Examinations by HUAC Robert Rossen

after end of world war ii in 1945, rightwing elements had resisted entry world war ii because of pro-fascist isolationism, continued attempts control , punish left-leaning entertainment professionals fought spread of fascism in europe during 1930s while united states technically neutral. in 1946, republicans gained overwhelming majority in congressional elections. , used power re-invigorate committees there had failed stop anti-fascist artists before war. communist victory of china in 1949 , start of korean war in 1950 reinforced anti-communist hysteria being whipped @ time.

during hearings in 1947, jack warner included rossen among many openly leftist writers whom studio, warner bros., had hired earliest , openly anti-nazi studios in hollywood (warner bros had made confessions of nazi spy (1939) , attacked republicans @ time). warner reportedly accused rossen of incorporating communist propaganda in scripts , claimed why had fired him, though in fact real reason warner s enmity rossen writer s union activities.

rossen 1 of 19 unfriendly witnesses subpoenaed in october 1947 house un-american activities committee (huac) during second red scare 1 of 8 not called testify. in 1951, rossen named communist several huac witnesses , appeared before huac first time in june 1951. exercised rights under fifth amendment against self-incrimination, taking came known augmented fifth . testified not member of communist party , disagreed aims of party, when asked state whether had ever been member of party, rossen refused answer. placed on unofficial blacklist hollywood studios, , columbia broke production contract him.

in unconstitutional though widespread practice during communist witchhunts, u.s. state department refused renew rossen s passport. this, , inability find work, brought rossen, friend, ex-communist elia kazan, committee in may 1953, named 57 people communists. explained committee why chose testify: don t think, after 2 years of thinking, 1 individual can indulge himself in luxury of personal morality or pit against feel today security , safety of nation. stephen rossen later shed light on father s decision:

killed him not work. torn between desire work , desire not talk, , didn t know do. think wanted know was, think of him if talked? didn t in way, though. explained me politics of it—how studios in on it, , there never chance of working. under pressure, sick, diabetes bad, , drinking. time understood had refused talk before , had done time, point of view. kid @ point? say, love , m behind you.  

like elia kazan s testimony, rossen s huac testimony destroyed many lifelong friendships, along dozens of careers; however, unlike kazan, rossen s career never recovered, while kazan s flourished rest of life.