(The witness confers with her counsel.)
Mr. Tavenner. And I should add, for your information, that the American Federation of Teachers unions has never been cited as a communist front organization.
(The witness confers with her counsel.)
Mrs. Gustafson. Yes; I have been.
Mr. Tavenner. Over what period of time have you been a member?
(The witness confers with her counsel.)
Mrs. Gustafson. Off and on since I became eligible in 1937, whenever I was in the public schools.
Mr. Tavenner. The investigation which this committee has conducted within the past few years has developed information in several different parts of the country, and I refer particularly to New York, to Harvard University, to the general area of Los Angeles, and, I believe, also in Michigan, that the Communist Party made a very strong effort to get in a position to control the activities of the teachers unions affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers. Do you have any knowledge as to whether or not the Communist Party made an effort to infiltrate the American Federation of Teachers union here?
(The witness confers with her counsel.)
Mr. Tavenner. I think I should say, and it may be of some help to you in answering the question, that I have no information of any Communist Party activities within the American Federation of Teachers union here. But I want to know whether there were.