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COMMUNISM IN HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 2311 Mr. Tavenner. Now that is over with. Mr. Levy. I am very happy. Mr. Tavenner. I stated that Mr. Martin Berkeley had identified you as having been at one time a member of the Communist Party. Did you then voluntarily get in touch with the committee and ask the privilege of appearing before the committee? Mr. Levy. Yes, sir. Mr. Tavenner. To make such statement or explanation of your membership as you desired? Mr. Levy. Yes, sir. Mr. Tavenner. The committee did announce in Hollywood, as it has frequently announced, whenever a person has been named as a member of the Communist Party, or any testimony is given relating to him or his organization, that either he or his organization is invited to appear here for such explanation as the individual or the association desires to present. Mr. Levy. That is what I understand. Mr. Tavenner. And it is in response to that that you have appeared ? Mr. Levy. Yes, sir. Mr. Tavenner. Well, what is it that you desire to state to the com- mittee about it? Mr. Levy. Well, Mr. Berkeley's testimony was true. I was twice in m}' life. I was once a member of the Communist Party, and once a member of the Communist Political Association at various times. Mr. Tavenner. That is correct. Mr. Levy. I think that it is, at different times, and with no connec- tion between, no connection between the two things. I became a member of the Communist Party in 1933 at the request of Mr. Earl Browder. Mr. Tavenner. Where did that take place? Mr. Levy. In New York. Mr. Tavenner. What was the occasion of Mr. Earl Browder's talk- ing to you ? Mr. Levy. I don't remember precisely how I met Mr. Browder. I do remember that he spoke—asked me if he could come to my house and speak, in an apartment with my wife on Fifteenth Street, and he came there, and brought other people with him, whom I didn't know. And I met him then. And as asked me over some time if I would come in the Communist Party and I said "no," because I said that I was a writer and that as a writer I wanted no obligation to anything except my writing. Mr. Kearney. Mr. Chairman, I would appreciate it if the gentle- man would raise his voice. Mr. Levy. I said "no," because I told him that I was a writer and wanted to have no obligation to anything except my writing. I had never, even in college—because I have always thought of my- self as a writer, even when I was little. I didn't want to belong to anything. And Mr. Browder then suggested I become a member at large, and that I would not be asked to go to meetings, or anything of the sort. And I became a member at large in his office, and was given a name then, and a card. I no longer remember the name. I tried to think of it several times. It could have been Martin, but I am not sure.