Ronald Reagan, Testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee (1947)
When the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began to investigate charges of communist influence in Hollywood, Ronald Reagan was president of the Screen Actors Guild. He was not yet a politician, but HUAC considered him a friendly witness because of his anticommunist stance. Significantly, Reagan was not the only future president present for that days testimony. Richard Nixon was a member of the committee.
The Committee met at 10:30 A.M. [October 23, 1947], the Honorable J. Parnell Thomas (Chairman) presiding.
THE CHAIRMAN: The record will show that Mr. McDowell, Mr. Vail, Mr. Nixon, and Mr. Thomas are present. A Subcommittee is sitting.
Staff members present: Mr. Robert E. Stripling, Chief Investigator; Messrs. Louis J. Russell, H. A. Smith, and Robert B. Gatson, Investigators; and Mr. Benjamin Mandel, Director of Research.
MR. STRIPLING: When and where were you born, Mr. Reagan?
MR. REAGAN: Tampico, Illinois, February 6, 1911.
MR. STRIPLING: What is your present occupation?
MR. REAGAN: Motion-picture actor.
MR. STRIPLING: How long have you been engaged in that profession?
MR. REAGAN: Since June 1937, with a brief interlude of three and a half years-that at the time didn't seem very brief.
MR. STRIPLING: What period was that?
MR. REAGAN: That was during the late war.
MR. STRIPLING: What branch of the service were you in?
MR. REAGAN: Well, sir, I had been for several years in the Reserve as an officer in the United States Calvary, but I was assigned to the Air Corp.
MR. STRIPLING: Are you the president of the guild at the present time?
MR. REAGAN: Yes, sir. . . .
MR. STRIPLING: As a member of the board of directors, as president of the Screen Actors Guild, and as an active member, have you at any time observed or noted within the organization a clique of either Communists or Fascists who were attempting to exert influence or pressure on the guild?
MR. REAGAN: Well, sir, my testimony must be very similar to that of Mr. [George] Murphy and Mr. [Robert] Montgomery. There has been a small group within the Screen Actors Guild which has consistently opposed the policy of the guild board and officers of the guild, as evidenced by the vote on various issues. That small clique referred to has been suspected of more or less following the tactics that we associated with the Communist Party.
MR. STRIPLING: Would you refer to them as a disruptive influence within the guild?
MR. REAGAN: I would say that at times they have attempted to be a disruptive influence.
MR. STRIPLING: You have no knowledge yourself as to whether or not any of them are members of the Communist Party?
MR. REAGAN: No, sir, I have no investigative force, or anything, and I do not know.
MR. STRIPLING: Has it ever been reported to you that certain members of the guild were Communists?
MR. REAGAN: Yes, sir, I have heard different discussions and some of them tagged as Communists.
MR. STRIPLING: Would you say that this clique has attempted to dominate the guild?
MR. REAGAN: Well, sir, by attempting to put over their own particular views on various issues. . . .
MR. STRIPLING: Mr. Reagan, there has been testimony to the effect here that numerous Communist-front organizations have been set up in Hollywood. Have you ever been solicited to join any of those organizations or any organization which you consider to be a Communist-front organization?
MR. REAGAN: Well, sir, I have received literature from an organization called the Committee for a Far-Eastern Democratic Policy. I don't know whether it is Communist or not. I only know that I didn't like their views and as a result I didn't want to have anything to do with them. . . .
MR. STRIPLING: Would you say from your observation that this is typical of the tactics or strategy of the Communists, to solicit and use the names of prominent people to either raise money or gain support.
MR. REAGAN: I think it is in keeping with their tactics, yes, sir.
MR. STRIPLING: Do you think there is anything democratic about those tactics?
MR. REAGAN: I do not, sir.
MR. STRIPLING: Mr. Reagan, what is your feeling about what steps should be taken to rid the motion-picture industry of any Communist influences?
