Communist infiltration of Hollywood motion-picture industry : hearing before the Committee on Un-American activities, House of Representatives, Eighty-second Congress, first session (1951)

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108 COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Parks, there was a statement you made this morning in the course of your testimony which interested me a great deal. This is what you said: This is a great industry- speaking of the moving x picture industry— and I don't say this only because it has been kind to me. It has a very important job to do, to entertain people ; in certain respects to call attention to certain evils, but mainly to entertain. Now, do you believe that the persons who are in a position to call attention to certain evils ought to be persons who are dedicated to the principles of democracy as we understand them in this country? Mr. Parks. I certainly agree with this completely. Mr. Tavenner. Do you believe, on the other hand, that the persons who are in those responsible positions should be people who are an- tagonistic to the principles of democracy and our form of government, and who are members of a conspiracy to overthrow our Government ? Mr. Parks. Most assuredly I don't. Mr. Tavenner. Then what is your opinion as to whether or not members of the Communist Party should be in positions of power and influence in the various unions which control the writing of scripts, the actors, and various other things which we have mentioned during the course of this hearing relating to the great industry of the moving pictures ? Mr. Parks. I thought I had made myself clear, my feeling about this, that I certainly do not believe that those people should be in any position of power to be able to direct this. Of course, I don't believe that. Mr. Tavenner. Or to influence the course which it takes? Mr. Parks. That is correct. Mr. Tavenner. Then we will ask your cooperation, before this hearing is over, in helping us to ascertain those who are or have been members of the Communist Party, for that particular purpose which we have mentioned. Mr. Parks, it is generally known and recognized that the Com- munist Party, in order to function, must raise money by various methods. Will you tell us what you know of the methods by which money was raised to promote the objects and purposes of the Com- munist Party while you were a member ? Mr. Parks. Well, unfortunately, I don't believe I am able to answer that, because I don't recall any occasion of that kind of raising this kind of money that you speak of. When I was a member of the Com- munist Party I paid dues to it, as I told you, and rather meagpv contributions. I don't believe I can help you on this, because I really don't know. Mr. Tavenner. Did you take any part in fund-raising campaigns which were engineered by the Communist Party or by organizations known to you to be Communist-front organizations? Mr. Parks. I don't recall at the moment. This is like asking a man what he did in 1941, and he says, "I don't remember." If you sav to him, "Did you go fishing up on the Oregon River?" he will say, "Yes, yes, I did." If you would accommodate me in this way perhaps I can answer your question.