Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: HQ
Document date: 10/11/56
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (14 USC 2107 Note) .

DATE: 11-14-2017

JFK: Assassination System

Date:

5/13/201

Identification Form

Agency Information

AGENCY:

FBI

RECORD NUMBER :

124-90143-10050

RECORD SERIES:

HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

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 LAST REVIEW: 10/09/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: APPROVAL OF USCG

COMMENTS: SUMMARY; REFERRED TO USCG

v9.1

DocId: 32338632

Page 1

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## Page 2

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote)

DATE: 14-11-2017

7K

7-6-95

Classified by 5268 S

Declassia

ALL INPORMATION CONTAINED

HEREIN IS UCLASSIFIED

ELOSET WHERE SHORN

CORRELATION SUMMARY

OTHERNISA

Main File No: 100-370750

Subject: John

Lawson

Found As: Johafialson

Alos Searched As: No further search made

SSE RIVERSE

SIDE

ATDICATION

ACTION

Date:

156

Date Searched:

3/13/58

nitrian

Classified

Declassify pn: YOADR agghafo

17-25.86

review of all

This is a summary of information obtained from a

"see" references to the subject in Bureau files

under the names and aliases listed above.

No attempt has been

made to exhaust 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 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 in 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 SUMMART HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR USE AT THE SBAT OF OUT

GOVERNMENT AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION NOT

SUITABLE

INATION.

FOR DISSEM-

SEAT OF aW

Analust

Declassify o

Coordinator

UADR

bja/tay

Approved

Lena M. Cavallaro

Theda l. Duncan

Did Buse

INC:cjmieum

100-370750-235

/ ENCLOSURE

Fireliate

file

denied still

COMFORTAL

REE ORDER

INDEXED

14 OCT 12 1059

SUBV.

PROL

anti

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## Page 3

'Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote).

DATE: 11-11-2017

10/73/55

1594110

FOI/PA #

A Consteliand

APPELL #

CIVILI

2. 0. 410

396

DATE 4-28-

, DocId: 32338632

Page 3

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## Page 4

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Aot of 1992 744 USC 2107 Horey

DATE: 11-14-2017

CONFIDENTIAL

On 9-26-16 LA J0=l stated that Joe foster informed

lawson that he wanted to talk to him about writing & directing

a movie for

•"New Masses. "(B) (44

On 1-22-46 a confidential source advised that clara

Walden, wife of Michael Walden,

sent a telegram to Ilya Ehrenberg,

Konstantin Simonou & Michael Galaktionou,

care of USSR Embassy

in Wash.,

De, asking them to visit 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.,

• 54-48

Re: John Wexley, was;

IS-R

100-359146-6, pgs. 5, 7, 15

(16, 221)

Four CP organizers stopped in Pittsburgh on 11-8-46

while enroute from NY to Chicago to attend a convention. Mile

in Pittsburgh

they discussed the movie strike in Hollywood.

one of the organiaers, believed to be Gonzales Caravella (mail

mutilated),

said,

"That the stalinists have gotten control of

even the Screen Writers! Union,

all the Unions in Hol luer's Guild and that John Lawaor

known as the screen

President of the Union, is a Stalinist and that Lawson was

brought to Hollywood by V. J. Jerome, the Boss if the stalinists

in Hollywood, whose real name is Isaac Romaine.

Memo captioned "Socialist

Workers Party"

11-8-46, Surnished by an

Pittsburgh, Pa.

unknown

outside source.

00-16-40-6

LA 2894 furnished a leaflet announcing a program

sponsored by

of the

th man malting presentation

the topic, "ARI- Weapon for the People".

COMFIDEATIAL

-16-

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## Page 5

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Aot 01 1992 144 USC 2107 Hoe

DATE: 11-14-2017

"Journal American"' of 10-22-16 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 Communist who was sponsoring this

organization.

[ND 400 advised of

a public meeting to be held by

"Mainstream"

a CP publication at NYC.

be held at Manhattan Center, NYC, on 6-1117.

This meeting was to

John Lawson

was one of those who was to fly from Hollywood for the occasion.

NY rot.s

2=11-48

Re: Cominfil Radio Industry;

IS-C

100-340922-83, pgs. 14 & 26

(16 / 23)

The Joint Anti 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 ACUA on

10-29-17, conferred with Helen Bryan,

National Executive Secretary

of above

organization.

He told her that John Lawson & others,

all of whom were cited for contempt during the investigation

the movie industry,

would be at the above dinner.

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.

NY teletype 10-30-47

Re: Joint Anti-Fascist

Refugee Committee;

IS-C

222-7061-2496

CORFIDENTIAL

-19-

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## Page 6

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Note).

DATE: 11-14-2017

At a meeting held at Otisfield Hally "DH"

Roxbury, Mass.

on 8-10-51, Phil Bart, General Manager of the

the formation of a new organization to be called the "National

Freedom of the Press Association."

The purpose of this was to

interest people from all walks of life in freedom of age, prese

and while it would be completely seperated from the

would be supervised by Bart and John Lawson, who was named

as the Nationul Chairman.

BS 612

"DW" 0f 8-23-37, on page seven, identified John Howard

Lawson as a CP member.

