1
00:00:04,551 --> 00:00:06,053
NARRATION:
In the Soviet Union
2
00:00:06,119 --> 00:00:07,427
and in America
3
00:00:07,487 --> 00:00:09,831
the Cold War was
fought by fear.
4
00:00:12,392 --> 00:00:16,898
The Soviet Union raised fences
against the outside world.
5
00:00:16,963 --> 00:00:19,807
The gulag - the secret
universe of labor camps,
6
00:00:19,866 --> 00:00:22,312
swallowed the
lives of millions.
7
00:00:35,515 --> 00:00:37,654
Both sides turned
their fear inwards
8
00:00:37,718 --> 00:00:39,061
against their own people.
9
00:00:41,555 --> 00:00:44,866
They hunted the enemy within.
10
00:00:44,925 --> 00:00:48,372
Communism in reality is
not a political party.
11
00:00:48,428 --> 00:00:52,342
It is a way of life, an evil and
malignant way of life.
12
00:00:52,399 --> 00:00:55,437
It reveals a condition
akin to a disease,
13
00:00:55,502 --> 00:00:58,574
that spreads like an epidemic, and like
an epidemic,
14
00:00:58,638 --> 00:01:01,141
a quarantine is
necessary to keep it
15
00:01:01,208 --> 00:01:02,482
from infecting
this nation.
16
00:01:05,846 --> 00:01:06,847
17
00:01:42,031 --> 00:01:44,807
NARRATION: The Cold War made
America renew its values,
18
00:01:44,867 --> 00:01:48,076
invent new images
for American virtue.
19
00:01:50,239 --> 00:01:52,651
ARCHIVE NARRATION:
Men and women in all walks of life,
20
00:01:52,708 --> 00:01:56,656
we are shareholders in the greatest
enterprise on earth:
21
00:01:56,712 --> 00:02:00,387
The United States
of America Unlimited.
22
00:02:00,449 --> 00:02:03,555
Our strength lies in the character of our
people,
23
00:02:03,619 --> 00:02:07,692
young in heart, independent
in thought and nature,
24
00:02:07,757 --> 00:02:10,067
skilled of hand.
25
00:02:10,126 --> 00:02:12,800
American enterprise has harnessed fire
and water, wind,
26
00:02:14,830 --> 00:02:21,179
sun and soil to produce an abundance of
everything.
27
00:02:21,237 --> 00:02:24,810
NARRATION:
Was communism out to destroy all this?
28
00:02:24,874 --> 00:02:27,320
American propaganda
said it was.
29
00:02:37,119 --> 00:02:41,590
ARCHIVE NARRATION: Stalin said 'The whole
world is aware that the Soviet Union
30
00:02:41,657 --> 00:02:47,005
demobilized its forces
after the war.'
31
00:02:47,063 --> 00:02:49,304
Beware the big lie.
32
00:02:52,168 --> 00:02:56,048
NARRATION:
At home, Americans feared Red subversion.
33
00:02:56,105 --> 00:02:57,846
Congress revived
the House Committee
34
00:02:57,907 --> 00:03:00,319
on Un-American Activities.
35
00:03:00,376 --> 00:03:03,357
In 1947 the committee investigated
Hollywood,
36
00:03:03,412 --> 00:03:06,689
factory of America's imagination.
37
00:03:06,749 --> 00:03:09,855
Have you ever
observed any communistic
38
00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:11,262
information
in any scripts?
39
00:03:13,956 --> 00:03:16,664
Well I've turned down
quite a few scripts
40
00:03:16,726 --> 00:03:19,730
because I thought they were
tinged with communistic ideas.
41
00:03:24,166 --> 00:03:25,509
They haven't
attempted to use me
42
00:03:25,568 --> 00:03:28,242
I don't think because
apparently they know that
43
00:03:31,574 --> 00:03:35,351
I am not very
sympathetic to communism.
44
00:03:35,411 --> 00:03:36,947
There has been
a small group
45
00:03:37,013 --> 00:03:38,083
within the
Screen Actors Guild
46
00:03:38,147 --> 00:03:40,923
that has consistently opposed the
policy of the guild
47
00:03:40,983 --> 00:03:42,360
board of officers
48
00:03:42,418 --> 00:03:43,954
or the guild itself
as evidenced
49
00:03:44,020 --> 00:03:45,897
by the vote on
various issues.
