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 HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 3497 acutely and honestly as I can what I believe, without evading the issue that you bring out. Mr. Velde. I just wanted to get thai clear in my mind. Mr. Tavenner. Did you, while a member of the Communist Party, study the literature given to you by the Communist Party and did you read the constitution of the Communist Party? Mr. Odets. I read all of the literature, sir, only slightly, a little. Mr. Tavenner. Well, did you read the constitution of the Com- munist Party? Mr. Odets. I frankly did not know that they had a constitution. That the Communist Party has a constitution, I didn't know that, Mr. Tavenner. You have spoken of the Communist Party as a po- litical party. By that do you mean that you do not agree that com- munism in this country as established and the Communist Party of the United States is not a conspiratorial party directed from sources out- side of the United States and aimed at the overthrow of the Govern- ment of the United States? Mr. Odets. You are asking me, sir, do I believe that the Communist Party is directed by interests outside of the United States, and are they directed toward the overthrow of the United States Government? Mr. Tavenner. Yes. Mr. Odets. My guess would be that the Communist Party in the United States takes its orders or follows directions, follows directions from European sources. As to my belief about their trying to vio- lently overthrow the Government of the United States, I am inclined to think not, I don't know. The reason I say I don't know is because if a party is interested in real conspiracy, they don't publish, they don't publish newspapers, they don't publish pamphlets, they don't put out all of this literature. I am talking as honestly and as acutely as I can at the moment. I mean, it is easy for me to slough over these matters. It is easy for me to evade these questions. But to answer you honestly I cannot see that a party that would be interested in treachery would publish its programs in the public press, would put out 5-cent pam- phlets, would be putting out newspapers, would be putting out pam- phlets available to anyone and everyone. Mr. Tavenner. Hasn't Lenin been perfectly plain about, his objects in overthrowing the governments of capitalistic countries, as he re- ferred to them? Hasn't he put that in writing and hasn't that been the backbone of the doctrine of the Communist Party, openly and aboveboard in every country in the world ? Mr. Odets. I will agree with you, generally, it is open to question. My little reading says, "Well, this is open to question." But I think I would agree with you generally that where there was a revolution in Russia, Lenin said let's take over. I am certain that is what happened. History certainly tells us that. Mr. Velde. May I ask a question for clarification? You mentioned that you felt that the American Communist Party was directed by European sources. What do you mean by ''European sources"? Mr. Odets. I would say that they took their line Mr. Velde. What part of Europe ? Mr. Odets. They took their line from Communist Parties abroad. For instance, there seems to have been a time during the war when the Communist Party went about-face and said, "Let's not be a Com- 21546—52—pt. 8 4