Seeger: “I Have Sung in Hobo Jungles, and I Have Sung for the Rockefellers”

[madfloridian]

Run time: 04:23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y2SIIeqy34   Posted on YouTube: February 18, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 04, 2009 By DU Member: madfloridian Views on DU: 895

 
Pete Seeger sings "Where have all the Flowers gone".

One reason so many of us older folks were so thrilled to see him sing at the inauguaration concert was for what he went through during witch hunts of the House Unamerican Activities Committee.

In fact many folk singers were treated this way. Here is his testimony before HUAC on August 18, 1955.

“I Have Sung in Hobo Jungles, and I Have Sung for the Rockefellers”: Pete Seeger Refuses to “Sing” for HUAC

Mr. SEEGER: I have sung for Americans of every political persuasion, and I am proud that I never refuse to sing to an audience, no matter what religion or color of their skin, or situation in life. I have sung in hobo jungles, and I have sung for the Rockefellers, and I am proud that I have never refused to sing for anybody. That is the only answer I can give along that line.

There is a long but interesting video called Force and Violins: What the FBI Had on Folksingers

It was posted last year at The Library of Congress website.

Here is a fascinating series of video clips from PBS. Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks speaks out for Pete Seeger and what was done to him. She speaks from experience, though her problem was not a House Committee.

PBS American Masters: Natalie Maines speaks of Pete Seeger

Scroll down for Maines interviews.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. A great, great man. A national treasure!!!!!!

[Captain Hilts]

2. He sang for Eleanor Roosevelt. Here's the photograph...

[madfloridian]

3. Great photograph.

Thanks for sharing that. They still accused him of being a communist.

And look what they did to his group The Weavers just as they got a TV show. The anti-communist folks got it shut down and ruined their careers.

[madfloridian]

4. The Weavers music....group formed in 1948 I think. HUAC activists destroyed them.

Here is a link to their music at E-Music.

http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Weavers-Vanguard-Visionaries-The-Weavers-MP3-Download/11076520.html

Heartbreaking how a witch hunt destroyed so many.

[elleng]

5. Not 'destroyed,' actually, tho close.

COULDN'T do that!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weavers

[madfloridian]

6. They had a show sponsored by Campbell soup....and it was cancelled

I don't have all the details, trying to find them now. So you are right, not really destroyed, but harmed greatly. Seeger was off the air for about 17 years.

[madfloridian]

7. How sad the questions from HUAC to Seeger were.

"Mr. TAVENNER: The same occasion, yes, sir. I have before me a photostatic copy of a page from the June 1, 1949, issue of the Daily Worker, and in a column entitled “Town Talk” there is found this statement:

The first performance of a new song, “If I Had a Hammer,” on the theme of the Foley Square trial of the Communist leaders, will be given at a testimonial dinner for the 12 on Friday night at St. Nicholas Arena. . . .Among those on hand for the singing will be . . . Pete Seeger, and Lee Hays—

and others whose names are mentioned. Did you take part in that performance?

Mr. SEEGER: I shall be glad to answer about the song, sir, and I am not interested in carrying on the line of questioning about where I have sung any songs.

Mr. TAVENNER: I ask a direction.

Chairman WALTER: You may not be interested, but we are, however. I direct you to answer. You can answer that question.

Mr. SEEGER: I feel these questions are improper, sir, and I feel they are immoral to ask any American this kind of question.

Mr. TAVENNER: Have you finished your answer?

Mr. SEEGER: Yes, sir. . . ."

17 years he was banned from major media.

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6457/