MR. REAGAN: Well, sir, ninety-nine percent of us are pretty well aware of what is going on, and I think, within the bounds of our democratic rights and never once stepping over the rights given us by democracy, we have done a pretty good job in our business of keeping those people's activities curtailed. After all, we must recognize them at present as a political party. On that basis we have exposed their lies when we came across them, we have opposed their propaganda, and I can certainly testify that in the case of the Screen Actors Guild we have been eminently successful in preventing them from, with their usual tactics, trying to run a majority of an organization with a well-organized minority. In opposing those people, the best thing to do is make democracy work. . . .
Sir, I detest, I abhor their philosophy, but I detest more than that their tactics, which are those of the fifth column, and are dishonest, but at the same time I never as a citizen want to see our country become urged, by either fear or resentment of this group that we ever compromise with any of our democratic principles through that fear or resentment. I still think that democracy can do it.
Document Analysis
Which aspects of Reagans testimony would make the committee consider him a friendly witness?
What did Reagan have to say about communists in Hollywood? Did he seem to fear their influence?
To what extent do you believe Reagan's testimony influenced his political thought as a political leader and president?
Which aspects of Reagans testimony would make the committee consider him a friendly witness?
They would consider him a friendly witness because he talked about hearing some mention of there being actual communists in the movie industry and that he abhors their views and wants nothing to do with them.He also says he has been approached by a group that he think might be communist and turned them done and thinks democracy will never fail against communism.
What did Reagan have to say about communists in Hollywood? Did he seem to fear their influence?
He said that there is a small group of them in the Screen Actors Guild and have tried to push their way in different votes and have been disruptive at times.Reagan does not because his group in the guild can outvote them and curtail their efforts.He also believes democracy will prevail against communism.
To what extent do you believe Reagan's testimony influenced his political thought as a political leader and president?
I dont think it influenced him much unless he was forced to make that statement because he if he made it by himself then it was his own thought and thus was already one of his own views and/or ideas that he lived by/believed in.However this experience may have influenced him as a political leader and president to a fair degree because these people were serious and out to get any communists so he knew that communists were a threat, at least their ideas were to democracy, and thus cannot be given any kind of outpost for doing their work here on any large scale.
1. Which aspects of Reagans testimony would make the committee consider him a friendly witness?
Throughout his testimony, Ronald Reagan made it very clear that he was not indeed a communist. He did not hesitate to state that there were communist afflicted groups within Hollywood and he stated his feelings on communism, which were that he was against the views and ideas of it and he did not want this country to fall into it.
2. What did Reagan have to say about communists in Hollywood? Did he seem to fear their influence?
Reagan said that they had confronted him a couple of times with their views, trying to sway him their way. They were always trying to place their views on other people and were always trying in influence others to agree with them. Reagan didnt seem to fear their influence at all. He didnt want anything to do with them.
3. To what extent do you believe Reagan's testimony influenced his political thought as a political leader and president?
I think Reagans testimony had a lot to do with his early political beginnings. This testimony helped him to begin to understand what he believed in and what he thought was right or wrong. He was very outspoken with his views through his testimony and this is a vital component to be able to do when becoming a politician.
What aspects of Reagans testimony would make the committee consider him a friendly witness?
They would consider Reagan a friendly witness because he served as a Reserve officer in the U.S. Cavalry.In addition, he is testifying that he believes there is a small group of people in the Screen Actors Guild that are opposed to the Guild board and believes that they may be Communists.Reagan testifies that he is against Communism and he tells the committee that he believes in democracy.
What does Reagan have to say about communists in Hollywood? Did he seem to fear their influence?
Reagan stated that he believed that there were communists in Hollywood and that he disagreed with their philosophy and detested their tactics.He called them dishonest.He did not seem to fear their influence.He explains that his group the Screen Writers Guild has done a good job of keeping these people from overtaking the organization.He tells the committee that his group has been able to expose the lies of this group.He believes in democracy and he feels that democracy can prevail over this group and their philosophy.
To what extent do you believe that Reagans testimony influenced his thought as a political leader?
