HUAC Explained (House Un-American Activities Committee)

Hip Hughes

13 Jan 201607:41

Summary

TLDRThe House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was a congressional committee active from 1945 to 1975, known for investigating alleged disloyalty and subversive activities, particularly focusing on communism. Originating from earlier committees like the Overman and Fish committees, HUAC became infamous for its Hollywood blacklisting and pursuit of suspected communists in government and society. It faced a decline in credibility during the 1960s, particularly after targeting groups like Students for a Democratic Society and individuals like Abbie Hoffman, who used satire to highlight the committee's excesses. The committee was eventually renamed and later abolished, with its investigative functions integrated into the Judiciary Committee.

Takeaways

🏛️ The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was a standing committee in the House of Representatives from 1945 to 1975, focused on investigating suspected communists and subversive activities in the United States.
📚 The precursor to HUAC was the Overman Committee, formed in 1918, initially to investigate German influence but later focusing on Bolshevik influence, sparking the first Red Scare.
🕵️‍♂️ The Fish Committee in the 1930s conducted public and private hearings to investigate suspected communists, including targeting the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
🔍 The McCormick-Dickstein Committee was established to investigate Nazi propaganda but also pursued suspected communists, including the infamous 'Business Plot'.
🗝️ Martin Dies Jr. led a special investigative committee from 1938 to 1944, targeting organizations and individuals perceived as communists, including the Federal Theatre Project and the American Youth Congress.
📊 The Yellow Report criticized the War Relocation Authority's handling of Japanese American internment, suggesting a soft stance that could lead to vulnerability from Japanese spies.
🎬 The Hollywood investigation by HUAC in the 1940s resulted in the blacklisting of numerous producers, directors, actors, and writers, impacting the careers of notable figures like Orson Welles and Charlie Chaplin.
🏛️ The conviction of Alger Hiss for perjury, despite claims of never being a spy, bolstered HUAC's credibility and public perception of the need to root out communists within the U.S. government.
📽️ HUAC influenced Hollywood to produce films with anti-communist themes, showcasing the committee's impact on culture and media.
📉 The credibility of HUAC began to decline in the 1950s, particularly after Joseph McCarthy's downfall for his accusations against the U.S. Army.
🚨 The committee's downfall was hastened by its pursuit of student activists and groups like the Students for a Democratic Society and the Yippies, especially after high-profile confrontations with figures like Abbie Hoffman.

Q & A

What was the initial focus of the Overman Committee?
-The Overman Committee was initially focused on investigating German influence in the bootlegging arena in the United States.
How did the Overman Committee's focus shift after the Russian Revolution?
-After the Russian Revolution, the Overman Committee shifted its focus to investigating Bolshevik influence in the United States, which sparked the first Red Scare.
What was the Fish Committee's primary purpose in the 1930s?
-The Fish Committee's primary purpose was to conduct public and private hearings to investigate suspected communists among public employees, organizations, and individuals.
What was the original purpose of the McCormick-Dickstein Committee?
-The McCormick-Dickstein Committee was originally formed to investigate Nazi propaganda and other certain propaganda, but they also had the latitude to investigate suspected communists.
What significant event did the McCormick-Dickstein Committee expose?
-The McCormick-Dickstein Committee exposed the 'Business Plot,' which involved Wall Street tycoons allegedly planning a fascist takeover of the United States.
What was the Yellow Report critical of, and what did it suggest?
-The Yellow Report was critical of the War Relocation Department's stance on Japanese Americans interned on the West Coast, suggesting that they were not being punished enough and that this was making the country vulnerable to Japanese spies.
Who was the first chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee when it became a standing committee in 1945?
-The first chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee when it became a standing committee was Edward Hart, a Democrat.
What was the Hollywood investigation by the HUAC, and what were its consequences?
-The Hollywood investigation by the HUAC resulted in blacklisting 10 producers and directors and over 300 actors, writers, and screenwriters, some of whom were thrown out of Hollywood permanently.
What was the significance of the conviction of Alger Hiss for perjury in relation to HUAC?
-The conviction of Alger Hiss for perjury provided HUAC with a significant win, as it helped convince the public of the committee's necessity in rooting out communists within the U.S. government.
How did the HUAC's credibility begin to decline in the 1950s?
-The HUAC's credibility began to decline in the 1950s when it started going after members of the U.S. Army as being communists, which led to a backlash and a loss of public trust.
What event in 1960 brought HUAC back into the public eye, and what was the outcome?
-HUAC's investigations in San Francisco City Hall in 1960 brought it back into the public eye, resulting in riots and protests, with the ACLU releasing films to highlight the absurdity of the HUAC hearings.
What was the final straw for HUAC, and when did it occur?
-The final straw for HUAC occurred in the late 1960s when it started going after the Students for a Democratic Society and figures like Abbie Hoffman, who used satire and protest to expose the committee's methods as ridiculous.
What was the outcome for HUAC in 1969, and what happened to its investigative arm in 1975?
-In 1969, HUAC was renamed the Internal Security Committee. By 1975, the committee was abolished, and its investigative arm was merged into the Judiciary Committee, where all the files were moved.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Origins and Early Investigations of Un-American Activities

