Investigation of So-Called "Blacklisting" in Entertainment Industry—Report of The
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HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES INVESTIGATION OF SO-CALLED "BLACKLISTING" IN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY—REPORT OF THE FUND FOR THE REPUBLIC, EVC—PART 1 HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMEEICM ACTIVITIES HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FOURTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION JULY 10 AND 11, 1056 Printed for the use of the Committee on Un-Aiuerican Activities (INDEX IN PART 3 OF THIS SERIES) UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICB ii823 WASHINGTON : 1956 HAkVA..: C......:_ L.:..ArilO DEPOSITED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMEMX COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES United States House of Representatives FKANCIS E. WALTER, Pennsylvania, Chairman MORGAN M. MOULDER, Missouri HAROLD H. VELDE, Illinois CLYDE DOYLE, California BERNARD W. KEARNEY, New Yoik JAMES B. FRAZIER, Jr., Tennessee DONALD L. JACKSON, California EDWIN E. WILLIS, Louisiana GORDON H. SCHERER, Oliio RiCHABD Abbns, Director — CONTENTS PART 1 July 10, 1956: Testimony of— Page John Coglcy 5175 Afternoon session: John Coglev (resumed) 5208 July 11, 1956: Testimony of— Arnold Forster 5227 Frederick E. Woltman 5240 Afternoon session: James F. O'Neil 5256 George E. Sokolsky (statement) 5287 PART 2 Julv 12, 1956: Testimony of— Vincent W. Hartnett 5291 Afternoon session: Testimony of— Roy M. Brewer 5312 Paul R. Milton .. _ 5327 July 13, 1956: Testimony of— Paul R. Milton (resumed) 5329 Godfrey P. Schmidt 5353 Afternoon session: Victor Riesel (statement) 5367 Francis J. McNamara 5368 PART 3 July 17, 1956: Afternoon session: Testimony of Gale Sondergaard (Mrs. Herbert Biberman) 5390 Julv 18, 1956: Testimony of— Jack Gilford___" 5401 : Public Law 601, 79th Congress The legislation under which the House Committee on Un-American Activities operates is Public Law 601, 79th Congress (1946), chapter 753, 2d session, which provides Be it enacted dy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 8tate» of America in Congress assembled, * * * PART 2—RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Rule X SEC. 121. ST^DING COMMITTEES 17. Committee on Un-American activities, to consist of nine members. Rule XI POWEBS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES (q) (1) Committee on Un-American Activities. (A) Un-American Activities. (2) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommit- tee, is authorized to make from time to time, investigations of (i) the extent, character, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States, (ii) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propa- ganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks the principle of the form of government as guaranteed by our Constitution, and (iii) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any neces- sary remedial legislation. The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investi- gation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable. For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any member designated by any such chairman, and may be served by any person designated by any such chairman or member. RULES ADOPTED BY THE S4TH CONGRESS *******House Resolution 5, January 5, 1955 RtTLE X STANDING COMMITTEES 1. *******There shall be elected by the House, at the commencement of each Congress : (q)*******Committee on Un-American Activities, to consist of nine members. Rule XI POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEES 17. Committee on Un-American Activities. (a) Un-American Activities. (b) The Committee on Un-American Activities, as a whole or by subcommittee, is authorized to make from time to time, investigations of (1) the extent, char- acter, and objects of un-American propaganda activities in the United States, (2) the diffusion within the United States of subversive and un-American propa- ganda that is instigated from foreign countries or of a domestic origin and attacks the principle of the form of goverment as guaranteed by our Constitu- tion, and (3) all other questions in relation thereto that would aid Congress in any necessary remedial legislation. The Committee on Un-American Activities shall report to the House (or to the Clerk of the House if the House is not in session) the results of any such investi- gation, together with such recommendations as it deems advisable. For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Un-American Activities, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the United States, whether or not the House is sitting, has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, to require the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, and to take such testimony, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee or any subcommittee, or by any member designated by any such chairman, and may be served by any person designated by any such chairman or member. VI INVESTIGATION OF SO-CALLED "BLACKLISTING" IN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY—REPORT OF THE FUND FOR THE REPUBLIC, INC.