through life with people thinking I am not an American or there is some kind of spy kind of thing, or something like that. The rumors that get around are just terrible. These things kill me. I have to clear that up, and I think what happened last time, if the testimony got around to being too flippant, that I have led some people to believe that-that's what I want to erase. I mean I am deadly serious about this. I can't have people say these things about me. If I may, I would like-for instance, it has been brought to my attention-I didn't know this thing was going on about Mr. DOYLE. What? Mr. BENOFF. I mean, people saying, or a man who I had admired and respected, saying, "Let your conscience be your guide." What's going on? Then I found out there is a rumor aflight that I worked in the Russian Embassy, that my father worked in the Russian Embassy. That is not so. The simple fact of the story is that way back, when I was about 19, I worked for Torgsin, who may have been a part of the Amtorg Trading Corp., which was a Russian subsidiary. I worked as a shipping clerk. I worked for $18 a week. I worked for 6 months. I was happy to have the job. They fired me, or I quit, I don't know which it was, what happened. Mr. DOYLE. How did you get that? Mr. BENOFF. My father did some insurance-he spoke Russian. I went back and asked my father, and he says, "You can go back to your children and everybody and say, 'I was not a member and am not.'" He is retired now, and doesn't do any business. That is the kind of rumor I want to dispel. Then I hear that when I got on the Life with Luigi, there was a fellow by the name of Hy Kraft, who has been identified, been brought up as a Communist, and that there was something indicated of a contact, you know, kind of Communist Party contact was alluded to. That is not so, because I was brought on to see if I could help that show. I was such a great aid that in 3 weeks Mr. Kraft was taken off the show. So how could there have been any connection, any kind of Communist Party connection between Mr. Kraft and myself? I mean, I think that I didn't make my position clear enough at the time; I think I didn't quite understand it, and I think I have to make my position evident. There has to be definiteness about it. I don't want anybody to have any idea that I am affiliated with the Communists. I think it is terrible. Mr. DOYLE. What is wrong with the Communist propaganda program, as far as our Nation is concerned with it, what is there, in your judgment, that makes you so anxious to divorce yourself of the possibility that at any time you were a member of the Communist Party? Suppose you had been? Suppose you were now? Mr. BENOFF. Oh, no. Communism, as I said, it is a disease, it is a menace, and, well, it's taken a lot of people and been a hard lesson to learn; against every interest of our country. It has to be destroyed, I think. Mr. DOYLE. I agree with you, of course, but I want to see if part of your motive in coming here this morning was to come out against the Communist propaganda program, rather than just entirely to clear up your own status in the community; if you get my point. Mr. BENOFF. I certainly do. If I haven't made myself clear Mr. DOYLE. In other words, the reason Don Jackson and I are here this morning is because there is a real threat to our whole constitutional existence by reason of the proven subversive Communist conspiracy to overthrow it by force and violence. Mr. BENOFF. Absolutely. Oh, yes, sir. I had that in my statement. I sat down and I said, "Put down what you think." And I do want to join with the forces Mr. DOYLE. May I ask you one more question: Since you appeared before the committee before, you are adding this supplementary statement-in the interim has it come to you that anything that this committee could do or should do in connection with our hearings, public hearings, such as you appeared in before, that we did not do before? Is there any way we could make that sort of hearing more efficient and of an aid in any way against the Communist conspiracy? You have had several months to think it over. Mr. BENOFF. No, sir. I think the committee is doing a fine job. I think I can help because I think you see it is a frightening thing to appear in public. It is tough for people to appear in public, and I think that persons like myself who have been through this, wherever he finds anybody who is in a similar spot, and either can't make the break or has some doubts, or is being duped and doesn't recognize it, I think I can do a lot of good work. Mr. DOYLE. Then you feel the committee has done and is doing a good job? Mr. BENOFF. Wonderful. Mr. DOYLE. That is all, Mr. Jackson. Mr.JACKSON. Are you presently employed, Mr. Benoff? Mr. BENOFF. No, sir. Mr. JACKSON. But your occupation is that of screen and radio writer? Mr. BENOFF. Yes, sir, and television. Mr. JACKSON. In connection with the supplemental appearance of yourself, has any person made any promises or Mr. BENOFF. Oh, no, sir. Mr. JACKSON. This is a voluntary appearance in order to supplement your previous testimony? Mr. BENOFF. Yes; I requested this and I appreciate being granted an opportunity. Mr. JACKSON. May I say on behalf of the committee we are very glad to have the supplemental testimony. We appreciate your desire to clear this matter up entirely. The subcommittee appreciates your cooperation. Is there any reason why the witness should not be excused? Mr. TAVENNER. No. Mr. JACKSON. Thank you. You are excused. Mr. Brown, will you raise your right hand, please? Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. BROWN. I do. Mr. JACKSON. Be seated, please. TESTIMONY OF JOHN BROWN, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL, J. B. TIETZ Mr.TAVENNER. What is your name? Mr. BROWN. John Brown. Mr. TAVENNER. You are accompanied by counsel ? Mr. TAVENNER. Will you please give your name? Mr. TIETZ. J. B. Tietz, Los Angeles. Mr. TAVENNER. When and where were you born, Mr. Brown? Mr.TAVENNER. When did you come to this country? Mr. TAVENNER. Are you a naturalized American citizen! Mr. TAVENNER. What was your father's name? Mr. BROWN. Julius. Mr. TAVENNER. What is your occupation, Mr. Brown? Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee, please, briefly what your formal educational training has been? Mr. BROWN. I attended grade school in England, Australia, and New York City in the United States, and I think about one term of high school, and, oh, a few weeks at night school. