Mr. O’Connell. No; I never did.
Mr. Tavenner. Had you heard of it?
Mr. O’Connell. I think the way I heard of it, I don’t know whether this is the same letter, but Senator Bridges made a speech on the floor of the Senate I think in 1950 in which I am pretty sure he quoted or actually inserted the Gardner Jackson letter, if I remember, and I think I read it within Senator Bridges remarks at that time that were on the floor.
Now, I remember that there was quite a to-do about it. I was out in the State of Montana at that time. I have been close. I have known the Farm Union leadership and members out there and I know they were exercised and committed and worried about this whole development.
Mr. Tavenner. Do you recall from that letter, and the discussions which you have just mentioned, that Lem Harris, whom I have identified from the committee files as a person prominent in the agricultural section of the Communist Party, was himself attempting to decide what awards or what grants the trustees of the foundation should make to the National Farmers Union?
Mr. O’Connell. I don’t recall as far as I am concerned any influence on me. I voted as far as I was concerned on those grants the way I wanted to.
Mr. Tavenner. I understand that, but I am asking you about your knowledge and what you learned in the course of the performance of your duties as a trustee.
Mr. O’Connell. As far as Lem Harris was concerned, I never heard anything about Lem Harris’ influence or anything.
Mr. Tavenner. You have just told us there was a great disturbance in 1950 when this information became public.
Mr. O’Connell. Over the Gardner Jackson letter; yes.