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3496 COMMUNISM IN HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Odets. The program of the- Mr. Yelde. What it has been and what it is at the present time, in regard to our Constitution. Mr. Odets. My relationship with the Communist Party over the years was a very distant one. Anything I tell you would be my guess or my speculation. It would not be out of any kind of sure knowl- edge. Mr. Velde. You still have an opinion, don't you ? Mr. Odets. 1 have opinions, yes, sir. Mr. Yelde. Will you state that opinion, please? Mr. Odets. What would you like me to express an opinion about exactly ? Mr. Yelde. What your opinion is of the program of the Communist Party in the United States of America, what it has been and what it is at the present time, with relation to the Constitution of the United States. Mr. Odets. I know what they say. Mr. Velde. You just stated you had an opinion, and I would like to hear that opinion. Mr. Odets. Well, my opinion is that the Communist Party is inter- ested in preserving itself as a minority political party. I believe, sir, that that is their right under the United States Constitution. I do not think that their essential purpose is the preservation of the Con- stitution. I think they want to bring about some kind of social dis- order. I find some of their practices reprehensible. I am against secrecy in any political party. I would not advocate the Communist Party for anyone to join because of their secrecy. One of the elements that made me leave the Communist Party was secrecy. I saw no reason to be conspiratorial in the United States. I see no reason now for any political party to be conspiratorial in the United States. I believe in free speech. I believe in open political practice. I advocate these things. Frequently I have gotten in trouble because I have stood up for free speech at moments when it seemed to be even taking the Communist Party point of view. I have fought for civil rights and civil liberties, again when it seemed to be taking the Communist Party point of view. This is why I find myself on some of these documents, because, as I said a few weeks ago, the lines of liberalism and the lines of left thought frequently cross each other. However, if one winnows out and deals only with the Communist Party position in the United States, I am frankly against it. I am simply against Mr. Velde. Then, do you believe that the avowed purpose of the Communist Party in the United States is not to overthrow our form of government, our Constitution, by force and violence ? Mr. Odets. I don't think that is their purpose. Mr. Velde. Even in view of the fact that it was proven to be true in the case of the trial of the 11 Communists? Mr. Odets. Well, sir, if I may say so, you have a split of opinion about that, even in the Supreme Court of the United States. You have a majority opinion which says what you say, and you have a minority opinion which says what I feel. And I frankly agree with the minor- ity opinion. Mr. Velde. You agree with the minority opinion? Mr. Odets. Of Justice Black and Justice Douglas and Justice Frankfurter. Now, I am trying to cut that very fine and tell you as