50
00:03:45,955 --> 00:03:49,630
That small clique
has been referred to,
51
00:03:49,692 --> 00:03:51,467
has been discussed
as more or
52
00:03:51,527 --> 00:03:54,974
less following the
tactics that we associate
53
00:03:55,031 --> 00:03:56,977
with the communist party.
54
00:03:57,033 --> 00:03:58,011
If I had my
way about it
55
00:03:58,067 --> 00:04:00,138
they'd all be sent
back to Russia
56
00:04:00,202 --> 00:04:02,512
or some other
unpleasant place.
57
00:04:02,571 --> 00:04:05,051
[crowd clapping ]
58
00:04:07,243 --> 00:04:09,689
NARRATION:
Ten witnesses, the Hollywood Ten,
59
00:04:09,745 --> 00:04:13,488
defied the Committee's right
to ask about their beliefs.
60
00:04:13,549 --> 00:04:15,358
INTERROGATOR:
Are you a member of the Communist Party
61
00:04:15,418 --> 00:04:18,524
or have you ever been a
member of the Communist Party?
62
00:04:18,587 --> 00:04:20,965
It's unfortunate and
tragic that I have to teach
63
00:04:21,023 --> 00:04:22,866
this committee the basic principles
of Americanism.
64
00:04:22,925 --> 00:04:25,872
INTERROGATOR: That's not the question.
That's not the question.
65
00:04:25,928 --> 00:04:27,839
The question is - have you
ever been a member of the
66
00:04:27,897 --> 00:04:29,342
Communist Party?
67
00:04:29,398 --> 00:04:30,638
I am framing my
answer in the only way in
68
00:04:30,700 --> 00:04:33,772
which any American citizen
can frame...
69
00:04:33,836 --> 00:04:36,817
INTERROGATOR:
Then you deny it?
70
00:04:36,872 --> 00:04:41,343
You refuse to answer that question, is
that correct?
71
00:04:41,410 --> 00:04:43,856
I have told you that
I will offer my beliefs,
72
00:04:43,913 --> 00:04:45,756
my affiliations and
everything else to the
73
00:04:45,815 --> 00:04:48,591
American public and they will know
where I stand as they
74
00:04:48,651 --> 00:04:50,289
do from what I have written
75
00:04:50,352 --> 00:04:54,960
INTERROGATOR: Stand away from the stand.
Stand away from the stand.
76
00:04:55,024 --> 00:05:00,770
Officer, take this man
away from the stand.
77
00:05:00,830 --> 00:05:03,071
NARRATION: Others from the film
industry demonstrated their
78
00:05:03,132 --> 00:05:07,581
support for the constitutional rights of
the Ten.
79
00:05:07,636 --> 00:05:11,049
INTERROGATOR: Are you or have you ever
been a member of the communist party?
80
00:05:11,107 --> 00:05:12,051
I believe I have
the right to be
81
00:05:12,108 --> 00:05:15,817
confronted with any evidence that
supports this question.
82
00:05:15,878 --> 00:05:17,915
I should like to
see what you have.
83
00:05:17,980 --> 00:05:19,550
INTERROGATOR:
Oh well, you would?
84
00:05:19,615 --> 00:05:21,151
Yes.
[laughter in court]
85
00:05:21,217 --> 00:05:23,219
INTERROGATOR:
Well you will pretty soon.
86
00:05:25,554 --> 00:05:27,329
The witness is excused.
87
00:05:27,389 --> 00:05:30,268
Either you completely cooperated
with the committee,
88
00:05:30,326 --> 00:05:32,636
which meant
saying yes or no
89
00:05:32,695 --> 00:05:34,436
to the question
about whether you were
90
00:05:34,497 --> 00:05:36,738
a Communist or
ever had been,
91
00:05:36,799 --> 00:05:40,804
and W the answer was yes
as 'K was 'm my case,
92
00:05:43,072 --> 00:05:47,282
we knew the next question was, who
else was?
