Source: H.W. Brands. Reagan: The Life (2015)
Historically, there have been two main reasons for Congressional investigations. The first was to gather information for quality legislation, and the second was put/keep elected officials in the public eye . . . these Representatives / Senators would be the "Guardians of the Commonweal".
Investigations on suspected subversion have numbered a close second to war inquiries. But challenging the conduct of a war meant challenging the President (that's why most investigations have occurred after wars); challenging subversion, however was politically safe. Subversives, if they actually existed, were on the margin of society, and had few defenders. Members of Congress could foam-at-the-mouth with little worry of negative political consequences if they launched an investigation on suspected subversives.
During World War I, Congress investigated German subversion in the US. When Germany was defeated, the focus immediately shifted to Bolshevik subversion, which was the "1st Red Scare". The House Committee on Un-American Activities was created in 1937 (it was originally called the "Dies Committee" since it was under the leadership of Chairman Martin Dies, Jr.
D; TX, pictured above), and launched its first investigation in 1938 . . . Dies tried to prove that communists were linked to the New Deal. In 1946, the committee started using the acronym HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee).
Investigations on suspected subversion have numbered a close second to war inquiries. But challenging the conduct of a war meant challenging the President (that's why most investigations have occurred after wars); challenging subversion, however was politically safe. Subversives, if they actually existed, were on the margin of society, and had few defenders. Members of Congress could foam-at-the-mouth with little worry of negative political consequences if they launched an investigation on suspected subversives.
During World War I, Congress investigated German subversion in the US. When Germany was defeated, the focus immediately shifted to Bolshevik subversion, which was the "1st Red Scare". The House Committee on Un-American Activities was created in 1937 (it was originally called the "Dies Committee" since it was under the leadership of Chairman Martin Dies, Jr.
D; TX, pictured above), and launched its first investigation in 1938 . . . Dies tried to prove that communists were linked to the New Deal. In 1946, the committee started using the acronym HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee).
After the death of Franklin Roosevelt (12 April 1945) and the end of World War II, the Dies (pronounced Deez) Committee focused on FDR's pro-USSR propaganda films, which depicted Russia and Stalin as worthy allies against the Nazis. In 1945, the Dies Committee issued a confidential report that Hollywood was infested with communists. The report stated that if nothing was done with the 500+ communists, they would take over the film industry. Charges of communist subversion in the US was an effective ploy to use against Democrats in the Off-Year Election in 1946; Republicans took control of both houses, and swung into action against Hollywood (as well as President Harry Truman).
In the spring of 1947, HUAC (pictured; HUAC committee member, California Representative Richard Nixon) launched a new investigation and sent members to assess the situation in Hollywood; studio executives were questioned about FDR's influence in making WW II propaganda films in support of the USSR . . . but the investigation that spring was nothing compared to the all-out investigation in the fall.
In the spring of 1947, HUAC (pictured; HUAC committee member, California Representative Richard Nixon) launched a new investigation and sent members to assess the situation in Hollywood; studio executives were questioned about FDR's influence in making WW II propaganda films in support of the USSR . . . but the investigation that spring was nothing compared to the all-out investigation in the fall.
HUAC summoned dozens of Hollywood producers, directors, writers, and actors to Washington, D.C. HUAC's official reason was to "spotlight" communists, to determine the extent of communist subversion in the film industry . . . then the public could do what it wanted at that point. The hearings were a big deal to the American public, in that witnesses were often famous Hollywood personalities.
During the fall hearings, studio executives named people, including Dalton Trumbo (pictured; screenwriter) by Jack Warner; Director Sam Wood ("Kings Row", in which Reagan was a star) also listed names, and Louis B. Mayer was cooperative. But Mayer told HUAC that the industry did a great job of keeping communists at bay; these executives walked a thin line, in that they didn't want Congress to censor movies, but the executives also didn't want to be seen as obstructing a high-profile Congressional investigation . . . especially by movie-goers.
During the fall hearings, studio executives named people, including Dalton Trumbo (pictured; screenwriter) by Jack Warner; Director Sam Wood ("Kings Row", in which Reagan was a star) also listed names, and Louis B. Mayer was cooperative. But Mayer told HUAC that the industry did a great job of keeping communists at bay; these executives walked a thin line, in that they didn't want Congress to censor movies, but the executives also didn't want to be seen as obstructing a high-profile Congressional investigation . . . especially by movie-goers.
The entire film industry was based on restraint-of-trade, and the studio executives didn't want to upset Congress, who then just might step in and break up the Hollywood Oligarchy of studios. After the executives, actors testified; Robert Taylor said he had often detected communist influences. After a few other actors, Ronald Reagan testified (pictured); his service in WW II greatly impressed the members of HUAC.
Reagan echoed what was stated before, being more specific without identifying people. He stated under oath that he believed that there was a communist influence in Hollywood, based on the votes of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG; of which he was their President) on certain issues. Reagan went on to say that Hollywood could police itself, claiming that 90% of SAG was communist-free. Reagan, again on the record, stated that unless the American Communist Party was directly influenced by the USSR, the party should not be banned, telling HUAC to let "Democracy do it's thing".