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee, please, what your record of employment has been since 1940? Mr. BROWN. Since 1940 I have been a free-lance actor, working mostly in radio. I have done a few pictures, small parts, and a little television. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you describe more fully what your employment in the moving picture industry has been? Mr. BROWN. Well, sir, it is a difficult thing to describe, since I am what is called a bit actor in pictures; called for whatever thing they happen to think I can do. Most of my employment has been no more than a day or 2 days' duration. Mr. JACKSON. Extending over what period of time, Mr. Brown? Mr. BROWN. I came here in 1943, and I did my first picture work at that time, or in 1944. Mr. TIETZ. By here, you mean Los Angeles? Mr. JACKSON. Yes. Mr. TAVENNER. Will you describe more fully what your connection has been with the radio industry? Mr. BROWN. In the radio industry I am also a free-lance actor. I have done a great deal more work in radio than pictures. I have played mostly comedy parts, as a straight man or comedian. I have also played dramatic roles in dramatic-I don't know whether you know the situation. An actor is called for practically everything that is going on. In New York, for instance, there are a great many so-called soap operas, which I did a good deal of, and out here on the coast I have done mostly comedy shows. Mr. TAVENNER. How long have you been engaged in that type of radio entertainment? Mr. BROWN. I believe I began in 1934. Mr. TAVENNER. When did you come to Los Angeles? Mr. BROWN. Late 1943; I think either very late in October or very late in November. Mr. TAVENNER. Prior to that time where did you reside? Mr. BROWN. New York. Mr. TAVENNER. How were you employed at the time you left New York and came to Los Angeles? Mr. BROWN. As a radio actor. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Brown, have you had the opportunity, either in New York or in Los Angeles, to observe any of the workings of the Communist Party? Mr. BROWN. I decline to answer that question on the grounds of the fifth amendment, on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me. Mr. TAVENNER. Were you at any time affiliated with the Communist Party in the city of New York? Mr. BROWN. I decline to answer that question, sir, on the same grounds. Mr. TAVENNER. Have you at any time been affiliated with the Communist Party in Los Angeles? Mr. BROWN. I decline to answer that question, sir, on the same grounds. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you now a member of the Communist Party? Mr. BROWN. I decline to answer that question, sir, on the same grounds. Mr. JACKSON. Mr. Doyle, any questions? Mr. DOYLE. Are you a registered voter in the State of California? Mr. BROWN. Yes. Mr. DOYLE. Have you continuously registered as a voter in the State of California since you came here? Mr. BROWN. Yes, sir. Mr. DOYLE. I don't question your right to raise the fifth amendment. I am a lawyer, too, I wish to say to counsel. But I am disappointed in your doing it, sir. I want to make that very clear to you. I don't criticize it, but I am disappointed. Because we are here as a subcommittee of your own Congress on a very difficult assignment. We are trying to help uncover the subversive elements in our Nation. I have just come back from Europe. I had been there 30 days. And again I find the best evidence we can get that there is a conspiracy over there emanating directly from the Soviet Union, and it is substantially the same as it is in your country and mine. I hope the time will come before you are much older, Mr. Brown, that with the advice of your counsel, you will feel the protection of your country, and to help the committee uncover whatever there is, if you know anything, about subversive conspiracy in our Nation. I think that is all, Mr. Jackson. Mr. JACKSON. Did you have anything further? Mr. TAVENNER. Yes, Mr. Chairman. I think I should ask the witness 1 or 2 more questions. Are you acquainted with a Mr. Houseley Stevenson, Jr.? Mr. BROWN. I decline to answer that question on the same grounds. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Stevenson testified in an executive session, or made a sworn statement for use by this committee, under date of September 11, 1953, in which he states that he was a member of a neighborhood group of the Communist Party in New York City in 1936 or 1937, and he identified you as a member of that group of the Communist Party. I desire to give you an opportunity to make any explanation that may be in keeping with the facts regarding that testimony, or to deny it or to confirm it. Mr. BROWN. Is that a question, sir? Mr. TAVENNER. Yes. Mr. BROWN. I decline to answer, sir, on the same grounds. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you acquainted with Mr. Robert Shayne Dawe! Mr. BROWN. I decline to answer, sir, on the same grounds. Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Dawe testified before this committee on the same day, September 11, 1953, and stated that he had been a member of the Communist Party in the city of New York and identified you as having been a member of the Communist Party group of which he was a member. He further testified that at that time you were active in radio principally, and that later you became an important supporting player with Fred Allen's show. I desire to give you the opportunity to make such explanation as the facts may justify regarding the testimony of Mr. Shayne, and to either deny or confirm this statement that you were a member of the Communist Party. Mr. BROWN. If that is a question, I decline to answer it on the same grounds. Mr. TAVENNER. I have no further questions. Mr. DOYLE. May I ask you, were you a member of Fred Allen's show in New York? Mr. BROWN. Yes. Mr. DOYLE. What period of time? Mr. BROWN. From about 1934 to 1943. Mr. DOYLE. You were a member of the cast? Mr. BROWN. Yes, sir. Mr. DOYLE. And all that time was the show performing in New York City? Mr. BROWN. No, sir; not all the time. We came to the coast twice for very short periods while Mr. Allen was making a moving picture. Mr. DOYLE. Los Angeles? Mr. BROWN. Los Angeles; yes. Mr. DOYLE. But you were with that show all during that period that you related? Mr. BROWN. Yes. Mr. JACKSON. Is there any reason why the witness should not be excused? Mr. TAVENNER. No, sir. Mr. JACKSON. Very well. The witness is excused. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. ALLAND. I do. |