93
00:05:47,343 --> 00:05:51,086
We certainly didn't
want to go into that.
94
00:05:51,147 --> 00:05:53,093
NARRATION:
The Ten were imprisoned.
95
00:05:53,149 --> 00:05:55,459
With hundreds more
they were blacklisted -
96
00:05:55,518 --> 00:05:56,861
their livelihoods taken away.
97
00:05:59,321 --> 00:06:00,732
People generally
in Hollywood
98
00:06:00,790 --> 00:06:04,294
were pretty scared to have anything to
do with us.
99
00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:11,141
Whereas before we went
to prison they had not
100
00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,238
been nearly as scared and
there were plenty of undercover
101
00:06:14,303 --> 00:06:18,274
arrangements that were
made to write scripts
102
00:06:18,340 --> 00:06:20,946
under pseudonyms for a good
deal less money than you
103
00:06:21,010 --> 00:06:23,490
were accustomed
to being paid.
104
00:06:23,546 --> 00:06:27,961
There were a couple of possible
suicides as a result of it.
105
00:06:28,017 --> 00:06:31,055
There were, er,
106
00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,260
a good deal of,
er, misery.
107
00:06:36,992 --> 00:06:38,869
NARRATION:
Americans feared that the enemy would take
108
00:06:38,928 --> 00:06:40,805
advantage of their freedoms;
109
00:06:40,863 --> 00:06:44,333
that agents of communism
were undermining America.
110
00:06:47,236 --> 00:06:49,978
A Soviet spy ring
unearthed in 1946
111
00:06:50,039 --> 00:06:52,485
led investigators
to Alger Hiss,
112
00:06:52,541 --> 00:06:55,215
who had been a wartime
foreign policy adviser.
113
00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:59,691
He was accused of passing secrets to
the Soviet Union
114
00:06:59,748 --> 00:07:03,195
by a former communist,
Whittaker Chambers.
115
00:07:06,889 --> 00:07:09,961
INTERROGATOR: Have you ever seen
this individual who is standing?
116
00:07:10,025 --> 00:07:11,197
HISS:
I have.
117
00:07:11,260 --> 00:07:13,399
INTERROGATOR:
Do you know him?
118
00:07:13,462 --> 00:07:15,533
HISS:
I identify him.
119
00:07:15,598 --> 00:07:18,272
INTERROGATOR: In 1935 was the
last time that you saw him?
120
00:07:18,334 --> 00:07:19,745
HISS:
According to my best recollection not having
121
00:07:19,802 --> 00:07:21,372
checked the records.
122
00:07:21,437 --> 00:07:24,816
INTERROGATOR: Now would you remain
standing a moment Mr. Hiss?
123
00:07:24,874 --> 00:07:26,945
NARRATION:
Hiss firmly denied
124
00:07:27,009 --> 00:07:29,285
that he had betrayed
his country.
125
00:07:32,348 --> 00:07:33,588
ARCHIVE NARRATION:
New evidence of communist
126
00:07:33,649 --> 00:07:35,993
activities in government
circles is promised by the
127
00:07:36,051 --> 00:07:38,657
House Committee on
Un-American Activities.
128
00:07:38,721 --> 00:07:41,793
Microfilm reportedly found
in a pumpkin on a Maryland farm
129
00:07:41,857 --> 00:07:43,734
is examined by
investigator Stripling
130
00:07:43,792 --> 00:07:45,465
and Congressman Nixon.
131
00:07:45,527 --> 00:07:46,528
NARRATION:
Richard Nixon,
132
00:07:46,595 --> 00:07:48,074
an ambitious
young Republican,
133
00:07:48,130 --> 00:07:50,872
was convinced that
Hiss was lying.
134
00:07:50,933 --> 00:07:51,843
ARCHIVE- RICHARD NIXON:
It is the intention
135
00:07:51,901 --> 00:07:54,006
of the Committee on
Un-American Activities
136
00:07:54,069 --> 00:07:55,776
to pursue this
investigation
137
00:07:55,838 --> 00:07:58,785
until we put the spotlight on those high
officials
138
00:07:58,841 --> 00:08:00,787
in the State Department
who are responsible
139
00:08:00,843 --> 00:08:03,756
for selling this country
down the river.
