Joe McCarthy Investigated
Joe McCarthy Investigated
Opening of hearing into allegations that McCarthy and his counsel, Roy Cohn, behaved improperly in their investigation of Communists in the US armed forces. Army-McCarthy Hearings. Red Scare. Red Menace. Anti-Communism. Red baiting. HUAC
Joe McCarthy Investigated
Secretary Of The Army Robert Stevens, Army counsel Joseph Welch standing beside him, being sworn in. Photographers take pictures before testimony is given. Secretary of the Army Robert Stevens. They re being circulated Mr. Chairman. Senator Karl Mundt. And if you have them for the press they may also be distributed now.
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Secretary Of The Army Robert Stevens. this committee and you have my assurance of the fullest cooperation. In order that we may all be quite clear as to just why this hearing has come about, it is necessary for me to refer at the outset to Private G David Schine a former consultant to this committee. David Schine was eligible for the draft. Efforts were made by the chairman of this committee, Senator Joseph R McCarthy, and the subcommittee s chief counsel, Mr. Roy M Cohn, to secure a commission for him. Mr. Schine was not qualified and he was not commissioned. Selective Service then drafted him. Subsequent efforts were made to seek preferential treatment for him after he was inducted
Joe McCarthy Investigated
Secretary Of The Army Robert Stevens. The chronology of March 10th discloses what you may find to be substantial and undue efforts of the part of Senator McCarthy and members of his staff to have preferential treatment given to G David Schine by the Army. The Senator and his staff claim that no such pressure was exerted. They dealt with the matter by making charges against Department of Army personnel and by attempting to draw attention to situations either totally irrelevant or only remotely relevant to the Schine matter. In this statement I shall deal first with the issue raised by Senator Potter, those pressures which were exerted on the Army on behalf of Mr. Schine. And second, and second I shall comment briefly on other matters raised by Senator McCarthy in this case. Before getting in to the Schine story
Joe McCarthy Investigated
Chief Counsel Roy Cohn sits next to McCarthy. Joseph McCarthy (R Wisconsin). Mr. Chairman, may I say regardless of what the Chair and Mr. McClellan decided, when Mr. Stevens said it was my responsibility to speak for the Army , he is not speaking for the Army here. All that we ve been investigating is some Communists in the Army, a very small percentage, I would say much less than one percent. And when the Secretary says that he is in effect speaking for the Army, he is putting the 99 and 9/10 percent of good honorable loyal men in the Army in the position of trying to oppose the exposure of Communists in the Army. I think that it should be made clear at the outset so we needn t waste time on it. Hour after hour that Mr. Stevens is speaking for Mr. Stevens, and those who are speaking through him. When Mr. Adams speaks, he is speaks for Mr. Adams and those who are speaking through him. And likewise Mr. Hensel. And I may say that I resent very very much his attempt to connect the great American Army with this attempt to sabotage the efforts of this Committee's investigation into Communism. John McClellan. I again say Mr. Chairman that there s nothing in this statement from which an inference can be drawn that the Army has become a party in interest to this controversy. And we are in accord with the Senator that the parties in interest are Mr. Stevens, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Hensel. Joseph McCarthy (R Wisconsin). If that s understood then I have no objections. Senator Karl Mundt. That is definitely understood and I think our secretary
Joe McCarthy Investigated
John McClellan. read your statement. Arguments will be made on it at the conclusion of this hearing. I suggest that in order to conserve time, Mr. Stevens proceed with the reading of his statement. Senator Karl Mundt. Your statement has been rules in order Mr. Stevens. You may proceed.
Joe McCarthy Investigated
Unidentified Caucasian man being sworn in, taking seat before Subcommittee.
Joe McCarthy Investigated
Secretary Of The Army Robert Stevens. in January mentioned the possibility of overseas duty for Schine. Now turn to the charges made by Senator McCarty. One that I urged the Senator to go after the Navy and the Air Force. And two that I am guilty of blackmail. I would like first to recall briefly at this point certain event rising out of the General Zwicker incident. On Thursday evening, February 25, I made a public statement from the White House. In that statement
Joe McCarthy Investigated
Secretary Of The Army Robert Stevens. I suggest you check with those services. It is a singular thing to me that this serious charge that I tried to persuade the Chairman of this committee to investigate the Navy and the Air Force was kept secret so long. Why should it have come only to light four months later on the day after the Army chronology of events became public. Now as to Senator McCarthy s charge of blackmail. This charge was included in the Senator s memorandum dates December 9th and also made public March 12th. In this case for more than three months, this most serious charge that the Chairman of this committee had been blackmailed by the Secretary of the Army was kept secret not only from the public but from the other members of the committee as I understand it. I do not know what the Senator had in mind when he made this charge, but during the 90 days in which he kept it secret Joseph McCarthy (R Wisconsin). Point of order Mr. Chairman. The Secretary and I assume, by an honest mistake is constantly referring to my being blackmailed. There s never been a charge that I was blackmailed. There s been a charge that was an attempt to blackmail, a very, very unsuccessful attempt and I think the record should be clear on that at this time. Senator Karl Mundt. The Senator will have a chance on his cross examination to bring that up when he interviews the Secretary of the Army. Secretary of the Army Robert Stevens. I do not know what the Senator had in mind when he made this charge, but during the 90 days in which he kept it secret he continued to make flattering remarks about me in public.
Joe McCarthy Investigated
Secretary Of The Army Robert Stevens. description of a blackmailer. The fact remains that this most serious charge is still on the record. I therefore state that it is absolutely false. By way of summary, may I say again morale are priceless commodities in these times and I count it a welcome duty to testify to their soundness here today. The Schine case is only an example of the wrongful seeking of privilege of the prevision of power. It has been a distraction that has kept many men from the performance of tasks far more important to the welfare of this country than the convenience of a single Army private. In conclusion I want to make it clear that the United States Army does not coddle Communists. This committee knows that. The American people know that.