Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: DIRECTOR, FBI
To: KEHE, WILBERT H.
Document date: 12/13/1946
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

6/15/201

AGENCY :

RECORD NUMBER :

RECORD SERIES :

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

FBI

124-10284-10121

HQ

100-30067-33, 34

Released under the John

Assassination Records

Collection Act of 1992

144 USC 2107 Notel •

Case#:NW 53130 Date:

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM: KEHE, WILBERT H.

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI

TITLE :

DATE: 12/13/1946

PAGES:

16

SUBJECTS :

JOP, BKG, TRA, CP ACT, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS A/O

MEETING

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4

CURRENT STATUS : Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 01/07/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS :

INC MEMO

...

v9.1

HH 53130

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## Page 2

FOrm NO. 8

THIS CASE ORIGINATED AT .

REPORT MADE AT:

SAN FRANCISCO

TITLE:

SAN FRANCISCO

DATE WHEN MADE:

12/13/46

JOHN PITTMAN

PERIOD FOR WHICH MADE:

11/15,18/46

FILE NO. 100-1465

JEH

REPORT MADE BY:

WILBERT H. KEHE

CHARACTER OF CASE:

INTERNAL SECURITY SC

SUMMARY REPORT

*ca)

ad 1 10s022

106 BUT EVAn

ne dacered a6

Ten: P7 9/2Ht

Subject,

JOHN PITIAN, & sogro, was born at Atlenta; Georgia,

September 17, 1905. He married MERLE: ENID NANCE at Soattle, Washtagton

on July 18, 1938. They were divorced Maroh 5, 1945. In 1936 Subjact

was a member of the American Federation of Government Employees, Lodge:

Number 291.

Subject's wife formerly was employed as a stenographer for

GLADSTEIN, GROSSMAN, MARGOLIS & SAWYER, Communist Law firm in San

Francisco. Subject attended the College of Arts and Science, Univeraity

of California, Berkeley, California, for six semesterso

14! 6d: i

4674319

107-28.54

HESS-CONG

COPIES DESIROYED

APPROVED AND

FORWARDED:

Harry i Tianhall,

SPECIAL AGENT

COPIES OF THIS REPORT FURNISHED TO:

5. - Bureau

DOR

Francisco

Drien

₫R

1943

i in slidi

V. & 2UYERNUENT PRINTINE UrTICK

NH 53130

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81. R.

DO NOT WRITE IN THESE SPACES

RECORDED AND INDEXED

BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

RECORDEr

CHECKED OFF:

1100-30067-33

OE O JUSTICE

JACKETED:

Rado 761

7=1988

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## Page 3

SF 100-1465

I.

Secretary of State

State of California

Sacramento, California

Subject JOHN PITTMAN was one of the sponsors for WALTER R.

LAMBERT, 1942 Communist Party candidate for Congressman, and ANITA WHITNEY,

Communist Party candidate for State Comptroller.

Registrar of Voters

San Francisco County

San Francisco, California

The records of the Registrar of Voters reflect that on September

24, 1938 and on September 16, 1939 Subject JOHN PITTMAN registered as affil-

iated with the Communist Party.

In the registration PITTMAN registered as

residing at 1403 Montgomery Street, gave his occupation as that of a news-

paperman, and stated that he was born in Georgia, In his registration of 1939

PITTMAN reflected that he was residing at 1028 Montgomery Street, gave his

occupation as that of a reader, and stated that he was born in Georgia.

SF-939

Subject JOHN PITTMAN attended a special meeting of the Fillmore

Branch of the Communist Party on May 12, 1943 at which time there was a dis-

cussion of the State Convention of the Communist Party. On August 30, 1943

PITTMAN spoke at a Communist Party meeting held at the Abraham Lincoln

Victory Center, 1759 Fillmore Street, on the problems of negroes. PITTMAN in

his speech stated that the negroes had always been discriminated against

and were prevented from progressing to a normal and satisfactory manner of

living.

Un August 27, 1943 PITIAN was the guest of honor at a party given

by the Fillmore Branch of the Communist Party at the Abraham Lincoln Victory

Center. In January, 1944 Subject was a nember of one of the larger branches of

the Communist Party in San Francisco and is known to have received instructions

from LEO BAROWAY, Communist Party functionary, as to the line of propaganda

PITTMAN was to use in the People's World Newspaper in dealing with the subject

of farm consumers.

SF -296

While informant was a member of the Communist Party from Septenber,

936 to February, 1937, JOHN PITIWAN was a member of the Newspaper Guil

Caction of the Communist Party. Informant knew PITTMAN also as a member of th

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SF 100-1465

staff of the People's World Newspaper, a Communist organ. Informant learned

that Subject's wife, MERLE PITIMAN, resigned her position in the Clo in order

to accept a position at the State Headquarters of the Communist Party, 10-

cated at 121 Haight Street, San Francisco.

SF -517

On September 12, 1939 Pittman spoke under the auspices of Lodge

Vo. 694, ITO, at 136 Valencia Street, San Francisco, on the subject of the

terman and Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. Informant also retains a copy of ar

article which appeared in the July, 1939 issue of the Fillmore Spotlight,

published by the Iwenty-Second Assembly District of the San Francisco Com-

munist Party, advertising an open branch meeting of the Party scheduled for

July 20, 1939 at 1732 0 'Farrell Street. The article reported that PITMAN

would speak on the subject "The Negro Looks at 1940".

