1955 transcript of Committee on Un-American Affairs

It's hard to find what you're looking for on that page (and I even did a search on the phrase summer camp and still came up with a bunch of names, none of which I recognized.

It's interesting to me, though, that they were investigating there, at that time. Because my mother's uncle owned a bungalow colony in Kerhonksen, NY at that time. It became a summer camp and my brother and I attended in, IIRC, maybe 1971? That camp was sold in the late 70s (?) and is back to being a small resort -- for ultra Orthodox Jews, actually.

So, whose famous name is in the document?

Bernie Sanders and Pete Seeger were close friends and shared musical interests. I just wonder if this is Bernie, not "Bennie. (see bold below)

I'm not a communist hunter, but was just surprised to see what I think is probably Bernie's name connected with this kind of youth camp in the 40's. Socialist, yes; Communist ?


1332 INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES

Mr. Wechkin. It was a joint effort between Edith Segal, who spe-
cialized in dancing, and Sara Davidovitch, who was also responsible
for these endeavors.

Mr. Owens. Off the record a minute.

(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. Owens. In addition to the pageants or plays in which the
campers participated themselves, were there performances put on by
imported actors and performers ?

Mr. Wechkin. Yes ; there were.

Mr. 0"\VENs. Do you recall any of those individuals?

Mr. Wechkin. Yes ; I do.

Mr. OwENS. Would you tell the committee the names of the ones
vou recall ?

Mr. Wechkin. I remember Pete Seeger, and another folk singer
by the name of Bennie Sanders.

Mr. Owens. How were these entertainers presented to the campers,
if you recall ?

Mr. Wechkin. I believe there were concerts on Sunday night. And
these people entertained at these concerts. These concerts were a joint
effort of Camp Lakeland, which was contiguous to Camp Kinderland.

Mr. Owens. Do you know personally how the directors of the camp
secured the services of these performers ?

Mr. Wechkin. No ; I don't.

Mr. Owens. During your two summers at Kinderland, Mr. Wech-
kin, do you recall any open and avowed discussion of Communist
Party purposes, propaganda or aims?

Mr. Wechkin. I don't recall any group level. As I said before, it
was in the course of social intercourse between the counselors and
campers, I remember specifically, where the Communist Party aims
were put forth.

Mr. Owens. Would it be on an individual basis ?

Mr. Wechkin. Yes.

Mr. Owens. Were they designated in these individual contacts as
Communist Party program or platform ?

Mr. Wechkin. I don't think so. But certainly they didn't deny
the name of being Communist.

Mr. Owens. Do you mean b;^ that they used the name Communist?

Mr. Wechkin. Well, they just didn't argue when you called it
Communist.

Mr. Owens. In your reply or in your interrogation, if you chose
the word "Communist," there would be no denial ?

Mr. Wechkin. That is right.

Mr. Owens. Did you personally have any such conversations ?

Mr. Wechkin. I did.

Mr. Owens. Do you recall with whom ?

Mr. Wechkin. My counselor in 1948, Herbert Gutman.

Mr. Owens. And prior to meeting him in 1948 ?

Mr. Wechkin. No ; I didn't.

Excuse me, I remember him as being a counselor in 1947.

Mr. Owens. Prior to that, you had never met him ?

Mr. Wechkin. No.

Mr. Owens. Could you tell us what you know about the background
of Herbert Gutman ?



INVESTIGATION OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES 1333

Mr. Wechkin. Herbert Giitman graduated Queens College in New
York approximately 1947 or 1948. He played on the varsity basket-
ball team there. He attended the Columbia School of Journalism,
Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, in 1949 or 1950. He was
a student at the Institute of Marxist Studies, Jefferson School of Social
Science, in 1950.

Then I had a personal contact with Herbert Gutman.

Mr. Owens. We shall cover that later.

What occupation did he pursue, if you know, during the off season
of the years 1947 and 1948 ?

Mr. Wechkin. He was a student at that time.

Mr. Owens. Turning now to these contacts you may have had with
Mr. Gutman at Kinderland, do you recall specifically any of the in-
stances where he discussed with you what was apparent to you to be
Communist Party line?

Mr. Wechkin. Well, he urged my membership in the Youth for
Wallace movement.

Mr. Owens. Did that materialize into your joining the Young Pro-
gressives of America ?

Mr. Wechkin. It did.

How interesting. And because this is a scanned document, it's possible 'Bennie' is really 'Bernie' (optical character recognition isn't perfect).

Thanks - the HUAC were up in everybody's business.