Harold Buchman Explained

Harold Buchman was a 20th-Century American Communist attorney, "the most important communist member" of the Progressive Citizens of America (founded by former vice president Henry A. Wallace, president of the Roosevelt Democratic Party Club, and treasurer for the Screen Writers Guild.[1] [2]

Career

Hollywood blacklist

His name appeared in the earliest Hollywood blacklist: a list of Communist sympathizers along with Dalton Trumbo, Maurice Rapf, Lester Cole, Howard Koch, John Wexley, Ring Lardner Jr., Harold Salemson, Henry Meyers, Theodore Strauss, and John Howard Lawson.[3]

On April 17, 1947, Buchman, actress Anne Revere, and writer Sam Moore pled the Fifth Amendment regarding questions about Communist affiliation.[4]

Progressive Party

In January 1948, Buchman announced the Wallace for President Committee. In February 1948, he became new executive secretary and Maryland state director of the Progressive Party. In Summer 1948, when the Maryland attorney general rejected all filings by Progressive candidates for failure to sign loyalty oaths, Buchman announced he would file a suit.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Pederson , Vernon, L. . The Communist Party In Maryland, 1919-1957. Champaign, Illinois . University of Illinois Press. 156 (PCA), 157 (Wallace), 158 (PP state director), 172–180 (Bravermen et al.). 2001. 5 August 2017. 9780252023217 .
  2. News: Gary . Baum. Daniel. Miller. The Hollywood Reporter, After 65 Years, Addresses Role in Blacklist. The Hollywood Reporter. 19 November 2012. 5 August 2017.
  3. News: William R. . Wilkerson. TradeView: A Vote For Joe Stalin. The Hollywood Reporter. 29 July 1946.
  4. Web site: Un-American Activities. CQ Almanac. 1951. 5 August 2017.