то вого іго а 19)

On March 20, 1940 PITTMAN lead a forum sponsored by the People's

World on the topic "This Week Abroad", at the Sorosis Hall, 536 Sutter

Street, San Francisco.

On September

• 19, 1941 PITIMAN delivered an address

at the Eagles! Hall, 273 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, at a meeting

held under the auspices of the People's World Forum. ELIZABETH GURLEY

FLYNN, Secretary of the Citizens Committee to Free EARL BROWDER, and a nation-

ally known Communist Party functionary, spoke on the same program.

SF -1159

On June 23, 1943 PITTMAN delivered an address on race riots be-

fore a joint meeting of

the Fillmore Branch and Branch 6 of the Metal Trades

Section of the Comnunist Party. PITTIAN alleged that the Detroit and Beaumont

riots started at the same time, which proved that they were inspired by the

Axis collaborators.

He stated

that the Communist Party policy was to demand

protection for negroes and Mexicans from the police.

On April 6, 1944 PITTMAN made a speech on the organization and

roll of the Communist Party at a meeting of one of the larger Communist Party

groups in San Francisco. On November 17, 1944 PITIAN made a report on the

National election results at a meeting of the Fillmore Club of the Communist

Party held at 1433 Divisadero Street, San Francisco.

On December 8, 1944 PITTMAN attended the San Francisco County

Membership meeting of the CPA, at which meeting JOHN WILLIAMSON, National

Vice President of the CPA, was the principal speaker. PITTMAN attended meet-

ings of the Fillmore Club of the Communist Party at 1433 Divisadero Street

and at 2031 Bush Street, on August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and October 4, 1945.

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SE 100-1465

SF-1175

This source obtained a copy of a handbill which advertized a

speech to be delivered by JOHN PITTMAN, Editor of the People's World News-

paper, on August 19, 1943 at 1402 Powell Street, San Francisco. The meeting

was held under the auspices of the North Beach Branch of the Communist

Party•

During 1943 PITTMAN is known to have received consideration by

Communist farty orficials as a possible candidate for the oriice of the Board

of Supervisors in the San Francisco City elections. After some consideration,

however, the Communist Party chose as its candidate OLETA O'CONNOR YATES,

Executive Secretary of the Communist Party for San Francisco County.

PITTMAN participated as a speaker in the campaign of OLEDA

O'CONNOR YATES, and in December, 1943 was selected to introduce irs. YATES

over a San Francisco radio station on the anniversary of the Bill of Rights.

As of January 1, 1944 PITTMAN was a member of the North Beach

Club of the Communist Party.

On May 7, 1944 Subject was invited to and at-

tended the Communist Party State Convention in San Francisco as a Fraternal

delegate.

During 1944 PITTAN was a member of the San Francisco County

Committee of the Communist Party and was a member of the California State Con-

mittee of the Communist Party.

During the 1944 recruiting drive Subject

pledged to recruit five new members into the Communist Party. At a general

membership meeting of the San Francisco Communist Party during the latter part

of March, 1944, PITTMAN spoke on the importance of the forthcoming visit of

JAMES FORD, negro member of the National Committee of the Communist Party.

SF-980

At a meeting of one of the Communist Party branches in Berkeley,

California, on April 13,

1944, JOHN PITTMAN made a speech in which he ex-

plained and praised Marxism.

PITTMAN cited examples of great advances made

in Russia under this system of Government and stated that the policy of the

Communist Party in the United States as of that time was to cooperate one

hundred percent with the United States Government because this Government had

expressed the same views for economic freedom of the masses which the Com-

munist Party had always advocated.

On August 19, 1945 PITIWAN attended the State Convention of the

Communist Party at 1621 Market Street and made a speech on the work of the

People's World Newspaper. During the course of his speech he asked that Com

munist Party Club discissions of the paper should continue as a permanent feature.

In 1946 PITTVAN attended the Northern California Conference on Industrial

Relations and was one of the speakers at this conference.

правота де сло.

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SF 100-1465

Source A

PITMAN attended a large public meeting sponsored by the Com-

time JAWES FORD, member of the National Committee of the Communist Party,

was the principal speaker. PITTMAN was seated on the platform behind the

realer along with a select group a state and County Connunist Party function

He assisted in taking a collection at this meeting for the benefit of

the Communist Party.

SF-595

In August, 1944, PITTMAN spoke at a meeting of the Richmond

Victory Club on the subject "The Communist Movement Throughout the World".

SF-1409

On January 10, 1945 PITTMAN spoke on the subject "The Future of

Germany" at a meeting of the Seamen's Group of the Communist Political Associ-

ation.

At a meeting of the Seamen's Club on July 25, 1945 at 1402 Powell

Street, San Francisco, PITMAN spoke on the history of the People's World as

a mass

organ of the Communist Party. He stated that WILLIAM SCHNEIDERMAN,

HARRISON GEORGE, VERN SMITH and himself comprised an Iditorial Committee which

met every Friday to work out the Party line to be followed by the People's

World Newspaper.