Reagans testimony was based on his own thoughts and beliefs at the time of the testimony.The testimony may have heightened his awareness of the issue of communism and the change that it would mean for the U.S. if many people allowed themselves to be positively influenced by communism.I believe that his ideas and beliefs that he shared with the committee about communism and democracy did play a part in his thoughts as a political leader because they were a part of his belief system before the testimony.
Document AnalysisWhich aspects of Reagans testimony would make the committee consider him a friendly witness? Regan was polite he always said yes sir and no sir. He also seemed very truthful and believable. He admitted that was a group of communists instead of just ignoring or avoiding their existence.What did Reagan have to say about communists in Hollywood? Did he seem to fear their influence? No he did not seem to fear their influence. There was only a few of them and most people knew about it. They tried to be disruptive but their views didnt appeal too many. They were a minority and the majority wasnt conforming to them.To what extent do you believe Reagan's testimony influenced his political thought as a political leader and president?I dont think it influenced his political pathway. It was just a testimony, and they were questioning him about communism. In the excerpt he spoke about how he didnt agree with them, but he never really said what his were.
Which aspects of Reagans testimony would make the committee consider him a friendly witness?
The fact that he consistently tells the committee his anti- communist views, saying I abhor their philosophy and speaks against many of his fellow film actors guild members by implying that they had very radical and communist- like thoughts. Since he is so strictly against anything communist and because he is a well known celebrity he would be the perfect person to denounce communism and preach its evils to the American populace.
What did Reagan have to say about communists in Hollywood? Did he seem to fear their influence?
Reagan said that their were several communist suspects in Hollywood whos views differed a lot from the mainstream democratic Americans. Although he was completely against anything to do with the communist party he says to let them preach their message within the bounds of our democratic rights and for us [mainstream conservative Republicans/ Democrats] to just expose their lies and shine a light on their propaganda. Since the number is so few and because of the different tactics they use to spread their message [I.e. propaganda, ect] they pose little threat and should not be feared, only watched.
To what extent do you believe Reagan's testimony influenced his political thought as a political leader and president?
I dont think that Reagans testimony influenced his political thought, but his testimony was definitely a reflection into Reagans political mind, thoughts, and beliefs. His political bases seemed to be already formed as a screen actor, before he even had thoughts of running for any office. So I must say that this testimony was just merely an insight into his political mind and his moral belief system.
1. The fact that Reagan generally agreed with the committees statements and that he repeatedly reproached Communist doctrine, I think, would make him a friendly witness in the eyes of the committee. 2. Reagan hinted at the good chance of there being a Communist presence in Hollywood. He seemed more cautious in approaching the scenario than fearful. 3. I believe that Reagans testimony, which I assume reflect his own beliefs, did have a hand in shaping his policies in the future. I would think he carried those values with him if they indeed reflect his own principle.
1. Which aspects of Reagans testimony would make the committee consider him a friendly witness?
- Reagan was more than willing to attest to the fact that there were communists in the Hollywood circle. This made his testimony appealing to the committee. Additionally Reagan mentioned that he detested communism and he did not want any part in it.
2. What did Reagan have to say about communists in Hollywood? Did he seem to fear their influence?
- Reagan apparently wanted nothing to do with communism especially if it was involved in his Hollywood lifestyle. He also mentioned that he had been approached and asked to join a group of communists in his social circle and that he adamantly refused their request. I doubt, however, that he feared their influence because he believed that there was no way that communism could become superior to our democracy. Also he wasnt afraid to reveal that there were communists in the Hollywood circle so I dont think he feared repercussions.
3. To what extent do you believe Reagan's testimony influenced his political thought as a political leader and president?
- I think that Reagans testimony said a lot about his beliefs, but I dont think that it really shaped the way he handled his politics. He was, however, willing to rat out people from his own social circle for the good of the country and it said a lot about his character, especially in context with the time period. Reagan also seemed very much pleased with the way our democracy was run and its strength against any foreign type of government [i.e. communism]. Again however I dont think it really influenced his policies seeing as it was one issue at one time and not a wide array of topics.
