or two more. You were asked if you had been a member of the Communist Party during the time you were teaching. I would like to ask you the further question if at any time you have been a member of the party? Mrs. RAPOPORT. I would have to refuse again, sir, on the same grounds. Mr. TAVENNER. Nothing further. Mr. CLARDY. No further questions. Mr. TAVENNER. I think I should ask one other question. Are you now a member of the Communist Party? (At this point Mrs. Rapoport conferred with Mr. Fieger.) Mrs. RAPOPORT. I am not, sir. Mr. TAVENNER. Have you been a member of the Communist Party at any time since 1950? Mrs. RAPOPORT. I decline to answer that on the grounds I previously stated, sir. Mr. SCHERER. Were you yesterday? Mrs. RAPOPORT. I decline to answer that, sir, on the same grounds. Mr. CLARDY. You say you are not a member today? Mrs. RAPOPORT. Yes, sir. Mr. CLARDY. But you will not answer as to yesterday, as I understand it. Mrs. RAPOPORT. No, sir; I feel that that is infringing on my rights as an American citizen. Mr. CLARDY. Well, in view of that refusal, we will suspend the hearing at this time and resume in open session later, and the disposition of your subpena will be a matter of which we will notify you later after we have had time to consult. (Whereupon, at 1:37 p. m. the hearing was adjourned.) |