I have sought to avoid sensationalism, even though much of the FBI’s work in keeping abreast of day-to-day activities of American communists makes us ask in wonderment, “Can this be possible?” To recount the sensational activities of communists would defeat my objective. My purpose has been to assemble, organize, and present basic, everyday facts of communism which will be of maximum help to the people of our country in recognizing and fighting the enemy in our midst. Consequently, where illustrative incidents seemed advisable, I have selected those that have occurred most frequently and are most typical of the communism that is seeking daily to undermine our liberties. I have also deliberately avoided identifying many names and places. I owe deep thanks to many for help in the preparation of this book. On the technical side, I am grateful to William I. Nichols, editor and publisher of _This Week_ magazine, for much editorial guidance and advice. In a wider sense, I owe much to the courageous and self-sacrificing men and women of the FBI who have contributed so greatly to America’s fight against communism. But most of all, I have been guided by the thought of millions of loyal Americans everywhere and in all walks of life. Never has there been a time when we have so much need for one another. And we must never forget that if our government is to remain free, it needs the help of every patriotic man, woman, and child. [Illustration: J. Edgar Hoover] Washington, D.C. December, 1957 _Contents_ _Page_ =Foreword= v =Part I. Who Is Your Enemy?= 3 =Part II. How Communism Began= 1. Marx—And the “Science” of Communism 13 2. Lenin—And the Russian Revolution 23 3. Stalin—A Fallen Idol 35 4. How U.S. Communism Began, 1919-21 48 5. The Party Grows Up 61 =Part III. The Communist Appeal in the United States= 6. Who Are the Communists? 75 7. What Do U.S. Communists Claim? 89 8. Why Do People Become Communists? 97 9. Why People Break with Communism 108 =Part IV. Life in the Party= 10. How the Party Is Organized 123 11. This Is the Party! 138 12. Making Communist Man 149 13. Communist Discipline 163 =Part V. The Communist Trojan Horse in Action=