Investigation of Communist activities in Seattle, Wash., area. Hearings, Part 3United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
History
Investigation of Communist activities in Seattle, Wash., area. Hearings, Part 3
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
Communism -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Mr. O’CONNELL. I think this would be in line with what I had
said. I told him there was no way I could possibly come without funds.
Mr. TAVENNER. I desire to offer the document in evidence and
ask that it be marked “O’Connell Exhibit No. 4” for identification
purposes only, and to be made a part of the committee files.
Mr. WILLIS. It is so ordered.
Mr. TAVENNER. How were the funds referred to in Silberstein’s
telegram made available to you?
Mr. O’CONNELL. I just don’t remember, but I am pretty sure
that Mr. Silberstein sent me the funds.
Mr. TAVENNER. Were those funds, funds of the National Lawyers
Guild?
Mr. O’CONNELL. I really couldn’t say whether they were the
funds of the National Lawyers Guild or not. As I remember, there
was some confusion between the guild and Mr. Waybur of the national
committee about the funds. I think Silberstein sent these wires out
of the National Lawyers Guild office and then, if I remember, later
collected from the national committee for them, the National Committee
to Defeat the Mundt Bill.
But as I remember, my best recollection is I got the funds from Mr.
Silberstein. I have a recollection, they could have been Lawyers Guild
funds or could have been Mr. Silberstein’s personal check, I am not
sure.
Mr. TAVENNER. When you returned to Washington did you
establish a headquarters for the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt
Bill?
Mr. O’CONNELL. If I remember correctly, Mr. Silberstein was
taking his vacation at that time. I think a month or 6 weeks’ vacation.
He turned over to us the use of the field offices here in Washington.
Mr. TAVENNER. The National Lawyers Guild offices in Washington?
Mr. O’CONNELL. Yes.
Mr. TAVENNER. What address was that? Do you recall?
Mr. O’CONNELL. The thing that comes to my mind was 918 or 920
K Street.
Mr. TAVENNER. Wasn’t it 902 20th Street NW.?
Mr. O’CONNELL. Yes; I think that is right.
Mr. TAVENNER. As a matter of fact, hadn’t that been the
headquarters since 1948 of the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt
Bill?
Mr. O’CONNELL. No. Originally we set up offices in a building
downtown on--what is the main street? Is it E Street, where the
theaters are all located?
Mr. TAVENNER. Could that be F Street?
Mr. O’CONNELL. F Street. I guess it is. If I remember
correctly, the building is the Atlantic Building or some such name, and
we had offices there during 1948, and early--I know offices before I
returned to Montana were also in the same building in 1950.
Mr. TAVENNER. When did you first occupy the offices of the
National Lawyers Guild as the headquarters of the National Committee To
Defeat the Mundt Bill?
Mr. O’CONNELL. I am sure when I came back after July 28, I
probably got there--I can’t remember--either the very last part of July
or the early part of August.
Mr. TAVENNER. Now, prior to 1950 had you registered as a
lobbyist for the National Committee To Defeat the Mundt Bill with the
Clerk of the House of Representatives?
Mr. O’CONNELL. Yes.
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