140
00:08:03,812 --> 00:08:07,259
NARRATION:
Hiss was jailed for perjury.
141
00:08:07,316 --> 00:08:09,227
Nixon's name was made;
142
00:08:09,285 --> 00:08:11,026
he turned his crusade
against communism
143
00:08:11,086 --> 00:08:12,759
into a weapon
for Republicans.
144
00:08:14,990 --> 00:08:17,334
RALPH DE TOLEDANO:
It was what made him.
145
00:08:17,393 --> 00:08:21,239
It paved the way for his
whole career afterwards.
146
00:08:21,297 --> 00:08:23,903
Anti-communist was a
gut issue with Nixon.
147
00:08:23,966 --> 00:08:24,842
I mean it was something
148
00:08:24,900 --> 00:08:27,642
he believed sincerely
and deeply but of course
149
00:08:27,703 --> 00:08:31,378
he was a politician too and he was
a Republican politician
150
00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,752
and the soft on Communism issue
was hurting the Democrats
151
00:08:35,811 --> 00:08:37,552
and of course he used it.
152
00:08:37,613 --> 00:08:39,752
He would have been a
fool not to.
153
00:08:39,815 --> 00:08:40,725
ARCHIVE NARRATION:
In America,
154
00:08:40,783 --> 00:08:43,525
patriotic enthusiasm for
the democratic way of life
155
00:08:43,585 --> 00:08:46,896
reveals itself in a monster loyalty parade
in New York.
156
00:08:46,956 --> 00:08:49,459
Everyone from vets to
youngsters reveals
157
00:08:49,525 --> 00:08:51,198
his inborn dislike
of communism.
158
00:08:54,229 --> 00:08:55,299
NARRATION:
Anti-Communism
159
00:08:55,364 --> 00:09:00,040
became the language for a new, more
defiant vision of America.
160
00:09:00,102 --> 00:09:02,104
♫ For this is my country,
161
00:09:04,506 --> 00:09:11,116
to have and to hold. ♫
162
00:09:16,794 --> 00:09:18,034
NARRATION:
Singer Paul Robeson
163
00:09:18,095 --> 00:09:20,666
was open about his
communist sympathies.
164
00:09:20,731 --> 00:09:22,711
In Moscow he was welcome.
165
00:09:22,766 --> 00:09:26,714
♫ Tote that barge,
lift that bail. ♫
166
00:09:26,770 --> 00:09:35,554
♫ You show a little grit
and you land in jail. ♫
167
00:09:35,613 --> 00:09:43,031
♫ But I keeps laughing,
instead of crying, ♫
168
00:09:43,087 --> 00:09:49,868
♫ I must keep fighting
until I'm dying, ♫
169
00:09:49,927 --> 00:09:54,927
♫ and ol' man river he'll
just keep rolling along ♫
170
00:10:09,313 --> 00:10:12,851
NARRATION:
In America people were less friendly.
171
00:10:12,917 --> 00:10:14,919
Veterans of the
American Legion turned out
172
00:10:14,985 --> 00:10:18,125
to demonstrate in 1949 when
Robeson was due to
173
00:10:18,188 --> 00:10:22,796
sing in a concert
at Peekskill, New York.
174
00:10:22,860 --> 00:10:25,534
The police expected trouble.
175
00:10:27,564 --> 00:10:29,566
The slogans of the demonstrators.
176
00:10:33,938 --> 00:10:37,408
It went 'go back to
Russia you white niggers
177
00:10:37,474 --> 00:10:40,114
for instance over and over.
178
00:10:40,177 --> 00:10:41,178
'Commies, niggers, Jews.
179
00:10:43,514 --> 00:10:46,791
You got in but you're
not going to get out alive.
180
00:10:46,850 --> 00:10:50,195
Hitler didn't finish the job,
we will. '
181
00:10:53,891 --> 00:10:57,134
NARRATION:
The concert turned into a riot.
182
00:11:01,665 --> 00:11:05,442
PAUL ROBESON JNR: But the
demonstrators have piles of rocks.
