Mr. NIXON. When did you leave the Communist Party? Mr. GARRIGUES. In 1939. Mr. NIXON. Was there any formality in your leaving or did you merely drift away from the party and was there an actual break in your membership? Mr. GARRIGUES. Well, there was a break when I came to Los Angeles. I had no more contact with the party for a year or two. Mr. NIXON. Can you remember the approximate date? Mr. GARRIGUES. It must have been the early part of 1939. Mr. NIXON. Was there any occasion or reason for you to feel all the time that you were in the Communist Party that it was a revolutionary party or was a conspiracy in the sense of advocating the overthrow of this Government, as it was stated? Mr. GARRIGUES. No, not in the sense in which the terms are now being used. That was not my experience with it at all. That was the particular point I studied most carefully. I didn't want to be in such a conspiracy. Mr. NIXON. After you left Los Angeles and left the Communist Party, were any efforts made to recruit you into the Communist Party? Mr. GARRIGUES. No. Mr. NIXON. You were not contacted subsequently to be reactivated? Mr. GARRIGUES. Not at any time, no. Mr. NIXON. And since the time you left you have had no further dealing with the Communist Party? Mr. GARRIGUES. That is correct, none whatsoever. Mr. NIXON. And you have not been a member of the Communist Party since that time? Mr. GARRIGUES. That is correct. Mr. NIXON. Well, I want to express my appreciation for the information which you have given us. Mr. VELDE. Mr. Garrigues, on behalf of the entire Committee on Un-American Activities, I wish to express our thanks for your testimony today. You may be excused. (Whereupon the witness was excused and the subcommittee adjourned subject to the call of the Chair.) INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA-Part 5 TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1953 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, Los Angeles, Calif. 1 EXECUTIVE SESSION The subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to call, at 9: 15 p. m., in the Cleveland Room, Hotel Statler, Los Angeles, Calif., Hon. Donald L. Jackson (acting chairman), presiding. Committee members present: Representatives Donald L. Jackson (acting chairman), and Clyde Doyle. Staff members present: Frank Š. Tavenner, Jr., counsel; Thomas W. Beale, Sr., chief clerk; and William A. Wheeler, investigator. Mr. JACKSON. The committee will please be in order. Mr. Tavenner, will you call the witness? Mr. TAVENNER. Jerome Robinson. Mr. JACKSON. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? TESTIMONY OF JEROME ROBINSON Mr. TAVENNER. What is your full name, please, sir? Mr. ROBINSON. Jerome Robinson. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you accompanied by counsel? Mr. ROBINSON. I am not. Mr. TAVENNER. It is the practice of the committee to make known to every witness they are entitled to have counsel with them if they desire. And furthermore, you would have the right to consult counsel at any time during your interrogation. You understand that? Mr. ROBINSON. I do. Mr. JACKSON. Notwithstanding, you are ready to proceed without counsel? Mr. ROBINSON. I am. Mr. TAVENNER. When and where were you born, Mr. Robinson? Mr. ROBINSON. New York City, February 25, 1910. Mr. TAVENNER. What is your occupation? Mr. ROBINSON. I am a photographer. Released by the committee, April 13, 1953. 31747-53-pt. 5—2 857 Mr. TAVENNER. Will you tell the committee, please, what your formal educational training has been? Mr. ROBINSON. Public school. Mr. TAVENNER. Where do you now reside? Mr. ROBINSON. I live in North Hollywood. Mr. TAVENNER. How long have you lived in Los Angeles? Mr. ROBINSON. About 8, 9 years, maybe 10. Mr. TAVENNER. Prior to that time, where did you live? Mr. ROBINSON. 15 East 53d St., I think, New York City. Mr. TAVENNER. How were you employed in New York City for a period of 2 years before coming to Los Angeles? Mr. ROBINSON. I was a free-lance photographer, mostly. Mr. TAVENNER. Did you engage in any other business in Los Angeles besides that of photography after your arrival here? Mr. ROBINSON. I think so; yes. Mr. TAVENNER. What was the nature of that business? Mr. ROBINSON. Well, I was employed in the shipyards when I first came out here. Mr. TAVENNER. The committee has information, Mr. Robinson, that in 1944 you were a member of a branch of the Communist Party in Los Angeles. Is that correct? Mr. ROBINSON. I decline to answer that question. Mr. TAVENNER. On what grounds do you decline? Mr. ROBINSON. The fifth amendment, I guess. Mr. TAVENNER. I see no occasion for my asking any additional questions. Mr. JACKSON. Any questions, Mr. Doyle? Mr. DOYLE. No questions. Mr. JACKSON. Is there any reason why the witness shouldn't be excused? Mr. TAVENNER. No. Mr. JACKSON. You are excused. Mr. ROBINSON. Will you need me again? Mr. JACKSON. No. You are excused from your subpena. (Whereupon the witness was excused and the subcommittee continued the executive session in relation to other matters.) INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA-Part 5 MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1953 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, Los Angeles, Calif. 