Cold War - 1948, HUAC Investigations: Hiss & Chambers, 25Aug48

Cold War - 1948, HUAC Investigations: Hiss & Chambers, 25Aug48 Alger Hiss standing, taking oath. At witness table questioned by Stripling: “activities in the United States, to the diffusion within the United States, of subversive & Un-American propaganda that is instigated” (cut). Hiss is asked if he recognizes the individual (Chambers) who is standing; he does - as George Crosby; says last time he saw him was in 1935. Stipling asks the Chairman to swear in Mr. Chambers. 02:19:02 Stripling asks Chambers if he knows Hiss, says he met him in 1934 & last saw him in 1938. 02:19:22 Hiss: “any of that testimony, mine or Mr. Chambers, which I have never seen, to remain secret; it seems to me the public & the press have a right to full access to all the testimony which has been taken to this date.” 02:19:41 Stripling continues asking re Chambers being Crosby. “I do think it would be more helpful if the committee would go by records. I would like to know what the records say. Some of the records I find are not available to me; I believe they are in the custody of the committee. I have attempted thru counsel in the last few days to have access” (cut). 02:20:47 “A man representing himself to me as George Crosley came into my office in the Senate Office Building while I was acting as chief counsel to the Senate Committee Investigating the Munitions Industry. He represented himself as a free-lance writer for magazines. He represented himself as preparing a series of articles about the munitions investigation. As did many other members of the press, research people, & similar people, he had a perfect right to come to my office either directly or by reference from the central office. Very many members of the press and others”. (cut) LS of spectators at hearing. 02:21:56 Stripling questioning: you said “I think it was about June” cut 02:22:06 Hiss: the issues raised that are the real issues--it seems to be topsy-turvy to be talking only about leases, Mr. Nixon; in such a serious charge as this it seems to me we should be getting after the question of my record, what did people w/ whom I worked closely & intimately w/ me think of me. 02:22:29 The CHAIRMAN: “Mr. Hiss, I would like to say again that the committee appreciates your suggestions as to how to conduct these hearings, but we do have certain questions to ask” (cut) 02:22:39 Nixon: The issue in this hearing today is whether or not Mr. Hiss or Mr. Chambers has committed perjury before this committee, as well as whether Mr. Hiss is a Communist. Now, as far as these what are termed housekeeping details by Mr. Hiss” (cut). 02:23:05 Hiss: “does not seem to me a very rational basis for determining credibility. Obviously, the committee may ask the questions it chooses. Representative NIXON: “Mr. Hiss, you are an attorney” (cut) 02:23:20 Hiss: “very many other things that I have been trying to check in the few days since Monday of last week; I have been trying to run down the list of staff members of the Senate Committee Investigating the Munitions Industry. As far as I can find out, there is no one single official list anywhere now available. I have recalled certain of the members of the staff. I recalled three names offhand of people that Crosley might have met in addition to me around the committee. I mentioned Mr. Raushenbush, the chief investigator. He is away on vacation. I have seen in the press that the” (cut) 02:24:21 Hiss: “I received a telephone call - rather, one of my counsel did-from someone, a woman, who said she had known George Crosley at this time, that she was fearful of getting her employer in Dutch or something by publicity. We were not able to trace the call. She may have been imagining. So far, the answer to your question is: I have not yet been able to find any witness other than my wife who remembers him as George Crosley. Mr. MUNDT: “Let me ask this question. The possibility” (cut) 02:25:00 Hiss: “and I shall do all I possibly can, whatever it costs me, within my means, to get at the truth. Mr. MUNDT: “Then, tell us the truth.” Mr. HISS: Now, what is the nature of your question? Will you repeat it, please, because I paid more attention to the embellishments.” Mr. MUNDT: “Did you not testify in New York under oath to the effect that "I sold him - Crosley - an automobile? I find it here in the printed testimony which we are now releasing to the public at the request of the committee, & at your request. Mr. STRIPLING: That is page 53...it is page 58. 02:25:35 Stripling standing & reading from document: “for a Ford used, model A, 1929 Roadster, and the numbers are A-21888119-19-33- that was the date on the which it was originally registered in the District of Columbia. The tag I believe, was 245647, in the name of Alger Hiss, 3411 O Street NW., Washington, D.C. Now, Mr. Hiss, is this your signature which appears on the reverse side of this assignment of title? Showing witness photo static copy. 02:26:18 Hiss: “Mister Stripling, it certainly looks like my signature to me. Do you have the original document? STRIPLING: “No, I do not.” HISS: “This is a photostat, I’d prefer to have the original. Do you have the original?” STRIPLING (exasperated): The original document, Mr. Chairman, cannot be removed from the Department of Motor Vehicles. They keep it in their” cut. 02:26:35 STRIPLING: “There is written here, Cherner Motor Co., 1781 Florida Avenue NW. Did you write that” HISS: “I could not be sure from the outline of the letters in this photostatic copy. That also looks not unlike my own handwriting.” MUNDT: “Could you be sure if you saw the original document” “HISS: I could be surer.” 02:27:02 Hearing breaking up, crowd noise & people moving around. Thomas seen. Anti-Communism; Government Investigation; Communist Party; Aliases;