say to you beware because today it is me and tomorrow it may be you sitting over here. Mr. DOYLE. Now just let me say this, please. The President of the United States has frankly declared more than once recently that he didn't agree with a certain Senator that you have named. Senator Knowland, the Republican leader of the United States Senate has so declared, and the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has so declared. Now if you were referring to me as a Democrat, as being afraid of something as a result of my working on this committee diligently and conscientiously, if that is what you have in your mind, may I say to you that as an American citizen, as long as I am a member of this committee, I am going to fight the sort of influences that I find are undermining deliberately my constitutional form of government, and the American Communist Party is-I am not afraid of your warning, sir, either here or any place else, and I want you and your ilk to understand it. I want you to thoroughly understand it. I resent very much your telling me, warning me because I am a DemoI am an American Congressman first and a Democrat second. Mr. TRACHTENBERG. I see everybody tried, true and condemned, and the rest of it. Me and my ilk. You haven't heard me. You haven't even attempted to hear me. Mr. DOYLE. That language I condemn. Mr. TRACHTENBERG. You know you condemn any language. I condemn this committee which is perpetrating a hoax on the American people. Mr. CLARDY. Mr. Tavenner, do you have any further questions? Mr. TAVENNER. Are you now a member of the Communist Party? (At this point Mr. Trachtenberg conferred with Mr. Probe.) Mr. TRACHTENBERG. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds previously stated, that I will not identify any individuals, organizations, or the following, and I utilize the fifth amendment privilege which is guaranteed to protect the innocent from such inquisition. Mr. TAVENNER. Were you a member of the Communist Party before you sought employment at the Buick plant? Mr. TRACHTENBERG. My record is open Mr. TAVENNER. In 1949? Mr. TRACHTENBERG. I wish Mr. Clardy would make his record open, the journal could Mr. CLARDY. Answer the question directly. Mr. TRACHTENBERG. I know. I refuse to answer this question on the grounds previously stated, that I will not identify myself with any individuals, organizations, and will not be a stoolpigeon and carry on the purposes of this committee, and I say to this committee that if I could face my accuser as the UAW article said, and Mr. Reuther stated which you left out conveniently, if I could face my accuser, if I could have due process of law, then I will not utilize the fifth amendment and will put the records on the board and see who the American will reject and accept. Mr. DOYLE. May I just make this remark in this connection, Mr. Chairman, the gentleman refers to his wish that he might have a chance to cross-examine his accuser. May I say to you this: I am one of the Members of Congress that also wishes there could be some practical way whereby witnesses named before this committee could have a chance within reason to face the people who charge them. But so far we haven't been able to work that out. I know of no practical way that this committee can function, may I say, where there can be any practical right of cross-examination. If I could find any such way, I would be for it 100 percent. Mr. TRACHTENBERG. We have the Constitution of the United States to guarantee that way against this inquisition. Mr. DOYLE. Just in closing-but this committee is not finding anyone guilty of anything. Mr. TRACHTENBERG. My wife and me and my children have been slandered in the paper, what do you mean, you are not finding me guilty? Mr. CLARDY. Witness. Mr. TRACHTENBERG. The workers in the shop, General Motors goons, are instigating stuff against me today, and you are telling me that you wish you could protect me. What kind of stuff is this? I am an American citizen. I fought for my country, and I represent it. I am a citizen here, and you are slandering my name all over the place, depriving me of constitutional rights. Mr. CLARDY. Am I going to have to call an officer to make you subside? I may have to. Mr. TRACHTENBERG. You may. Mr. CLARDY. I am going to dismiss you, but before I dismiss you, I am going to promise that you probably are going to get your day in court. You are probably going to get the opportunity that you crave, because I shall recommend that the Congress of the United States call upon the Attorney General to proceed against you for contempt against the Congress of the United States-the boisterous, intemperate conduct that has taken place here since you have been on the stand. I am afraid that some of these good newspapermen and others may find themselves called as witnesses at the proper time to demonstrate that the cold record is really only half of the story, so your desire to have a day in court may be granted sooner than you desire. Mr. TRACHTENBERG. I would go gladly to jail to see the American people with your record Mr. CLARDY. That is all. Witness dismissed. Mr. TRACHTENBERG. I would go to jail because my grandmother was burned in a Hitler prison Mr. CLARDY. Will the officers remove the witness from the room. Now, Mr. Tavenner, I think we have gone a little later than usual. I want to advise all of the witnesses who were subpenaed for us today, those who were subpenaed for tomorrow, to report at 9:30 tomorrow morning in this hearing room. Hearing adjourned until that time. (Whereupon, at 5:22 p. m., the hearing was recessed until 9:30 a. m. Friday, May 14, 1954.) Art Students League.. Central Michigan College of Education, Mount Pleasant, Mich___. City College of New York___ Civil Rights Congress-- Ralph Neafus Club_. Town Club (Ann Arbor) Congress of Industrial Organizations_ Flint Junior College. Page. 5624 5652 5589, 5590, 5594, 5595 5662 5662, 5663 5610, 5631 5675 5658 5640 5601, 5673 5628, 5637 General Motors Corp--. AC Spark Plug Division. 5613, 5632, 5669, 5678 5619, 5626, 5627 Michigan Youth for Democratic Action___ Buick Division_. Chevrolet Division_ Independent Progressive Party-- International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union_ Lamme School of Photography, Denver, Colo. Michigan State College___ National Committee To Secure Justice in the Rosenberg Case_ Second World Youth Congress, Budapest_ 5670, 5673, 5674 5590, 5594-5596, 5598-5600, 5604, 5606–5609, 5613, 5615, 5628, 5645 5640, 5649, 5650 5613 5624 5607, 5610, 5611 5659, 5661-5663 5643, 5656, 5662, 5663 5664 University of Michigan Academic Freedom Committee_. University of New Mexico_‒‒‒ Young Progressives__. Michigan Worker__. Nation___- National Guardian_. PUBLICATIONS 5624, 5625, 5637-5640, 5643, 5653, 5658, 5659, 5661, 5662, 5667 i INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN-Part 10 SEP 20 1954 COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION 48861 MAY 14, 1954 Printed for the use of the Committee on Un-American Activities INCLUDING INDEX UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1954 |