Boston rpt. 10-27-53

Re: Robert Louis Goodwin, was;

IS-C,

• IS Act 1950

220-298756-80, p. 3

SI 65-33130-79

19// 221)

SI 100-20429-22, p. 8

(131%

SI 100-37277-23

( 14)

SI 100-77967-19, p. 10

(14V

SI 100-92637-549, p. 3

( 14)

SI 100-241241-54, p. 3

(154

SI 100-246336-43

(16/ 221)

S1 1000240336-46

(16/224

SI 100-340564-58, p. 3

(161)(231

SI 100-340564-59, p. 3

(16)11232

517100-345328-7, p. 7

I 100-358056-

17v 234

SI 100-358244-11, p. 7

(171)

SI 100-358562-2, p. 10

(17/ 234)

SI 100=366697-11, P.7

(17)

GONFIDENTIAL

-26-

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## Page 7

Réleased under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hor

DATE: 11-14-2017

CONFIDENTAL

BS 612 aduised that at a meeting at Utisfield HaLL,

Roxbury,

Mass. on 8-10-51, Phil Bart, General Manager of "DW"

announced the formation of a new orgunization to be called the

Freedom of the Press Association.

The purpose was to interest

people from all walks of life in freedom of the press so while it

would be completely separated from

, it would be supervised

by John Lawson, whom BS 612 identified as

a member of the CP.

Boston rpt. 8-19-55

Re: Roberta Steinberg Johnson, was;.

SM-C

100-275732-36, p. 2

(16)

SI 100-377025-16

(18.)

John Barti, General Manager of "DH", announced in

похриту,

on 8-10-51,

the formation of a

new organization

to be called the Freedom of the

Press Association, which would

be supervised by John Lawson. BS 612

The Cali!.

Legislature,

Fourth Report of the Senate

Fact-Finding Committee one Un-American Activities, 1948, Page

131, identified John Lawson as a CP member.

Boston rpt. 3-29-55

Re: Frederick Harley Bradley;

SM-C

100-34490-39

(I44)

*Should be Phil Bart

CONFIDENTIA

-28-

DocId: 32338632 Page 7

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## Page 8

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USe 2107 Note) .

DATE: 11-14-2017

Refer USCE

Classified by 5265-S

Dectissify

ALL ITPORMATION CONTAINED

HEREIR IS WALASSIFIED

ENI SHERE SHORN

OLMARLOS

Main File No: 100-370750

METAI

CORRELATION SULUARY

SEE REVERSE

SID

0019

IDICATION

ACTION

Da-te:

Subject: John

Lawson

Date Searched:

3/13/56

Found As: Johaflawson

mitigle

Alos Searched As: No further search made

Classified b

MR GOL

Declassity on: VOADR aghafe

4.25.86

ani see surere es to the tired an euro files

under the names and aliases listed above.

No attempt has been

made to exhaust 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 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

going serial.

designated contains the same information as the fore-

However it should be realized that the informa-

tion in 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 THE SEAT OF

GOVERNMENT AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION NOT

INATION.

SUITABLE FOR DISSEM-

7117

3ESte

Analyst

coordinator

Declassily

seabja/tay

DADR

Approved

Lena l. Cavallaro

Theda 1. Duncan

LNC:cjmieum

100-370750-235

ENCLOSURE

14 OCT 12 1069

RECORDED

INDEXED

COMTEEITNL

SUBV.

dits

DocId: 32338632 Page 8

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## Page 9

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote).

DATE: 11-14-2017

10/73/56

strice

701/21 #

259716

Constituard

APPRAD I-

CIVIDAOT.

2.0. 4.

356

Dinz 4-22

86 UII

150le

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Page 9

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## Page 10

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination

Records Collection Act of 1992 (14 USC 2107 Hotey,

DATE: 11-14-2017

FIDENTIAL

The security Classification Appeal of Jo swerling,

Tro, was heard on 2-28-52 before a san Francisco security

Appeals Board.

It had been reported that Jo swerling, ST.

associated with Hollywood people who were known as Communists.

The elder swerling appeared at this hearing & testified that

he knew John Howard Lawsön as a fellow worker & union

member

but did not know him in a social way. swerling stated he had

a rather severe argument with Lawson several years previous

when Lawson obtoi ned money from him and a record. that he had

made in 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. or

Records of the Clerk's office,

U. S. supreme Court,

Wash. Do, indicated that among the persons uno 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 ploture industry.

This informant

who were subpoended before the HUA in 1917. S50e

stated that lawson d trumbo were members in the indoor ton, "

Coast Guard Memo. 2-28-52

105-13045-1356 pgs. 2, 6

(2011

CONFIDENTIAL

Vivian Sharp was in charge of handling the arrangements

for a rally which was

lauson adu

to be sponsored by the HASFC: at the

i sa mino

Embassy Auditorium in LA in muddle 1949 at which John Howard

Lawson was to be one of the principal speakers. On 8-22-49

oh a 30-45d

Sharp was a member of the office staff of ASPC and was thinking

of taking a job elsewhere.

David Robison,

Executive Director

of this organization, was concerned and discussed the matter

•with

Lawson.

LA CD-60

CONFIDENTIAL

-28-

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