1 EXECUTIVE SESSION A subcommittee of the Committee on Un-American Activities met, pursuant to call, at 10: 10 a. m., in the chambers of Courtroom 9, United States Post Office and Courthouse Building, Hon. Donald L. Jackson (acting chairman), presiding. Committee member present: Representative Donald L. Jackson (acting chairman). Staff member present: William A. Wheeler, investigator. Mr. JACKSON. The subcommittee will be in order. Mr. Wheeler, will you call the witness. Mr. WHEELER. Thomas M. McGrath. Mr. JACKSON. 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. McGRATH. I do. TESTIMONY OF THOMAS MATTHEW MCGRATH, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS COUNSEL, WILLIAM B. ESTERMAN Mr. WHEELER. Will the witness state his full name, please? Mr. McGRATH. Thomas McGrath, or with the middle name, Thomas Matthew McGrath. Mr. WHEELER. Where do you presently reside? Mr. McGRATH. In the county of Los Angeles. Mr. WHEELER. Your present occupation? Mr. McGRATH. I am an assistant professor at Los Angeles State College. Mr. WHEELER. Would you give us a brief résumé of your educational background? Mr. McGRATH. Well, the first 8 years, I guess it is, the public school of Highland Township, I believe, District 69, if I am not mistaken, the county of Cass, in North Dakota. Following that, 4 years in high school, Sheldon High School, in the county of Ransom. Following that 4 years I took a B. A. at the University of North Dakota. 1 Released by the committee on same day. And following that, a year and a quarter semester-I have forgotten how it was called-at Louisiana State University, when I took a master of arts. Mr. WHEELER. Approximately what year was that? Mr. MCGRATH. Master of arts, 1939-40. Following that, 1 year at New College, University of Oxford, Oxford, England. That is about it. Mr. WHEELER. When did you attend Oxford? Mr. McGRATH. 1947-48. The year 1947-48. Mr. WHEELER. Did you receive any type of scholarship at Oxford? Mr. McGRATH. Yes, I received a Rhodes scholarship. I received that scholarship in-I was a Rhodes scholar-elect for 1939, if I am not mistaken, but I didn't go to Oxford until 1947, because in the fall of 1939 Rhodes scholars were forbidden to go to England because of the war. Then there was the war, and following the war I couldn't manage to get there until 1947. Mr. WHEELER. When and where were you born? Mr. McGRATH. When and where was I born? Mr. WHEELER. Yes. Mr. McGRATH. I was born November 20, 1916, in North Dakota. Mr. WHEELER. What has your employment been since 1939 ? Mr. McGRATH. Since 1939, let's see. It would have been since 1940, since that is the year I took my degree. I taught one year then at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and following that I jobbed around at this and that, and went into the Army. I came out of the Army Mr. WHEELER. Would you continue your employment from 1940 until you went to the Army? Mr. McGRATH. From 1940 until I went into the Army, most of those jobs, I guess I can't remember. There are a couple I can't remember. Could I speak to you about this? (Witness addresses his counsel.) Mr. ESTERMAN. Yes. (At this point Mr. McGrath conferred with Mr. Esterman.) Mr. JACKSON. Let the record show at this point, pursuant to the authority vested in the chairman of the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities, he has appointed Mr. Jackson as a subcommittee of one to take testimony today. Mr. ESTERMAN. What is the question? The employment record since 1940? Mr. WHEELER, His employment, yes, since 1940, until he entered the United States Army. Mr. ESTERMAN. Give them your best recollection. Mr. McGRATH. All right. I worked for a while, I don't know exactly how long, for a law firm of Stern and Pollett, I think it was, if I am not mistaken, or, Pollock, rather, in New York. Then I worked Mr. WHEELER. Approximately the dates? Mr. McGRATH. Approximate dates, this would have been-I think it would have been straddling the end of 1940 and first part of 1941. And then later on I worked at Kearny Shipyards, Kearny, N. J. Mr. WHEELER. That would have been Mr. MCGRATH. From about March, or something of that sort, until I went into the Army, which was about-I am not certain of this. |