183
00:11:05,502 --> 00:11:08,676
What the State police did
is make the cars go out
184
00:11:08,739 --> 00:11:12,619
and go ten miles an
hour through that gauntlet.
185
00:11:12,676 --> 00:11:15,623
So the road, I mean,
cars were smashed,
186
00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:17,420
the windows
were smashed.
187
00:11:17,481 --> 00:11:21,429
The road was actually
slick with human blood.
188
00:11:23,754 --> 00:11:25,358
An inter-racial couple
189
00:11:25,422 --> 00:11:30,496
just driving through happened
to arrive at that moment.
190
00:11:30,561 --> 00:11:31,972
And of course they
pulled the car over.
191
00:11:32,029 --> 00:11:35,636
They yanked the two of
them out and they said
192
00:11:35,699 --> 00:11:39,511
'That's Robeson Junior.
We got him.'
193
00:11:39,570 --> 00:11:44,610
and they were going to bash
the black guy's head in -
194
00:11:44,675 --> 00:11:47,519
a guy was standing over
him with a baseball bat-
195
00:11:47,578 --> 00:11:52,152
and a veteran, a man in uniform,
army uniform,
196
00:11:52,216 --> 00:11:54,719
said, 'Wait a minute.
That's not Robeson.
197
00:11:54,785 --> 00:11:55,991
I know the pictures.
198
00:11:56,053 --> 00:11:58,192
That's not Robeson.
That's not him.'
199
00:11:58,255 --> 00:11:59,632
So the guy said
200
00:11:59,690 --> 00:12:02,261
'Well the blankety-blanks
with a white woman.
201
00:12:02,326 --> 00:12:03,669
Kill him anyway.'
202
00:12:03,727 --> 00:12:06,003
And the soldier said,
held the bat and said,
203
00:12:06,063 --> 00:12:07,838
'No, no, that's not
the American way.
204
00:12:07,898 --> 00:12:09,844
You don't lynch
the wrong nigger'.
205
00:12:09,900 --> 00:12:11,538
And it saved his life.
206
00:12:13,570 --> 00:12:15,914
NARRATION:
Race hatred and the politics of fear
207
00:12:15,973 --> 00:12:17,316
had begun to merge.
208
00:12:19,977 --> 00:12:23,982
At home the nation was
angry and insecure.
209
00:12:24,048 --> 00:12:27,586
Abroad communism was
gaining force.
210
00:12:31,288 --> 00:12:32,494
ARCHIVE NARRATION:
The Atom bomb explodes
211
00:12:32,556 --> 00:12:34,797
again in the headlines
of the world.
212
00:12:34,858 --> 00:12:37,236
President Truman announces an atomic
explosion detected
213
00:12:37,294 --> 00:12:38,773
somewhere in Russia,
214
00:12:38,829 --> 00:12:42,834
three years ahead of the schedule
expected by the West.
215
00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:45,403
NARRATION:
America's nuclear monopoly was over.
216
00:12:45,469 --> 00:12:47,972
Then came China.
217
00:12:48,038 --> 00:12:49,608
NEWSREEL NARRATION:
Tragedy overtook China.
218
00:12:49,673 --> 00:12:50,811
Armed and
equipped by Russia,
219
00:12:50,874 --> 00:12:54,014
red hordes brought ancient
Cathay to its knees.
220
00:12:54,078 --> 00:12:59,187
At the end of '49 all China
sags under the red yoke.
221
00:12:59,249 --> 00:13:02,025
NARRATION:
Communist leader Mao Tse Tung took over.
222
00:13:04,488 --> 00:13:05,933
America's Chinese allies,
223
00:13:05,989 --> 00:13:08,230
the defeated
Chiang Kai Shek regime,
224
00:13:08,292 --> 00:13:12,069
fled with their
followers into exile.
225
00:13:12,129 --> 00:13:13,802
JOHN SERVICE:
Americans have always had,
226
00:13:13,864 --> 00:13:15,571
most Americans,
a special feeling,
227
00:13:15,632 --> 00:13:18,670
a special attachment,
special interest in China.
