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

COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 1629 ther into a few phases of your testimony. I don't think any impar- tial person could listen to your testimony here, and I believe you would agree if you were here and I was there giving the same testi- mony, that you would assume the same attitude, but that at some time in the past, however recent it may be, you held membership in the Communist Party. I think the last statement that you made to the effect that if you thought it would be of benefit to the war effort you would reveal the names, or to further illustrate the inference that you have held membership in this organization, I would like, and for the moment, am attaching utmost good faith to your statement that you do not now sympathize with the aims and purposes of the Communist Party. I must assume from that, and I think any fair- minded person must likewise assume from it, that something has happened since you took membership in this organization to make its membership repugnant to you, otherwise there would have been no necessity for you to make a break from it. If that is true, and if you feel that continued membership in the party renders you a less worthy citizen of America than you could be out of it, then don't you think you owe an obligation to aid others in , the same category that you were once in. to take a like position about it ? (The witness conferred with counsel.) Mr. Wirin. May I consult with him for a moment ? Mr. Wood. You may consult with him as much as you desire, sir. Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Chairman, I call attention to the fact that I am advised from the press section that they cannot hear what is being said. I don't know whether you can beam the amplifying system more toward that area or not. Mr. James. Sir, this question of yours implies something which I have neither affirmed nor denied, as I believe my refusal was. Mi 1 . Wood. That is correct, sir. Mr. James. In general, though, I would say every man in every crisis of his life makes up his own mind as to what he does. Mr. Wood. One other thing you testified to that I must take excep- tion to, and that is when you stated that you feared that the action of this committee in seeking to root out the weeds had also accomplished the purpose of rooting out some of the crops. This committee isn't rooting out any crops from any source. If any usefulness of any person whose name may be used in connection with the activities of this committee may suffer as a consequence thereof, the responsibility rests squarely upon that witness. I make that statement in connection with your testimony that you took a list of the names that were given here by previous witnesses for the pur- pose of keeping in mind those people who were going to suffer as a result of their activities before this committee. I point out to you again, sir, that it has been the policy of this committee, since I have been connected with it, and still is, that we are not only glad to give permission but will gladly welcome the presence before this commit- tee of any person whose name has been used by anybody in connection with the testimony before this committee, either denying anything that is said with reference to their actions or conduct, or to affirm it or to explain it. That opportunity is now being afforded to you. There can be no odium attached to any person who may'have made a mistake and have seen that they have made a mistake and seek to rectify it, because if there was we would give lie to the advent of Jesus