Subversive Influence in the Educational Process - the "outing" of Richard Edsall

testimony before the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee (known as "SISS"), 1952

A brief excerpt from: SUBVERSIVE INFLUENCE IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS: Hearings before the Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and other Internal Security Laws of the Comm on the Judiciary, US Senate, 82nd congress, 2nd session, Sept. 8, 9, 10, 23, 24, 25, and Oct. 13, 1952 (US Govt Printing Office, 1952):

Mr. Morris. In connection with the Boston hearing, there was a man named Richard L. Edsall, who was a vice president of a large advertising firm in Boston. Mr. [Herbert] Philbrick, when testifying, testified concerning him as an important member of the "pro-4" group in Boston. Because of his standing, the committee did not have an opportunity to have him appear before the committee in Boston. Since that hearing held in Boston on May 8, we have been endeavoring to reach Mr. Richard L. Edsall.

On May 26, 1953, a week ago, we sent a letter to an address in Montreal, Quebec, where he is supposed to have been residing. That letter has not been returned, and we have not heard Mr. Edsall.

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. Edsall: Your name has turned up in testimony before the Internal Security Subcommittee of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. This testimony was taken in executive session and we have withheld publication of this pending your having an opportunity to give testimony. We have set Thursday, June 4, 1953, as the day when this may be released. Accordingly, we are asking you if you will appear at 9:30 a.m. on that day, in room 424-C, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. In the event that you do not avail yourself of this opportunity, public disclosure will be made of the evidence.

Sincerely yours,

William E. Jenner
Chairman, Internal Security Subcommittee

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