Mr. Tavenner. What was his position?
Mr. O’Connell. As I said, he was on the staff from about, I would say——
Mr. Tavenner. Isn’t that an executive position, being a member of the staff? Was he paid for his services?
Mr. O’Connell. He was paid for his services.
I mean, as I understand, he was not in an executive position. He had an organizational job to do this southern King County. I mean, he was assigned to organizational work, but it certainly wasn’t, I mean he wasn’t chairman or vice chairman, or secretary, or any executive position as I know it. And because of the kind of job he did out there, I dropped him from the staff.
Mr. Tavenner. Now, DeLacy has been shown to have been a member of the Communist Party by witnesses other than Barbara Hartle and since her testimony. Rabbitt has also.
Mrs. Hartle stated she had less knowledge of Communist Party membership on your part, but that she sat with you in Communist Party meetings when all present were Communists. Is that statement true or false?
Mr. O’Connell. That statement, as far as I am concerned, is false. I never sat in any Communist Party meeting with her, at least that I knew was called a Communist Party meeting. I have never sat in when all present were Communists.
Mr. Tavenner. Did you sit in any Communist Party meeting when some of the persons present were not Communists?
Mr. O’Connell. I do not know what her definition of a Communist Party meeting would be. That is the first thing that bothers me about that statement. I, for instance—I mean if the Communist Party called a meeting, as I understand her statement here, if the Communist Party called a meeting I know I never went to that meeting.