Investigation of Communist activities in Seattle, Wash., area. Hearings, Part 3

by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities

Mr. Tavenner. Communist or not?

Mr. O’Connell. Communist or non-Communist.

Mr. Tavenner. You were actually one of the sponsors for the call to the conference, in June of 1940, which was alluded to in the citation by Attorney General Biddle; were you not?

Mr. O’Connell. I don’t know whether I was. If my name is there, I was, and of course I was all for any organization that was fighting for constitutional liberties and still am, any organization that fights for them.

Mr. Tavenner. How long did you remain associated with the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties?

Mr. O’Connell. Associated with them?

Mr. Tavenner. Yes.

Mr. O’Connell. In what capacity?

Mr. Tavenner. In any capacity. You were a sponsor of the call for the constitutional liberties conference which gave birth to the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties.

Mr. O’Connell. I imagine I was a sponsor as long as it took to sponsor the call. I don’t know how long that might be. But I had no office in the National Federation.