Opinion ID: 1474108
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Assisting in the Preparation of a Senator's Speeches.

Text: The defendant worked with a late Senator on at least three speeches, entitled, Lord Lothian vs. Lord Lothian, German-American Trade Relations, and Six Men and War. While the first was largely quotations from speeches and writings of Lord Lothian there was an introduction and the matter of arrangement. Further, some material for this speech was delivered to the Senator's office from the German Embassy at defendant's request. The second speech, the one on trade relations, found defendant dictating the outline in the Senator's office. Again the defendant had the German Embassy send over some material. Later the Senator told one of his employees in defendant's presence that he would not use the material the employee had collected, because the defendant had better material. In connection with the third speech one of the Senator's employees testified that she heard the defendant say to the Senator, I have tried to phrase it in the best way I could in the manner in which you speak. Assisting a Senator in the preparation of his speeches, and maybe even aiding him in reaching the views that were to be conveyed, would seem to be political activity. Perchance such work is only that of an author, but we think that it is more than that. Moreover, the defendant did not reveal in any way for whom he wrote. His registration statement would give the idea that he was writing only that which appeared under his name. The spirit of the Act required defendant to detail his disclosure more than he did. He should have been definite enough that others could consider his work for what it was. As it is, defendant was attempting to be sole judge of the nature and effect of his work. Registration is meant to do more than that.