WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 1948
Throughout the spring of 1948, the Hollywood Blacklist had grown in size and public recognition. Just as J. Jordan McWilliams and Congressman Richard Allen Bailey had predicted, no one, not even the most hardworking, serious, and talented people in Hollywood, were free from scrutiny. Those who refused to sign incriminating affidavits were subpoenaed and scheduled to appear before the committee.
Skillful public relations campaigns continued to amplify the threat of the atomic attack at every opportunity. Any incident that suggested possible aggressive behavior on the part of the Russians was played up in the press. The publicity was being carefully managed to expose a country exhausted from fighting the last Great War to fear the possibility of a whole new threat. Political candidates found it useful to accuse their opponents of being “soft on Communism.”
Frightened citizens built bomb shelters in their backyards. Schools regularly conducted air raid drills during which boys and girls were taught how to seek shelter under their desks. Street signs were erected to point the way to the closest public shelter. At movie theaters, weekly newsreels featured the Distant Early Warning Line, the radar surveillance system being constructed in Alaska.
Screenwriters were a favorite target of the anti-Communist zealots. The investigation arm of the HUAC had identified a promising new target: William W. Weyl, or “Mr. Bill,” as he was known to his friends. A best-selling author, a celebrated New York playwright, and a prolific screenwriter, Mr. Bill was one of Hollywood’s most respected personalities. During the war, he had been one of the first members of the film industry to enlist in the navy. He was a member of one of the early classes to earn their wings at the navy’s flight school at Pensacola, Florida. Following graduation, he was sent to a secret airbase in Western Nevada, known as “Area 51,” for special training.
In early 1942, Mr. Bill was one of the first newly graduated pilots to be assigned to a carrier group in the South Pacific. Flying missions off the carrier and land-based airstrips, Lt. William W. Weyl was one of the first American pilots to become a decorated ace pilot. He was being promoted as one of the early authentic heroes to emerge from the early chaotic war America was unsuccessfully waging in the South Pacific. Articles describing Lieutenant Weyl’s accomplishments frequently appeared in the American newspapers and weekly magazines. Newscasts often reported on his latest “kills.” While the war raged on, he had been asked on two different occasions to return to the United States to tour assembly plants and help the government sell war bonds. Mr. Bill was becoming a familiar name in American homes, offices, factories, and on school playgrounds.
Now, only a few years following Captain Bill’s separation from the navy, the FBI had placed his name on their list of possible subversives. They had honed in on his prewar literary work, Spain: Road Test for Fascism. Set largely in the trench warfare of the Spanish Civil War, his book told the story of loyal, brave, Spanish patriots who valiantly fought alongside local Communist forces. They were engaged in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat national armies under the command of Fascist General Franco, whose armies were trained and equipped to test Nazi Germany’s recently developed air and ground equipment and weaponry.
Mr. Bill, a serious and decorated defender of America, never considered his subpoena as a confrontational threat. When he refused to sign what he considered to be an inaccurate affidavit, he never considered the possibility that a writer of novels and screenplays, and a decorated war veteran, would be suspected of Communist subversion. Choosing to appear without the benefit of counsel, he would do whatever he could to be helpful and leave as quickly as possible.
Congressman Bailey and the rest of the committee were pleased. The appearance of a known war hero would help them to convince the American public the spread of Communist influence could be found anywhere. What better way could the committee demonstrate the pervasiveness of spreading Communism than to expose a decorated war hero as a Communist sympathizer?
* * *
MOST OF THOSE IN THE ROOM FOR THE HEARING WERE NOT AWARE that the witness, Mr. Bill, and Richard Allen Bailey had both attended the University of Southern California at the same time. Although they were members of different fraternities, the social world of fraternities and sororities was small and relatively close. Their paths had frequently crossed. Every time Bill thought back to those days, he remembered the former football hero as being braggadocios, craving to be the center of attention, and a seeker of approval. He remembered why the nickname “Slick” suited him so well. Ten years had passed since he had last seen the “campus hero” but his recollections of Dick’s ball handling skills, his ability to bed rich women, and his ability to talk his way out of trouble still remained clearly etched in his mind.
As the hearing was called to order and he was sworn in as a witness, Mr. Bill watched Bailey, now older but still displaying his signature arrogant air, began his questioning of him and his book. Almost from the asking of the first question he doubted Bailey had ever read his book.
In the first round of questions, Mr. Bill answered Bailey’s questions with “yes” and “no” answers. Or at most, with very few words. As they moved deeper into the hearing, the questions began to take on a more sinister tinge. It was difficult for Mr. Bill not to perceive the committee regarded his book Spain: Road Test for Fascism was being written out of some deep conviction on his part that Communism was a noble and worthwhile enterprise.
