In June 1947 I became assistant to Mr. Stanley Speer, then president of Unity Corp., Inc., licensee of Radio Stations WTOD and WTRT, in charge of public relations. When Mr. Speer left in September 1947, I was appointed manager of Radio Stations WTOD and WTRT. As manager of the above-mentioned radio stations, I have been responsible for all the policymaking activities of these two stations and responsible to Mr. Lamb for my actions. During these years of operations Mr. Lamb has stated to me over and over again that these stations should take an active part in community life, not only making available time for the discussion of pertinent community issues, but that the staff should actively participate in all community affairs. In accordance with these instructions, we have maintained a constant program of informing and entertaining the public while bringing many, many discussions of public interest to them. I am confident that the broadcasting record of WTOD and WTRT will show outstanding participation in every civic drive or community affair. Mr. Lamb has never issued any instructions or inferred by conversation that the news should be slanted in any respect over the stations. Our newscasts are taken from information over the leased wires of the Associated Press, local sources such as the Toledo police and fire departments, State bureaus, and accredited news releases from public relations firms. It has been our continuing policy that news should be presented in a factual manner without bias. I can truthfully say that I have never heard Mr. Lamb express any statement that could be considered favorable to the activities of the Communist Party. I know Mr. Lamb to be an outstanding American in his social and business life with a liberal outlook on the economic status of this country and the world. I know that he has contributed of his own time and broadcast time for the benefit of the interests of the community. I am aware of the charges being leveled against Mr. Lamb, and as manager of radio stations WTOD and WTRT, I firmly believe that an impartial investigation of our broadcasting activities and participation in community life will show there is no truth in these accusations. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of April 1954. SUNNE MILLER. CECILE HUEBNER, A Notary Public of Lucas County, Ohio. My commission expires April 18, 1954. EXHIBIT O [From the Erie (Pa.) Dispatch, March 13, 1947] THE VIPER IN OUR BOSOM There was a time when recognition of the Communist Party as a legal political entity in America could be defended on the premise that the Constitution guarantees the right of the party to exist. There also was a time when there was little cause for anxiety concerning the effect upon our institutions of permitting Communists free reign to rant. In those days, the typical Communist was either a crack-pot or, as in the 1920's, a juvenile not yet dry behind the ears and having fun shocking conventional people and patriots. Both were harmless and their soap-box antics were amusing. Most of the crackpots died in charity wards eventually, and most of the youngsters now are judges, industrialists, lawyers, writers, and other solid citizens who gave of their blood and possessions to save this country in the last war and are as ashamed of their youthful antics as they are of their sex indiscretions. However, that was before the Communists in America formed partnership with the Russian party; and before desperate and dangerous men moved in with the avowed purpose of wrecking this nation, socially and economically. Secretary of Labor Lewis B. Schwellenbach is advocating the outlawing of the United States Communist Party and such a law may be drawn by Chairman Fred A. Hartley (Republican, New Jersey) of the House Labor Committee. Most thinking Americans will agree that, in trying to extend democratic principles to people of all political complexions, this nation has taken a viper to its bosom. It is unlikely that even the most ardent advocate of our precious democratic privileges will see violation of our American principles if the Communist Party is kicked out, lock, stock and barrel, as a legal political group. It should always be remembered that this nation cannot exist part democratic and part communistic, any more than it could exist, as Lincoln pointed out, half free and half slave. Our democratic capitalism cannot be mixed with communism. The two are as antipathetic as oil and water. Communism in America no longer seeks reform through constitutional processes. If it did, there would be no valid excuse to outlaw it. Communism in America today seeks to overthrow our system by violence. It is boring into almost every phase of our national life like a spreading cancer; it is turning brother against brother and creating industrial and social havoc, which is the Russian way of conquering. Fools and innocent blunderers flock to the banners of communism in hordes, joining forces with the most insidious enemy this country ever had. The bloody hand of the Politburo has been laid even upon youth, labor, and church bodies. Thousands of naive persons, patriots at heart, do not know they have lent their names to communistic organizations with high-sounding and patriotic titles. Legal recognition of the Communists as a political party provides them with the shield they want and need. That recognition was a major victory for them. It would be an important step toward crushing this enemy within our gates to deprive communism of this protection and Mr. Schwellenbach should have the support of all patriotic Americans. EXHIBIT P [Lead editorial in the Toledo (Ohio) Blade of March 20, 1954 1] THAT LAMB STORY AGAIN Again that old story about Edward Lamb, Toledo attorney and radio-television operator, has bounced back into