(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Carlson. I am sure in my mind that it was in the fall of 1949 that I failed to reregister in the Communist Party.
Mr. Tavenner. But the only reason you have assigned for your withdrawal from the Communist Party in 1949 is the Korean war, which did not begin until nearly a year later.
Now it is rather difficult for the committee, I am sure, to understand whether or not your reasons for withdrawing from the Communist Party are being given in good faith.
Mr. Carlson. Mr. Chairman, I was quite active in my union and in my shop as a good trade union member, and, to tie one thing with another, I don’t have anything to go by except that Korean war. I remember that was about the time.
Mr. Tavenner. Then you must have been mistaken as to the year in which you withdrew from the Communist Party.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Carlson. That is possible.
Mr. Tavenner. I would much rather believe that you were mistaken than believe you are trying to deceive the committee.
Mr. Carlson. No. That is not the case.