Reagan echoed what was stated before, being more specific without identifying people. He stated under oath that he believed that there was a communist influence in Hollywood, based on the votes of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG; of which he was their President) on certain issues. Reagan went on to say that Hollywood could police itself, claiming that 90% of SAG was communist-free. Reagan, again on the record, stated that unless the American Communist Party was directly influenced by the USSR, the party should not be banned, telling HUAC to let "Democracy do it's thing".
Reagan really enjoyed being on the national political stage (he later entered politics mostly due to craving an audience and praise), plus he was very good at it, using his quick brain to respond in a variety of ways, including the use of humor. Reagan struck just the right chord of cooperation with HUAC in defending Hollywood, and he came out of the hearings with his reputation and image enhanced.
The same could not be said about the ten writers/directors, called "The Hollywood 10", who were cited for Contempt of Congress by a vote of 346 - 17. The most famous of the "10" was the first to testify, John Howard Lawson of the Screen Writer's Guild (Dalton Tumbo was part of the "10" as well). "The Hollywood 10" became heroes to the Liberals and Leftists, and pariahs to Conservatives all at the same time.
Studio Executives, once it became clear that public opinion was solidly behind HUAC, studio execs started to deny jobs to those in "The Hollywood 10", saying that their actions reflected poorly on the film industry. Those executives stated they would not employ any of the "10" until they were acquitted and declared under oath that they were not a communist. The executives also said the policy wasn't just for the "10"; they knew there was a risk, in that innocent people could be hurt, and that creativity suffered when fear was in the atmosphere in Hollywood.
The same could not be said about the ten writers/directors, called "The Hollywood 10", who were cited for Contempt of Congress by a vote of 346 - 17. The most famous of the "10" was the first to testify, John Howard Lawson of the Screen Writer's Guild (Dalton Tumbo was part of the "10" as well). "The Hollywood 10" became heroes to the Liberals and Leftists, and pariahs to Conservatives all at the same time.
Studio Executives, once it became clear that public opinion was solidly behind HUAC, studio execs started to deny jobs to those in "The Hollywood 10", saying that their actions reflected poorly on the film industry. Those executives stated they would not employ any of the "10" until they were acquitted and declared under oath that they were not a communist. The executives also said the policy wasn't just for the "10"; they knew there was a risk, in that innocent people could be hurt, and that creativity suffered when fear was in the atmosphere in Hollywood.
The HUAC hearings changed Reagan; he was exposed to the allure of the political stage, and he was also at an ideological abyss (he was still a self-proclaimed "New Deal Democrat" in 1947), over which he jumped when he joined the studio executives on the issue of communists in Hollywood. Fortunately for Reagan, "The Hollywood 10" weren't actors, so his job as SAG President was unaffected. Keeping actors working while keeping SAG "communist-free" coincided with the interests/goals of the executives.
Reagan asked the executives what would happen if HUAC charged an actor with being a communist; the executives responded that if the actor refused to answer whether-or-not they were a communist under oath, the actor would be terminated. Reagan didn't object, since politics were the heart of the matter, far more so than economics. Reagan didn't yet know it, but this was this issue, fighting communism, on which he would build his political career.
Reagan asked the executives what would happen if HUAC charged an actor with being a communist; the executives responded that if the actor refused to answer whether-or-not they were a communist under oath, the actor would be terminated. Reagan didn't object, since politics were the heart of the matter, far more so than economics. Reagan didn't yet know it, but this was this issue, fighting communism, on which he would build his political career.
F.B.I. Director J. Edgar Hoover also wanted to talk to Reagan; FBI agents first interviewed Reagan in 1943, during a stagehand's strike. FBI agents told Reagan that communists in Hollywood hated him very much; Reagan was told of meetings where the question was asked what were they going to do with "that sonofabitching bastard Reagan". Reagan decided to cooperate after that eye-opening FBI interview, and in the spring of 1947, in another FBI interview, Reagan started to provide names, including the famous actress Anne Revere (pictured from "Gentleman's Agreement" with Gregory Peck in 1947; she won an Oscar for Best-Supporting Actress in "National Velvet" in 1944).
In effect, Reagan became an informant for the FBI in Hollywood; Reagan's code-name was "T-10"; Reagan was among at least 18 Hollywood informants, and he never publicized his FBI connections. Reagan didn't think he was doing anything wrong; he judged that he would be far more effective as an informant if he remained anonymous, and the suspected subversives didn't know that he was an informant that ruined their careers . . . as would become clear when he was President, Reagan wanted the atmosphere that surrounded him professionally and personally to be as structured and pleasant as possible . . .
In effect, Reagan became an informant for the FBI in Hollywood; Reagan's code-name was "T-10"; Reagan was among at least 18 Hollywood informants, and he never publicized his FBI connections. Reagan didn't think he was doing anything wrong; he judged that he would be far more effective as an informant if he remained anonymous, and the suspected subversives didn't know that he was an informant that ruined their careers . . . as would become clear when he was President, Reagan wanted the atmosphere that surrounded him professionally and personally to be as structured and pleasant as possible . . .