Chairman Ichord of the House Committee on...
Chairman Ichord of the House Committee on...
Representative Richard Ichord (D-MO) at podium for press conference regarding The House Committee on Un-American Activities and the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Ichord is surrounded by microphones and reporters. Off-screen male reporter asks Ichord, “You've been at it a week at taxpayers' expense. What have you accomplished, in your mind?” Ichord says, “The hearings have been very fruitful. More than 80 organizations participated in the Chicago disturbances; that there were 10 major organizations; that there were Communists and various subversives involved in these organizations; and that many of the people did have connections with foreign communist power.” Off-screen male reporter asks if he is going to issue contempt citations. Ichord states that punishment is for the courts and not the committee. “It is the purpose of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, as I construe it, to investigate the facts, find out the nature and extent of subversion and intelligently inform the Congress of those facts so that we can legislate to protect ourselves from subversion and still retain the Constitutional liberties which we all cherish so much." Middle-aged adult Caucasian male reporter asks if anyone was in contempt. Ichord replies, “I would say, as a lawyer, yes. During these hearings, the Chair has been extremely lenient. I think there have been many instances of contempt, that there is a prima facie case of contempt. But as I stated before, that's not the purpose of the House Committee on Un-American Activities. We are just gathering the facts.”
Chairman Ichord of the House Committee on...
U.S. Representative Richard Ichord (D-MO) at podium for press conference regarding The House Committee on Un-American Activities investigation into the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Off-screen male reporter asks, "The witness who occupied most of your day was Dr. Quentin Young, who answered many of your questions. Did you find that he was anything other than a well-meaning physician with an interest in social and anti-war causes?" Ichord replies: “Let me say this, that there will probably be some additional evidence developed in connection with Dr. Young and I do not want to say any more about that matter at this time. The investigators are gathering evidence and I expect that there will be some additional evidence concerning his activity." Off-screen male reporter reminds Ichord the Dr. Young’s Subpoena has expired. Ichord says another subpoena can be issued. Another male reporter asks which witnesses the hearings will continue with. Ichord says, “The hearings will continue on December 2nd, that some witnesses have had their subpoenas continued: Mr. Tom Hayden, Mr. David Dellinger, Mr. Rennie Davis, and possibly Mr. Abbie Hoffman. Ichord says he thinks, “they've just scratched the surface in this investigation. " Off-screen male reporter asks if contempt citations are being considered for the lawyers as well. Ichord replies: “If the witnesses will be responsive to some of the questions, as they have this afternoon, I don't expect that they'll be in contempt. Anyone cited for contempt of Congress will have their day in court as well.” Off-screen male reporter asks, "Some of the witnesses have charged that this hearing was politically motivated to support your own re-election. Is there any truth to that charge?" Ichord responds: “Let me say this, that the last poll that was taken in my election, I was leading 67% to 24% for my opponent, with 9% in his own home town, so I doubt if that contention has any merit."
Chairman Ichord of the House Committee on...
U.S. Representative Richard Ichord (D-MO) at podium for press conference regarding The House Committee on Un-American Activities investigation into the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Off-screen male reporter asks whether establishing a Communist link in the demonstration will exonerate Hubert Humphrey and Mayor Richard Daley and increase Humphrey's chances for election. Footage resumes, Ichord speaking: "Mayor Daley has not asked me for an invitation, nor have I extended an invitation to Mayor Daley." Ichord and reporter thank each other and Ichord leaves podium.
Chairman Ichord of the House Committee on...
Rennie Davis at podium for press conference on the The House Committee on Un-American Activities investigation into the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Davis says, “...but was denied the opportunity to testify. I want to charge at this time that clearly these sessions were totally politically motivated as an effort to try to retrieve the enormous humiliation that was heaped on the Democratic Party at the time of their convention in Chicago. Police spies and disgusting and libelous testimony; a one-sided point of view that the disruption in Chicago was caused by the demonstrators rather than, as the world knows, by the police, by the courts and the agencies of the city of Chicago and now by HUAC, that is trying to bury the issue that we attempted to raise in Chicago, which is the issue of Vietnam." Off-screen male reporter asks, “Don't you feel that the chairman gave your side-- as it were-- ample opportunity to be heard?" Davis replies: "Virtually all the time that was spent in these hearings was given to, first of all, the researcher of the committee, Mr. Gallagher, and then secondly to three police agents who were brought in from Chicago, who made the most incredible kinds of charges that I have ever heard. It made me sick to my stomach to hear. There was no opportunity to cross-examine any of those witnesses. There was no way in which we could have a full public debate on what happened in Chicago with the Chairman of this committee..."