Question

A New Red Scare

1. How many communist leaders were arrested at the time of this recording and how many were still being sought? Name at least two of the men who were present.

2. Who was present among the women defendants?

3What did department officials promise the people?

Answer 1

1. At the time of this recording, 11 communist leaders had been arrested and 12 were still being sought. The two men who were present were:

• John J. Abt, a former Communist Party USA leader who had been convicted of espionage in 1950.
• Saul Landau, a film producer who had been accused of being a communist sympathizer.

2. Among the women defendants were:

• Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a labor organizer and communist activist.
• Ruth Fischer, a former leader of the Communist Party USA.

3.

Department officials promised the people that they would "continue to vigorously prosecute those who are engaged in subversive activities" and that they would "protect the American people from the threat of communism."