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Big shiny ones
chairman walter: I direct you to answer the question. Did you sing this particular song on the fourth of july at wingdale lodge in new york?
Mr. Seeger: I have already given you my answer to that question, and all questions such as that. I feel that is improper: To ask about my associations and opinions. I have said that i would be voluntarily glad to tell you any song, or what i have done in my life.
Chairman walter: I think it is my duty to inform you that we don’t accept this answer and the others, and i give you an opportunity now to answer these questions, particularly the last one.
Mr. Seeger: Sir, my answer is always the same.
Chairman walter: All right, go ahead, mr. Tavenner.
Mr. Tavenner: Were you chosen by mr. Elliott sullivan to take part in the program on the weekend of july fourth at wingdale lodge?
Mr. Seeger: The answer is the same, sir.
Mr. Willis: Was that the occasion of the satire on the constitution and the bill of rights?
Mr. Tavenner: The same occasion, yes, sir. I have before me a photostatic copy of a page from the june 1, 1949, issue of the daily worker, and in a column entitled “town talk” there is found this statement:
The first performance of a new song, “if i had a hammer,” on the theme of the foley square trial of the communist leaders, will be given at a testimonial dinner for the 12 on friday night at st. Nicholas arena. . . .among those on hand for the singing will be . . . Pete seeger, and lee hays—
and others whose names are mentioned. Did you take part in that performance?
Mr. Seeger: I shall be glad to answer about the song, sir, and i am not interested in carrying on the line of questioning about where i have sung any songs.
Mr. Tavenner: I ask a direction.
Chairman walter: You may not be interested, but we are, however. I direct you to answer. You can answer that question.
Mr. Seeger: I feel these questions are improper, sir, and i feel they are immoral to ask any american this kind of question.
Mr. Tavenner: Have you finished your answer?
Mr. Seeger: Yes, sir. . . .
Mr. Tavenner: Did you hear mr. George hall’s testimony yesterday in which he stated that, as an actor, the special contribution that he was expected to make to the communist party was to use his talents by entertaining at communist party functions? Did you hear that testimony?
Mr. Seeger: I didn’t hear it, no.
Mr. Tavenner: It is a fact that he so testified. I want to know whether or not you were engaged in a similar type of service to the communist party in entertaining at these features.
(witness consulted with counsel.)
mr. Seeger: I have sung for americans of every political persuasion, and i am proud that i never refuse to sing to an audience, no matter what religion or color of their skin, or situation in life. I have sung in hobo jungles, and i have sung for the rockefellers, and i am proud that i have never refused to sing for anybody. That is the only answer i can give along that line.
Chairman walter: Mr. Tavenner, are you getting around to that letter? There was a letter introduced yesterday that i think was of greater importance than any bit of evidence adduced at these hearings, concerning the attempt made to influence people in this professional performers' guild and union to assist a purely communist cause which had no relation whatsoever to the arts and the theater. Is that what you are leading up to?
Mr. Tavenner: Yes, it is. That was the letter of peter lawrence, which i questioned him about yesterday. That related to the trial of the smith act defendants here at foley square. I am trying to inquire now whether this witness was party to the same type of propaganda effort by the communist party.
Mr. Scherer: There has been no answer to your last question.
Mr. Tavenner: That is right; may i have a direction?
Mr. Seeger: Would you repeat the question? I don’t even know what the last question was, and i thought i have answered all of them up to now.
Mr. Tavenner: What you stated was not in response to the question.
Chairman walter: Proceed with the questioning, mr. Tavenner.
Mr. Tavenner: I believe, mr. Chairman, with your permission, i will have the question read to him. I think it should be put in exactly the same form.
(whereupon the reporter read the pending question as above recorded.)
mr. Seeger: “these features”: What do you mean? Except for the answer i have already given you, i have no answer. The answer i gave you you have, don’t you? That is, that i am proud that i have sung for americans of every political persuasion, and i have never refused to sing for anybody because i disagreed with their political opinion, and i am proud of the fact that my songs seem to cut across and find perhaps a unifying thing, basic humanity, and that is why i would love to be able to tell you about these songs, because i feel that you would agree with me more, sir. I know many beautiful songs from your home county, carbon, and monroe, and i hitchhiked through there and stayed in the homes of miners.
Mr. Tavenner: My question was whether or not you sang at these functions of the communist party. You have answered it inferentially, and if i understand your answer, you are saying you did.
Mr. Seeger: Except for that answer, i decline to answer further. . . .
Mr. Scherer: Do you understand it is the feeling of the committee that you are in contempt as a result of the position you take?
Mr. Seeger: I can’t say.
Mr. Scherer: I am telling you that that is the position of the committee. . . .
Mr. Seeger: I decline to discuss, under compulsion, where i have sung, and who has sung my songs, and who else has sung with me, and the people i have known. I love my country very dearly, and i greatly resent this implication that some of the places that i have sung and some of the people that i have known, and some of my opinions, whether they are religious or philosophical, or i might be a vegetarian, make me any less of an american. I will tell you about my songs, but i am not interested in telling you who wrote them, and i will tell you about my songs, and i am not interested in who listened to them. . . .