Mr. Tavenner. Lee Pressman?
Mr. Dennett. Lee Pressman.
I did try to do that, but my experience with Lee Pressman was highly unsatisfactory, and I came back to one of the district bureau meetings and reported the unsatisfactory nature of my relations with him, and the district organizer instructed me to destroy the report which I had brought back.
I had brought back a somewhat detailed report of my unsatisfactory experiences with him, and the bureau listened with considerable astonishment at my impressions of how unsatisfactory this situation was. That was from the first convention. And after that, after they had instructed me to destroy the records, they also instructed me to not talk about it with anyone because they feared it might undermine the prestige of such an important person as Mr. Lee Pressman.
Mr. Velde. During what period of time did you know Mr. Pressman?
Mr. Dennett. That was in 1938.
Mr. Velde. At that time he was in the CIO. He had left the Government, as I understand it.
Mr. Dennett. He was the general counsel of the CIO, and was John L. Lewis’ righthand man.
Mr. Velde. I do not recall the date of Mr. Pressman’s testimony. Was it in 1949?
Mr. Tavenner. Yes; in 1949 or early 1950 we had him as a witness before our committee and interrogated him on his connection with the CIO at that particular time.