Ebook Activities of Ku Klux Klan Organizations in the United States

The subcommittee met, pursuant to recess, at 10 a.m. in the Caucus Room, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C., Hon. Edwin E. Willis (chairman) presiding.

(Subcommittee members: Representatives Edwin E. Willis, of Louisiana, chairman; Joe R. Pool, of Texas; Charles L. Weltner, of Georgia; John M. Ashbrook, of Ohio; and John H. Buchanan, Jr., of Alabama.)

Subcommittee members present: Representatives Willis, Pool, Weltner, and Buchanan.

Staff members present: Francis J. McNamara, director; William Hitz, general counsel; Alfred M. Nittle, counsel; Donald T. Appell, chief investigator; and Philip R. Manuel, investigator.

The Chairman. The subcommittee will come to order.

This morning we resume hearings on the Ku Klux Klan organizations of the United States. In that connection I refer to my opening statement of October 19, 1965, which is of course already a part of the record.

I assume that each witness to be called today, and thereafter, has received and read a copy of that opening statement. I nevertheless suggest that the one who will conduct the interrogation will ask each witness if that is so. It is my information it is so.

So we will now resume the interrogation of witnesses, and Mr. Appell will please call the first witness.

Mr. Appell. Mr. John Deason Swenson.

The Chairman. Please raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. Swenson. Yes, sir.

Mr. Appell. Will counsel please have a seat.