Reel

White Expose: Opens Sweeping Probe Of All Red Espionage

White Expose: Opens Sweeping Probe Of All Red Espionage
Clip: 353026_1_1
Year Shot: 1953 (Actual Year)
Audio: Yes
Video: B/W
Tape Master: 1592
Original Film: 026-519-01
HD: N/A
Location: Washington, DC
Timecode: 00:28:09 - 00:30:44

The Harry Dexter White case reaches its climax before the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, which hears J. Edgar Hoover and Attorney-General Brownell substantiate charges that President Truman knew of White's activities prior to his promotion. Establishing shot - Members of the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee. CUS - Harry Dexter White. CUS - Attorney-General Brownell. Attorney-General Brownell addressing the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee; "The information contained in these reports was as the Subcommittee knows, of great importance at the time White wrote them. Although with the lapse of time the necessity for secracy on these subjects has disappeared. But the record which was available to the Truman administration in December 1945 an thereafter, should have sufficient to convince anyone that White was a hazard to our government. The question which had to be decided at that time was not whether White could have been convicted of treason in court. There was ample evidence that he was not loyal to the interest of our country, and that's enough. Government employment is a privilege, not a right. We don t have to wait until a man to be convicted of treason before we can remove him from a position of trust and confidence". President Truman addresses the people, "The Attorney-General of the United States has not only degraded his office. He has deceived his chief as to what he proposed to do. And in saying Harry Dexter White was known to be a communist spy by the very people who appointed him, he lied to the American people. The charges which had been made to the FBI against Mr. White also involve many other persons. Hundreds of FBI agents were engaged in investigating the charges against all those who had been accused. It was great importance to the nation that this investigation be continued in order to prove or disprove these charges and to determine if still other persons were implicated. Any unusual action with respect to Mr. White's appointment might well of alerted all the persons involved to the fact that the investigation was on their way and thus endanger the success of the investigation". J Edgar Hoover addresses the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, "At no time was the FBI a party of agreement to promote Harry Dexter White and at no time did the FBI give its approval to such an agreement. Such an agreement on the part of the FBI would be inconceivable". President Truman addresses the people; "The Attorney-General of the United States has not only degraded his office. He has deceived his chief as to what he proposed to do. And in saying that Harry Dexter White was known to be a communist spy by the very people who appointed him. He lied to the American people. The charges which had been made to the FBI against Mr. White also involve many other persons. Hundreds of FBI agents were engaged in investigating charges against all those who's been accused. It was great importance to the nation that this investigation be continued in order to prove or dis-prove these charges and to determine if still other persons were implicated. Any unusual action with respect to Mr. White's appointment might well of alerted all the persons involved to the fact that the investigation was on their way and thus endanger the success of the investigation".