Several questions later, when he began to realize he was being regarded as a Communist sympathizer, he concluded that he needed to start thinking about how best to protect himself. Two questions later, he responded, “Excuse me, Congressman, if I correctly understand your question, it pertains to the hero, or protagonist of the book, and begs the question, ‘Was he a secret member of the Communist Party, trained in Moscow by the Russians?’ Since I don’t recall including any information describing what you have just finished asking me, may I inquire if you, personally, have read my book?”
Unprepared for the challenge, Bailey attempted to regain the high ground. “Did you attend a party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Adams on May 17, 1937?”
“Most likely; that was years ago. I can’t verify the precise date. But, yes, I regularly attended social functions at their home around that time.”
“And were you aware that Mr. Adams and several of his guests were active members of the Communist Party?”
“Yes, sir, I recall participating in several conversations where people were comparing the then-current economic consequences of Democratic Free Enterprise with those of socialist economics.”
Believing the witness had finished answering his question, Congressman Bailey was beginning to pose his next question when Mr. Bill continued his testimony. “Might I inquire what law was broken? Was it against the law to be a member of the Communist Party in 1937? Did we break the law by discussing the comparative advantages between Democratic Free Enterprise and socialist economics? Am I mistaken in my belief American citizens are granted the right to be a member of whatever political party they choose, they are free to assemble with people of their choosing, they are free to discuss whatever they wish, and as an author, I am free to write about whatever I choose, and in any manner I choose, provided I don’t violate any laws pertaining to libel and slander?”
“Not so fast, Mr. Weyl. It’s only fair that I advise you that unless you cooperate and answer the questions of this committee, regardless of your desire to invoke your First or Fifth Amendment rights, you can be found in contempt of Congress. Do you understand?”
Glaring at the congressman, Mr. Bill said, “I’ll tell you what I believe. In appearing here today, I expected to be asked routine questions about anything I might know about Communist influence I may have witnessed as a citizen, a former military officer, or a working member of the Southern California motion picture industry. I now believe, by answering any more of your questions, I could implicate myself, or even worse, someone else.”
Congressman Bailey, challenged by the response but not wishing to test the legal validity of a witness invoking his First and Fifth Amendment rights, snatched up a sheet of paper, strode up to where the accused sat, and slapped it on the table in front of him. In his most intimidating tone, he commanded, “Mr. Weyl, I want you to carefully study the names on this sheet. When you are finished, I will be asking you some questions.”
When the witness raised his head after reading the names on the list, Bailey asked his first question. “Do you recognize any of the names on that list?”
“Yes,” said Mr. Bill. “Several are friends of mine. I have worked with some of the others professionally, and some I only know by reputation. All of them are highly respected, hardworking members of Southern California’s motion picture industry.”
“Very well, Mr. Weyl. Now, will you please tell the committee which of these people you know to be members of the Communist Party, have attended Communist cell meetings, or you have observed discussing Communist activities?”
The next morning, a shocking headline appeared in many of the nation’s largest newspapers.
“Indicted for Contempt of Congress”
Written by Walt Matthews
Refusing to answer questions of the House Un-American Activities Committee regarding his friends’ involvement with the Communist Party, Mr. William W. Weyl, a decorated naval aviator and celebrated screenwriter and novelist, was charged with contempt of Congress. If convicted, he can expect to spend 6 months to 2 years in a minimum-security prison.
In a private interview with Mr. Weyl, this reporter has learned that he has been terminated by his employer and that his name has been added to the Hollywood Blacklist. If convicted of contempt of Congress, he will forfeit his military and Social Security benefits in addition to doing jail time in a minimum-security prison.
After witnessing this civil rights debacle, this reporter feels compelled to ask, “If a law-abiding, highly decorated war hero, a distinguished writer of plays and movies, can be terminated by his employer and stripped of his protection under due process of law, how can we, with our more limited knowledge of the law and limited financial resources, be expected to defend ourselves against the tyranny of our own government?”
* * *
THAT SAME MORNING, SITTING AROUND THEIR CONFERENCE TABLE, members of the House Un-American Activities Committee were discussing the events of the prior day’s hearing.
“Well, Dick,” said the chairman, “I guess the bad news is that we didn’t obtain all the information we sought. On the positive side, we certainly received a lot of publicity. One thing for certain, any future witnesses will understand what can happened if they expect to protect themselves with the First or Fifth Amendments. On balance, I would say we had a pretty good day.”