The National Committee to Secure Justice for the Rosenbergs and Morton Sobell

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The National Committee to Secure Justice for the Rosenbergs and Morton Sobell

Introduction: History

The Communist Party created a front concerning the trial, conviction and execution for espionage of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, and the long term jail sentence of Morton Sobell. It was known as The Committee to Secure Justice for the Rosenbergs and Morton Sobell.[1]

Additional information on this committee and The Committee to Secure Justice for Morton Sobell was found in two earlier HCUA hearings[2]

Sobell, in 2008, came out in a "New York Times" article and admitted that he was a Soviet spy as charged, but tried to downplay its significance and his acts of treason.[3]

These "Committees continued on in existence in one form or another into the early 2000's but lost a lot of influence due to the scholarly research of Ron Radosh, John Earl Haynes, Harvey Khehr and others, as well as the publication of the "Venona Papers", the latter being US intelligence intercepts of Soviet messages during and after WW2, which revealed Julius Rosenberg to have been the head of a Soviet spy ring, and his wife Ethel, as his assistant.

A comprehensive study of Soviet espionage can be found in the book "The Venona Secrets: Exposing Soviet Espionage and America's traitors,", Herbert Romerstein and Eric Breindel, Regnery, 2000.

Personnel

As of June 14, 1953, the following were members or sponsors of the Committee:[4]

Committee Members

Sponsors

Ads, newspapers and other publications

New York Times, 1971

Daily World

National Committee to Reopen the Rosenberg Case - (An early appearance of a new CPUSA front, the National Committee to Reopen the Rosenberg Case

A notice appeared in the May 22, 1976 edition of the Daily World DW, Page 10, which read as follows (with to Picasso drawings of Ethel Rosenberg and Julius Rosenberg:

"Open All the Files Now! Join the Fight Against Government Frame-Ups and Cover-Ups! Pay Tribute to Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, Fighters for Freedom and Justice, on the 23rs Anniversary of Their Execution Carnegie Hall, Tues. June 15, 8 p.m.

"in a dramatic program, "Progress Report on the Reopening of the Rosenberg-Sobell Case."

They lied to us about Vietnam. They lied to us about Watergate. They lied to us about the Rosenberg-Sobell case. Let the truth come out!

(notice about buying seats for the performance, or making a contribution to): National Committee to Reopen the Rosenberg Case, Room 606, 250 West 57th Street, New York City, NY, 10019

end of notice

The CPUSA newspaper, Daily World, June 2, 1976, in an article entitled "Tribute to Rosenbergs June 15 to demand opening all files", listed the following as supporters of this "Tribute to Ethel and Julius Rosenberg" to be held at Carnegie Hall.

The CPUSA newspaper, "Daily World", June 11, 1976, in an article entitled "Probe of Rosenberg judge urged", the existence of a group known as Attorneys to Reopen the Rosenberg Case" was announced. Among its members were:

Additional Rosenberg/Sobell Related CPUSA Fronts Over the Years

In the CPUSA newspaper, the "Daily World", June 11, 1976 (June 10th dateline), by CPUSA member Mike Giocondo and entitled "Probe of Rosenberg Judge Urged", a new CPUSA-front was announced. Named "Attorneys to Reopen the Rosenberg Case", and led by veteran CPUSA-sympathizer Marshall Perlin, the group's goal was to call "for an independent committee of inquiry to investigate these documents and others concerning Judge Kaufman's conduct in the Rosenberg-Sobell case." (Re: "these documents" i.e. those released under the Freedom of Information Act in response to a lawsuit "filed by Michael Meeropol and Robert Meeropol, sons of the executed Julius and Ethel Rosenberg)."

"Michael Meeropol, in a brief statement at the press conference, that (sic) the new disclosures 'speak directly to the guilt or innocence of my parents'."

"Among those at the press conference were members of "the"

Memorial for Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, June 17, 1974, Carnegie Hall

A notice/flier appeared announcing that a 21st Anniversary Memorial "for Ethel and Julius Rosenberg" was going to be held on June 17 (1974), to mark their execution as Soviet spies.

Among those listed as participants were:

Of those listed Morton Sobell, Seeger, Cunningham, Randolph and Lardner Jr. were either identified or open members of the CPUSA. Entertainrs Davis, Schlamme, Torn, and Burrows all had long records of support for CPUSA fronts and causes. Helen Sobell, being married to a Soviet spy, was undoubtedly a covert supporter or member of the CPUSA.

References

  1. ↑ "Trial By Treason: The National Committee to Secure Justice for the Rosenbergs and Morton Sobell", House Document No. 206, August 25, 1956, House Committee on Un-American Activities, Page 1
  2. ↑ "Investigation of Communist Activities (The Committee to Secure Justice in the Rosenberg Case and Affiliates - Part I and Part II, August 2-4, 1955, hearings.
  3. ↑ New York Times, "Figure in Rosenberg Case Admits to Soviet Spying", Sam Roberts, Sept. 12, 2008;"Los Angeles Times", "Case Closed on the Rosenbergs", Ron Radosh, Sept. 17, 2008, column
  4. ↑ Trial By Treason: The National Committee to Secure Justice for the Rosenbergs and Morton Sobell, House Document No. 206, August 25, 1956, House Committee on Un-American Activities, Page 54
  5. ↑ House Report 3123, National Lawyers Guild, HCUA, September 21, 1950, House Report 1311 on "CIO Political Action Committee", March 29, 1944, p. 149, Special Committee on Un-American Activities; Internal Security Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, "Handbook for Americans", S. Doc. 11, April 23, 1956, p. 91
  6. ↑ Congressional Records of Rep. Larry McDonald, Extension of Remarks, 1976, CCR Citation
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