print. This time the Federal Communications Commission reports that it has received information, from a source as yet undisclosed, charging him with having once been a member of the Communist Party and a contributor to its support. And it has decided to hold a hearing into the matter before renewing the television license for his station at Erie, Pa. Perhaps this belated showdown is desirable, both in fairness to Mr. Lamb and the FCC. Evidently that old story is never going to die a natural death, and the only thing to do is to bring it out in the open. If his accusers can prove any of the things they have been saying, let them prove it once and for all or else keep quiet about it hereafter. Here in Toledo, where people have heard this story often, it doesn't create as much commotion as it seems to in Washington. This newspaper, which undoubtedly is as well informed about what goes on in this community as anybody else, has never come across any evidence to support the accusation. And though Mr. Lamb catered to the left when that was the popular thing to do, he certainly appears to have been bearing right with his business activities in recent years. Whether he leans left or right, Mr. Lamb has always seemed to us to trim his sails to suit his own advantage. We do not believe that he has ever been a man of any strong convictions whatsoever. And we will grant that one has to get up very early in the morning to get the better of him in anything. But a Communist? Bunk! 1 The Toledo Blade is Edward Lamb's hometown newspaper and a business competitor of Mr. Lamb. EXHIBIT T FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, Mrs. BERNIECE WHITMORE, DEAR MADAM: Erie, Pa. You may be interested in knowing that section 310 (b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, provides that all transfers of control of the licensees of broadcast facilities must receive the prior consent of this Commission. In response to your inquiry as to whether the Commission investigates the qualifications of proposed purchasers, the Commission will consent to the transfer of control of a licensee when it decides that such transfer is in the public interest. In order to make this determination, consonant with section 319 (a) of the Communications Act, it is necessary to inquire into, among other things, the legal, technical, financial, and other qualifications of the transferee to operate a radio station. Such inquiry and determination can only be made after a careful and detailed study of all of the facts before the Commission. When this Commission had under consideration a previous application of Mr. Lamb, it withheld action until it had contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and received a summary of information in the Bureau's files regarding Mr. Lamb. Upon the basis of the record and material furnished by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Commission was unable to find that he was unqualified to be a licensee. For your further information, the material referred to was furnished the Select Committee of the House of Representatives, 80th Congress, which conducted an investigation of the activities of this Commission. A part of the file of report of that Commission (H. Rept. 2479, 80th Cong., 2d sess.) was devoted to Mr. Lamb. * Very truly yours, T. J. SLOWIE, Secretary. NOMINATION OF JOHN C. DOERFER TO THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1954 UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. The committee met at 10: 10 a. m., pursuant to recess, in room G-16 of the Capitol, Senator John W. Bricker (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Bricker, Schoeppel, Potter, Duff, Payne, Bowring, Johnson of Colorado, Magnuson, Pastore, Monroney, and Smathers. Also present: Bertram O. Wissman, chief clerk; Edward Jarrett, assistant chief clerk; Nick Zapple, counsel for Subcommittee No. 2 on Communications. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. You are Mr. John C. Doerfer? Mr. DOERFER. That is right. The CHAIRMAN. I have here a short biographical sketch. I think it is the same one that was submitted when you became a member in the first place. I would like to make it a part of the record at this time. (The biographical sketch of John C. Doerfer is as follows:) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN C. Doerfer, Madison, WiS. November 30, 1904: Born in Milwaukee, Wis., of German-American parents: John M. Doerfer and Magdalen Doerfer, nee Mading. 1911-19: Grade school, Holy Assumption. 1919-23: High school, West Allis, Wis. 1924-28: University of Wisconsin. Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in commerce, major, accounting. 1929: Married Ida M. Page, also a graduate of University of Wisconsin; English teacher. Two children: John Page Doerfer, 1937; Gordon Lee Doerfer, 1939. 1929-34: Worked as accountant, Kearney & Trecker Corp.; Price Waterhouse, Cosden Oil Co. (part time from 1931 to 1934 while attending law school). 1931-34: Marquette University School of Law, Milwaukee, Wis. Graduated with a jurum doctor degree, cum laude. 1935: Stood for State senator on Democratic ticket (one of two factions); failed of nomination. 1934-40: General practice of law in city of West Allis, Milwaukee County, Wis. 1937: State chairman, Junior Bar Conference of American Bar Association. 1938: Chairman of Milwaukee County Junior Bar Association. 1940: Elected city attorney, city of West Allis (population 40,000) on nonpartisan ticket. 1940: Chairman of West Allis Committee for Wendell Willkie, candidate for President. 1944: Associate appeal counsel for local selective service board. 1944: Reelected city attorney; no opposition. 1946-47: Member of board of governors of Wisconsin Bar Association. 1947-48: Secretary of Milwaukee Executive Club. |