Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 JFK: Assassination System 5/13/201 Date: Identification Form A gency Information v9.1 \Docld: 32335632 Page 1 AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER: = 124-90143-10050 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILENUMBER: _ 100-370750-235 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: HQ TO: TITLE: DATE: 10/11/1956 ‘PAGES: 30 SUBJECTS : JOHN HOWARD LAWSON DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION: Confidential RESTRICTIONS: — Consulted; 4 CURRENT STATUS: — Redact DATE OF LASTREVIEW: — 10/09/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: APPROVAL OF USCG COMMENTS : SUMMARY; REFERRED TO USCG SKS ——— Tp
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote) . DATE: 11-14-2017 | © . C) ALL INFORMATION COSTATRED K INOLASSLFIED Main File No: 100-370750 Date: p . 4 ° ; Subject: yonr Lawson Date Searched: 3/13/56 Found As? Jonp¥rauson Alos Searched As: No further search made Classified b Ses" Beclassify on: | HQ Be ‘ This is a summary of information obtained from a review of all "see" references to the subject in Bureau files under the names and aliases listed above. WNo attempt has been made to erhaust all possibilities as to the names and altases by which the subject may have been known. All references under the above names containing data identical or Possibly identical with the subject have been included except those listed at the end of this summary as not having been reviewed. The term "SI" preceding a serial number shown in the block indicates that the serial so designated contains the same information as the fore- going serial. However it should be realized that the informa- tion tin these serials may differ somewhat in detail although the facts are. basically the same. : This summar: is designed to furnish a synopsis of the information set out in each reference. Except where stated A 3 Sh ‘Ye otherwise the original serial will contain the information in 3 g 43 yo much more detail. ES THIS SUMMARY HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR USE AT TEE sear op /J44/ Vey GOVERNMENT AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION NOT SUITABLE FOR DISSEM- Om INATION. W/, . . Analyst Coordinator Lena M. Cavallaro Theda fh. Duncan LA a f. ) L¥Cicjmieum /- TY 100 - 37072 Q 35 : sspanglt oo | oy 27 bo o2 4, “wh ke ME / . Docld: 323356632 Page 2°
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v DATE: 11-14-7017 x Released under the John F. Rennedy Hseaseination Records Collection Het of (1999 (44 Use 2107 Foes . NS . o, ( ~“ t “a ‘On 9-26-46 LA JOWl. stated that Joe Foster informed © Lawson that he wanted to talk to him about writing & directing a movie for "New Masses.'f (uy : . On 4-22-46 a confidential source advised that Clara Walden, wife of Michael Walden, sent a telegram to Ilya Ehrenberg, Konstantin Simonov & Michael Galakttonov, care of USSR Embassy | in Washe, DC, asking them to vistt LA. The telegram stated that John Howard Lawson & other prominent LA citizens, joined the American Russian Institute\in requesting them to come to Calif LA rpt.e, 5-4-48 7 (4 Re: John Wexley, was; IS-R. _ | _ 100-259146-6, pgs. 5, 7, 15. | (16,20 : Four CP organizers stopped in Pittsburgh on 11-8 -46 while enroute from WY to Chicago to attend a convention. \While in Pittsburgh they discussed the movie strike tn Hollywood. One:-0f the organizers, believed to be Gonzales Caravella (mail mutilated), said, "That the Stalinists have gotten control of ok all the Untons in Hollywood, even the Screen Writers’ Union, known as the Screen Writer's Guild and that John Lawson, President of the Union, isa Shlinist and that Lawson was brought to Hollywood by V. J. Jerome, the Boss of the Stalinists in Hollywood, whose real name is Isaac Romaine." Memo captioned "Socialist. Workers Party", Pittsburgh, Pa. 11-86-46, furnished by GR 4 unknown outstde source, 4 100-16 -40-60 (12g LA 2894 furnished a leaflet announcing a program sponsored by "Daily People's World" publicizing a presentation of the "Hollywood Forun"on the topic, "ART= Weapon for the People”. ol6= | DocId: 32338632 Page 4
' Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of (9% DATE: 11-14-2017 2 ‘ mo. "Journal American" of 10<-22-46 contained an article by Howard Rushmore charging that American Authors! Authority was a Communist. effort to control literature. Rushmore named John. Howard Lawson as a@ known Conmunt st who was sponsoring. this organtzattion. (u (ip 400 advised a public meeting to be held by 4 "Mainstream", a CP publication at NYC. This meeting was to — 4 be held at Manhattan Center, NYC, on 6-11=47. John Lawson | ; was one of those who was to fly from Hollywood for the occasion. NY rpt., 2-11-48 Rez Cominfil Radio Industry; - Is-C ; | 100-340922-83, pgs. 14 & 26 (16¥ 23yY° oo . The Joint Antt Fascist Refugee Committee was to put on a dinner at Hotel Astor, NYC, on 10-30-47, NYT 221 advised that Herbert Biberman, who was cited for contempt by HCUA on | 10-29-47, conferred with Helen Bryan, National Executive Secretary of above’ organization. He told her that John Lawson & others, i all of whom were cited for contempt during the investigation into the movie industry, would be at the above dinners Bryan told Biberman thut there would be a cocktail party at Hotel Astor prior to the dinner & she wanted Lawson & the Others to attend. Biberman said he would tell them of Bryan's: “wishes. Re: Joint Antit-Fascist Refugee Committee; IS=-C . 100-7061-1496 (12 | NY teletype 10-30-47 , | Tay a1Q= — | Docld: 32338632 Page 45
Released under the John fF. Kennedy As sassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 10S 3107 Ho eye ow DATE: EArt472047 C | . CY Ad, Usce 1 OFS ICOE Si Classified by 7 NT nee? garni ZX a lassify om: : Vex ine ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED 2e7N 19 UNCLASSLFIED SHEE SUCH 1s seg il hY rennet’ O sUNNEL of Main File No: 100-370750 Date: (of : ¢ . Subject: yonr Lawson Found As: _Johp\téuson «ae Alos Searched As: No further search made Classified b sv Declassify én: NOADR aeheSe MgoBe ’ This is a summary of information obtained from a review of all "see" references to the subject in Bureau files under the names and aliases listed above. No attempt has been made to erhaust all possibilities as to the names and aliases by which the subject may have been known. All references under the above names containing data identical or possibly tdentical with the subject have been included except those listed at the end of this summary as not having been reviewed. The term "gr" preceding a serial number shown in the block indicates that the sertal so designated contains the same information as the fore- going serial. However it should be realized that the informa- tton tn these serials may differ somewhat in detail although the facts are basically the same. This summar: is designed to furnish a Synopsis of the information set out in each reference. Except where stated otherwise the original serial will contain the information in much more detail. \ THIS SUMMARY HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR USE AT TRE SEAT oF (Af GOVERNMENT AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION Np? SUITABLE FOR DISSEH— INATION. WY LE . 33 A Pag 4. At Coy . eclassily de: DABRE Analyst - Coordinator © Lena M. Cavallaro Theda #. Duncan LF) en Co L¥Cicjmieum ‘ . TF | /00 - 37075 Q-JQ345_ | on y/ o~ / ncLOsons | : . - Ex ED SY ba pot 22 1888 eS fiir INDEXED re Docld: 32338632 Page &
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote}. DATE: ii- 14-2017 % . Pa \ CO | O oy So - OY \ Sours BKC ADO ‘Docld: 32335632 Page 9
‘Released un der the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Colle etion Actor 1992 (44 use 2107 notes ; Docld: 32338632 Page 10 11-14-2017 C . a The Security Classification Appeal of Jo Swerling, Jr.e, was heard on 2-28=52 before a San Francisco Security . . Appeals Board. It had been reported that Jo Swerling, Sr.o ww." assoctated with Hollywood people who were known as Communists. The elder Swerling appeared at this hearing & testified that he knew John Howard Lawson.as a fellow worker & unton member but did not know him ina social way. Swerling stated he had . a rather severe argument with .Lawson several years previous when Lawson obta ned money from him and a record.that he had made tn support of Franklin D. Roosevelt, =.He subsequently ' learned that Lawson was not using it for the purpose stated and made him return the record & his money. This was his last contact with Lawson, and he had not seen ,him the past two years because Lawson was in (prison. Cc a ‘Records of the Clerk's office, U. S. Supreme Court, Wash. DC, indicated that among the persons who subscribed to the brief filed 8-11-49 in support of the appeals of Lawson & Dalton Trumbo from their conviction of contempt of Congress was the name of Jo Swerling, motion pteture industry. This informant stated that Lawson & Trumbo were members of the ."HoJlywood Ten," who were subpoenaed before the HCUA in 1947, Coast Guard Memo .2=028#52 L05—-13045-1356 pgs. 2, & (20; CONFIDENTIAL Vivian Shorp- was in charge. of. handling the arrangements ‘for a rally which was to be sponsored by the HASFC: at the Embassy Auditorium in LA in middle 1949 at which John Howard Lawson was to be one of the principal speakers. On 8-22-49 Sharp was a member of the office staff of ASPC and was thinking of taking a job elsewhere. David Robison, Erecutive Director of this organization, was concerned and discussed the matter -with Lawson, TA CD-60 “y 2 2 we