We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
388 COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY
belief that if General Eisenhower were a witness before this committee and he was asked the question, "Are you a member of the Communist Party ^" he would not only be very responsive to the question, but he would be absolutely insulted, and solely for this reason : A great man like General Eisenhower would not ever think or dream or stoop to ever being a low-down Communist. Go ahead. [Loud applause.]
Mr, Stripling. Mr. Chairman, again I will ask Mr, Russell to take the stand.
Mr. Russell, you have been sworn and you have been identified as an investigator for this committee?
Mr. Russell, Yes, sir,
TESTIMONY OF LOUIS J. EUSSELL
Mr. Stripling. Were you detailed to make an investigation to determine whether or not Alvah Bessie was ever at any time a member of the Communist Party ?
Mr. Russell. I was.
Mr. Stripling. What did your investigation disclose?
Mr. Russell. During the course of my investigation I secured information relating to the registration card of Alvah Bessie in the Communist Party of the United States. I have a photostatic copy of the registration card of Alvah Bessie in the Communist Party of the United States, which bears the number "47279" and which contains the notation, "1944, card No. 46836."
It contains the name "Alvah Bessie," His address is given as "4653 Coldwater Canyon; city, Hollywood; county, Los Angeles; State, California."
It contains a notation, "New card issued on December 10, 1944." The description of Alvah Bessie is given as follows: "Male; white; occupation, writer ; industry, motion pictures." The question is then asked : "Member of CIO, A. F. of L., independent union, or no union?" "Independent union" is checked.
The question on the bottom of the card, "Is member club subscriber for Daily Worker?" Above that notation "Daily Worker" there is contained in ink the notation, "P. W.," meaning the "Peoples World." The answer "Yes" is checked.*'
Mr. Stripling. That is all, Mr. Russell.
Mr. Chairman, we have here a memorandum prepared by the investigative and research staff of the Committee on Un-American Activities dealing with the Communist affiliations of Alvah Bessie. It is contained on 7 pages and lists 32 separate affiliations.
With the Chair's permission, I will ask Mr. Mandel, director of research, to read this memorandum. Is that agreeable to the Chair?
The Chairman. Yes, sir.
Mr. Mandel (reading) :
Information From the Files of the Committee on Un-American Activities, United States House of Representatives, on the Communist Affiliations of Alvah Bessie
Aecoi'dins to the Motion Picture Almanac, Alvali Bessie is credited with the writing of the following motion pictures : Northern Pursuit, Warner Bros., 1943 ;
* See appendix, p. 541,, for exhibit 75.