The Authors League of America Inc.

SIX EAST THIRTY-NINTH STREET • NEW YORK 16, N. Y. • TELEPHONE MURRAY HILL 9-4950

January 28, 1952

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York 35, New York

Dear Mr. Hughes:

The Authors League has requested the Federal Communications Commission to grant a hearing on the subject of blacklisting. If it is granted it will be necessary to present a well-documented case to the FCC. Mere allegations will not suffice. We shall have to present specific facts. Furthermore, since the FCC has no jurisdiction over sponsors, advertising agencies or producers, it will be necessary to show that a general policy exists in which networks and station licensees are involved.

This letter and the accompanying questionnaire are going to the fifty-two creators of copyrightable material whose names appear in Red Channels. We urge you to make a prompt and full response. Obviously, it will be impossible for the Authors League to get anything effective done without the complete cooperation of those who have suffered from the blacklisting policy.

If you wish any or all of your answers to be kept confidential, please say so. Otherwise we shall feel free to use them. In any case do not delay your response.

Yours,

Ruth Goetz

Laura Z. Hobson

Officers

President, OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN, 2nd
Vice-President, JOHN HERSEY Secretary, ERIK BARNOUW

Treasurer, KURT WEILL

Council

ERIK BARNOUW
JACK BENTKOVER
HOWARD BRESLIN
HECTOR CHEVIGNY
RUSSEL CROUSE
HERBERT FIELDS

GILBERT W. CABRIEL
RUTH GOODMAN GOETZ
SHELBY GORDON
ARTHUR GARFIELD HAYS
LILLIAN HELLMAN
LAURA Z. HOBSON

ANNALEE JACOBY
WELBOURN KELLEY
MILTON KRAMER
HOWARD LINDSAY
FRANCES LOCKRIDGE
RICHARD LOCKRIDGE

ROBERT LUCAS
PETER LYON
SAM MOORE
ARNOLD PERL
ANN PETRY
FLETCHER PRATT

SAMSON RAPHAELSON
ELMER RICE
RICHARD RODGERS
HOWARD RODMAN
ARTHUR SCHWARTZ
SHELDON STARK

REX STOUT
LIONEL TRILLING
JOHN VANDERCOOK
KURT WEILL
VICTOR WOLFSON
STANLEY YOUNG

HAYS, ST. JOHN, ABRAMSON AND SCHULMAN, Counsel

LUISE M. SILLCOX, Executive Secretary

EVELYN F. BURKEY, Ass't Executive Secretary

QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Has the publication of your name in Red Channels adversely affected your employment or the use of your material in the radio and television fields?

2. If so, how? Be as specific as possible, giving all relevant facts, such as denial of employment, termination of contracts, diminution of income and the like. Give dates, names and figures.

3. Have you any other evidence as to the existence of a general policy on the part of the radio and television industries (including networks and stations and licensees), to blacklist writers and others, because of their alleged political affiliations or beliefs. If so, state it fully and specifically.

4. State any other relevant information or comments.

5. If called upon would you be willing to testify before the FCC?