—PART 1 TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1956 United States House of Representatives, Committee on Un-American Activities, Washington^ D. C. PUBLIC HEARING The Committee on Un-American Activities convened, pursuant to call, at 10 : 15 a. m. in the caucus room, Old House Office Building, Hon. Francis E. Walter (chairman) presiding. Committee members present: Representatives Francis E. Walter of Pemisylvania, Morgan M. Moulder of Missouri, Cl;^de Doyle of California, James B. Frazier, Jr., of Tennessee, Edwin E. Willis of Louisiana, Harold H. Velde of Illinois, Donald L. Jackson of Cali- fornia, Gordon H. Scherer of Ohio. Staff members present: Richard Arens, director; and K. Baar- slag. (Present at convening of hearing: Chairman Walter, Representa- tives Moulder, Doyle, Jackson, and Scherer.) The Chairman. The committee will be in order. The Committee on Un-American Activities this morning begins an inquiry into the Fund for the Republic's recently published report on alleged blacklisting in the entertainment industry. Call your first witness, Mr. Arens. Mr. Arens. Mr. John Cogley, please. Kindly remain standing while the chairman administers the oath to you, sir. The Chairman. Do you swear that the testimony you are about to ^ive will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. CoGLEY. I do. The Chairman. Sit down. TESTIMONY OF JOHN COGLEY Mr. Arens. Kindly identify yourself by name, residence, and occu- pation. Mr. CoGLET. My name is John Cogley. I live at 21 Glover Place, Baldwin, N. Y. I am on the executive staff of the Fund for the Republic at present. Mr. Arens. In what capacity are you engaged on the executive staff of the Fund for the Republic, Inc. ? 5175 5176 INVESTIGATION OF SO-CALLED "BLACKLISTING" Mr. CoGLEY. My main duties, although it has not been formalized, seem to be that of a personal assistant to the president of the fund. Mr. Arens. Who is he, please, sir ? Mr. CoGLEY. Mr. Kobert Hutchins. Mr. Arens. Are you appearing today, Mr. Cogley, in response to a subpena which was served upon you by the House Committee on Un- American Activities? Mr. CoGLEY. Yes, sir. Mr. Arens. How long have you been associated with the Fund for the Republic? Mr. CoGLEY. In my present capacity? Mr. Arens. Yes, sir. Mr. CoGLEY. Since January 2, 1 believe, 1956. Mr. Arens. Mr. Cogley, kindly give the committee a brief sketch of your own personal background. Mr. Doyle. Mr. Counsel, wouldn't it be well if the record shows that the witness appears without legal counsel? I think that is the fact. If it is, let's have the record show it. Mr. Arens. Are you represented by counsel today ? Mr. CoGLEY. I am not represented by counsel. Mr. Arens. You were advised, however, in an informal telephone conversation that you have every right to counsel ? Mr. CoGLEY. Yes, sir. Mr. Arens. You were also advised, were you not, that it was the desire and liking of myself as director of this committee that you do appear today with counsel ? Mr. CoGLEY. I consulted counsel, sir, and counsel was under the impression, as I was, that this was an executive session and I do not know if this influenced his decision, but he did not think it was necessary for him to be present here today since he was under the impression that it was merely to answer some questions you had to ask. Mr. Arens. Kindly give us, Mr. Cogley, your own personal back- ground. Wliere were you educated ? Mr. Cogley. I attended parochial schools in Chicago. I attended Loyola University in Chicago. I did postgraduate work at the Cath- olic University of Fribourg in Switzerland. Mr. Arens. Tell us, please, sir, when you completed your formal education ? Mr. Cogley. I returned to school after the war and during the school year 1948-49 I attended the University of Fribourg, and I have not attended formal classes since. Mr. Arens. Pick up the thread of your life and give us a chronology of the principal employments which you have had since completion of your formal education. Mr.