This paragraph delves into the history of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), starting with its precursors in the Senate, the Overman Committee in 1919 and the Fish Committee in the 1930s. These committees were initially focused on investigating German influence and Bolshevism, respectively. The Overman Committee was tasked with probing German influence in bootlegging and later shifted to investigating the 'Red Scare' and the perceived threat of Communist infiltration from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The Fish Committee, led by Hamilton Fish, targeted suspected Communists, including public employees and organizations like the ACLU. The McCormick-Dickstein Committee, active from 1934 to 1937, was initially aimed at investigating Nazi propaganda but also pursued suspected Communists, notably through the 'Business Plot' investigation. The narrative then transitions to the formation of HUAC in 1938, emphasizing its role in investigating subversive activities and Communist influence in various sectors, including the Federal Theatre Project and the American Youth Congress.

05:01

🎬 Hollywood Blacklisting and HUAC's Later Years

The second paragraph discusses HUAC's most infamous period, particularly its Hollywood investigations that led to the blacklisting of numerous individuals in the film industry, such as Orson Welles and Charlie Chaplin, due to suspected Communist affiliations. It also touches on the committee's role in promoting anti-Communist propaganda in Hollywood through films like 'I Married a Communist' and 'Red Planet Mars.' The narrative then shifts to the 1950s, highlighting the committee's association with McCarthyism and its eventual decline in credibility, especially after the investigation of alleged Communists in the US Army. The 1960s saw HUAC conducting investigations in San Francisco City Hall and targeting student groups like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and countercultural figures like Abbie Hoffman. Hoffman's satirical and confrontational approach to the hearings helped to expose the committee's methods and contributed to its eventual disrepute. The paragraph concludes with HUAC's renaming to the Internal Security Committee in 1969 and its eventual abolition in 1975, with its functions being absorbed into the Judiciary Committee.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

The House Un-American Activities Committee, commonly known as HUAC, was a standing committee of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1945 to 1975. It was tasked with investigating alleged disloyalty and subversive activities, particularly those thought to be linked to communism. The video script discusses HUAC's role in various investigations and its impact on American society, including the Hollywood blacklist and the scrutiny of government officials.

💡Overman Committee

The Overman Committee, named after its chairman Lee Slater Overman, was a precursor to HUAC and was active in the Senate in the early 20th century. It was initially focused on investigating German influence in the United States but shifted its attention to Bolshevik influence following the Russian Revolution. The script mentions the Overman Committee as the first of a series of investigative bodies that would eventually lead to the formation of HUAC.

💡Red Scare

The term 'Red Scare' refers to the fear and hysteria in the United States about potential communist infiltration and influence, particularly during the early 20th century. The script describes how the Overman Committee contributed to the first Red Scare by promoting the idea that communists from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union were attempting to overthrow the U.S. government.