At another meeting of the Seamen's Club on August 1, 1945,

PITIMAN continued his speech regarding the work and purposes of the People's

World Newspaper.

SF-1425

PITTMAN attended numerous meetings of the State Board of the Com

munist Party during 1944 and 1945.

At a meeting of the State Board, at Com-

munist Party Headquarters on November 10, 1945, PITTMAN advocated a drive to

obtain one thousand new subscribers each month for the People's World. He

asserted that the People's World had not previously been brought to the Com-

munist Party as a political problem.

At a meeting of the State Board on June

8, 1945 PITTMAN stated that the People's World editorial staff was made up of

typical young Party members who were inexperienced in the Party, and further

stated that the least political wise of these inexperienced people believed

Revisionism constituted a crisis in the Communist Party.

At a State Board meeting on September 1, 1945 PITTMAN reported

that the situation in the Fillmore Branch of the Communist Party was very bad.

He suggested that the Party investigate the matter of JIM CROWISh in the

Longshoremen's Union.

At a meeting of the State Executive Board on October 1, 1945

PITTMAN decried a trend toward white chauvinism in the Communist Party.

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SF 100-1465

+:

Northern California Conference on Industrial Concentration and Press Build-

ing held

at the Booker I. Washington Community Center. Subject gave a speech

entitled "The Roll of the Marxist Press".

On April 8, 1946 PITTMAN conducted

a class on Marxism for the John Brown Branch of the Communist Party in the

home of ETTA LARGENT, 1512 Lyon Street, San Francisco.

On April 29, 1946

PITTMAN

spoke at a meeting sponsored by the South San Francisco People's

World readers

at 200 Victory Avenue, South San Francisco.

SF-1198

On August 15, 1945 PITIMAN attended the State Convention of the

, san Francisco. He made a speech at

this convention concene street, She Francis old made a ed that com-

munist Party club discussions of the paper should continue as a permanent

feature.

SF-568

On July 25, 1945 PITTMAN attended a meeting of the Seamen's Club

at 1402 Powell Street, San Francisco.

SF -1442

On February 12, 1945 PITTMAN served as chairman of the Lincoln

Memorial meeting held at 1750 Clay Street, San Francisco and sponsored by the

Communist Political Association.

SF -1469

During 1946 PITTMAN attended the Northern California Conference

on Industrial Relations in San Francisco and served as one of the speakers

at the conference.

The "Western Worker" of October 4, 1937 reported that

PITTMAN had been elected as a member of the Executive Board of the San Fran-

cisco County Council Conmittee of the Communist Party. On October 11, 1940

the "Western Worker" reported that PITTMAN was a member of the Northern Calif-

ornia Newspaper Guild and that he was active in organizing negroes in the trade

union movement.

The People's World Newspaper on April 2, 1942 published an article

by JOHN PITIMAN as Foreign Editor, in which he praised the morale of the Red

Armies of the Union of Soviet Republics. The Oakland Tribune on July 13,

1943 reported that JOHN PITTMAN would be the guest speaker at a public meet-

ing sponsored by the Berkeley Branches of the Communist Party at 1942 Shaddock

Avenue.

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SF 100-1465

SF -9

During a visit to New York in 1943 PITTMAN was entertained

by PAUL ROBESON, negro singer, Communist Party supporter.

SF-1180

During the early part of April, 1944 JOHN PITTAN and his

wife entertained GREGORY KHEIFETS, Soviet Vice Consul, and Mrs. KHLIFETS

at dinner, along with other guests.

SF-1301

During the Spring of 1944 JOHN PITTMAN and his wife entertained

JOHN and KAY MCTERNAN at dinner.

The McTERNANS are well known members of

the Communist Party in San Francisco.

SF-1332

During the early part of June, 1944 Subject and his wife enter-

tained HERBERT RESNER, Communist Party attorney: for HARRY BRIDGES, at dinner

at their home.

Source B

During the spring recruiting drive of the Communist Political

Association in 1944 Subject JOHN PITTMAN recruited the following four persons

into the CPA: JACK C. FORSTON, FRED WARTIN, CHARITY MARIIN, JOHN TERRY.

PITTMAN was transferred from the North Beach Club of the Com-

munist Party to the Fillmore Club on April 19, 1944.

SF-1370

During 1944 PITTVAN was selected as one of the key Communists

African Affairs.

SF -1413

During 1945 JOHN PITTAN appeared before the Leadership Review

Committee of the Communist Party and signed a ten-page statement regarding

his shortcomings as a leader in the Communist Party.

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SF. 100-1465

IA-3000

WILLIAM SCHNEIDERMAN furnished funds to JOHN PITTMAN upon

his departure from San Francisco to accept a position with the Chicago

"Defender". PITTMAN was allowed by the Secretary of the Party to ap-

proach a few of the comrades whom he knew personally for personal loans,

and WILLIAM SCHNEIDERMAN is known to have stated that the Party felt

it necessary to assist PITTMAN as much as possible.

-P

DING-

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