💡Fish Committee

The Fish Committee, named after Hamilton Fish, was another special investigative committee in the House of Representatives during the 1930s. It conducted public and private hearings to investigate suspected communists, including public employees and organizations. The script highlights the committee's focus on the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its efforts to influence immigration law to exclude communists.

💡McCormick-Dickstein Committee

The McCormick-Dickstein Committee, named after its founders John McCormick and Samuel Dickstein, was tasked with investigating un-American propaganda, including that of the Nazis, but also had the latitude to pursue suspected communists. The script mentions the committee's investigation into the 'Business Plot,' an alleged plan for a fascist coup in the United States.

💡Martin Dies Jr.

Martin Dies Jr. was a Democratic House member from Texas who led a special investigative committee that would later become HUAC. The script describes how Dies used the committee to investigate alleged communist subversion, including in the Federal Theatre Project and the American Youth Congress, and to issue critical reports on the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

💡Hollywood Blacklist

The Hollywood Blacklist refers to the practice of denying work in the film industry to individuals suspected of being communists or sympathetic to communism. The script details HUAC's investigation into Hollywood, which resulted in the blacklisting of numerous producers, directors, actors, and writers, significantly impacting their careers and lives.

💡Alger Hiss

Alger Hiss was a government official who was investigated by HUAC for perjury after he denied being a spy for the Soviet Union. The script mentions Hiss as an example of HUAC's success in rooting out perceived communist threats, despite the controversy surrounding his case.

💡McCarthyism

McCarthyism refers to the political practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper evidence, particularly in the context of anti-communist efforts in the United States during the 1950s. The script briefly mentions Joseph McCarthy and his role in the broader anti-communist sentiment of the time, which influenced HUAC's actions.

💡Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)

The Students for a Democratic Society was a youth organization in the 1960s that advocated for social change and was critical of the establishment. The script describes HUAC's investigation into the SDS and its members, including the controversial figure of Abbie Hoffman, as part of its ongoing efforts to identify and counteract perceived communist influence.

💡Abbie Hoffman

Abbie Hoffman was a prominent activist and member of the Youth International Party, known for his satirical and provocative tactics during protests and hearings. The script highlights Hoffman's defiant stance during HUAC investigations, which contributed to the decline in the committee's credibility and public support.

Highlights

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was a standing committee in the House of Representatives from 1945 to 1975.

Precursor to HUAC was the Overman Committee, investigating German influence and Bolshevism in the US after the Russian Revolution.

The Fish Committee in the 1930s focused on investigating suspected communists, including public employees and organizations.

The McCormick-Dickstein Committee was tasked with investigating Nazi propaganda and suspected communists.

The Business Plot, an alleged fascist coup attempt in the US, was investigated by the McCormick-Dickstein Committee.

HUAC, led by Martin Dies Jr., targeted organizations and individuals suspected of subversion and communism.

HUAC's Yellow Report criticized the War Relocation Authority's handling of Japanese American internment.

In 1945, HUAC became a standing committee with Edward Hart as its first chairman, focusing on high-profile targets like Hollywood.

The Hollywood investigation resulted in the blacklisting of producers, directors, actors, and writers suspected of communist ties.

HUAC's investigation into the US government led to the conviction of Alger Hiss for perjury, affirming HUAC's role in uncovering communist infiltration.

HUAC's influence extended to Hollywood films, with productions like 'I Married a Communist' reflecting anti-communist sentiments.

Joseph McCarthy's activities in the Senate paralleled HUAC's efforts, but his downfall impacted HUAC's credibility.

HUAC's 1960 investigation into San Francisco City Hall and the subsequent riots brought public scrutiny and criticism.

The ACLU's response to HUAC's hearings, including films showcasing the events, highlighted the absurdity of the proceedings.

HUAC's pursuit of the Students for a Democratic Society and figures like Abbie Hoffman exposed the committee's controversial methods.

Abbie Hoffman's satirical protests against HUAC contributed to the decline in the committee's public image.

HUAC was renamed the Internal Security Committee in 1969, but its reputation was irreparably damaged.

The committee was eventually abolished in 1975, with its investigative functions transferred to the Judiciary Committee.