228
00:13:18,735 --> 00:13:22,512
So it seemed incredible
to most Americans,
229
00:13:22,573 --> 00:13:24,280
uninformed Americans,
230
00:13:24,341 --> 00:13:27,151
that this country which we
had lavished so much care and
231
00:13:27,211 --> 00:13:29,316
affection on and
we thought was so friendly,
232
00:13:29,379 --> 00:13:33,327
so many of their people had studied in
America and so on,
233
00:13:33,383 --> 00:13:35,294
should turn communist,
234
00:13:35,352 --> 00:13:37,389
turn over to
the other side.
235
00:13:37,454 --> 00:13:41,459
Many people felt that that there had to
be some explanation,
236
00:13:41,525 --> 00:13:45,564
there had to be some sort of a
conspiracy, some sort of a plot.
237
00:13:47,564 --> 00:13:49,407
NARRATION:
Republican Senator Joe McCarthy
238
00:13:49,466 --> 00:13:51,377
blamed traitors in
the State Department
239
00:13:51,435 --> 00:13:53,540
for the loss of China.
240
00:13:53,604 --> 00:13:55,777
He launched his
own witch hunt.
241
00:13:55,839 --> 00:13:59,150
Today the most dangerous enemy
agent is not so much concerned
242
00:13:59,209 --> 00:14:02,019
with the secret
information about weapons
243
00:14:02,079 --> 00:14:05,253
as he is with infiltrating
the necessary departments
244
00:14:05,315 --> 00:14:08,626
of the government and shaping and
controlling the actions
245
00:14:08,685 --> 00:14:12,428
of our nation so that the
enemy is progressively winning,
246
00:14:12,489 --> 00:14:16,369
winning without even
firing a single shot.
247
00:14:16,426 --> 00:14:18,463
Now I intend to name names-
248
00:14:18,529 --> 00:14:22,170
John S Service- and remember that
name if you will.
249
00:14:22,232 --> 00:14:27,807
I have never knowingly transmitted
any information
250
00:14:27,871 --> 00:14:34,117
which was a
secret military plan.
251
00:14:34,178 --> 00:14:37,284
NARRATION: Service was hounded
out of the State Dept.
252
00:14:37,347 --> 00:14:39,554
I had trouble
renting a home,
253
00:14:39,616 --> 00:14:42,620
renting an apartment
in New York and the companies,
254
00:14:42,686 --> 00:14:46,930
well what'll their
stockholders say, you know.
255
00:14:46,990 --> 00:14:48,765
So the companies that
I had known
256
00:14:48,825 --> 00:14:51,305
and had dealings
with abroad,
257
00:14:51,361 --> 00:14:53,136
export companies
and so on, they said,
258
00:14:53,197 --> 00:14:56,701
sorry we think you're a fine guy but we
don't dare touch you.
259
00:14:56,767 --> 00:14:58,678
One communist,
260
00:14:58,735 --> 00:14:59,577
[ crowd cheers ]
261
00:15:03,807 --> 00:15:06,048
One communist
in the faculty
262
00:15:06,109 --> 00:15:09,318
of one university is
one communist too many.
263
00:15:09,379 --> 00:15:13,657
[ Crowd cheers ]
264
00:15:18,055 --> 00:15:23,004
One communist among the
American advisors at Yalta
265
00:15:23,060 --> 00:15:25,233
was one communist too many.
266
00:15:25,295 --> 00:15:28,071
[ Crowd cheers ]
267
00:15:30,334 --> 00:15:33,611
And even... even if there were
only one communist
268
00:15:33,670 --> 00:15:36,276
in the State Department,
even if there were only
269
00:15:36,340 --> 00:15:38,286
one communist in the
State Department that would
270
00:15:38,342 --> 00:15:43,223
still be one
communist too many.
271
00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:44,486
NARRATION:
President Truman
272
00:15:44,548 --> 00:15:47,552
tried to dismiss
McCarthy's attacks.
273
00:15:47,618 --> 00:15:51,498
Not a single person who has been
adjudged to be a communist
274
00:15:51,555 --> 00:15:53,091
or otherwise disloyal
remains on the
275
00:15:53,156 --> 00:15:55,102
government
payroll today.
276
00:15:55,158 --> 00:15:59,698
[crowd applaud ]
277
00:16:00,764 --> 00:16:03,711
We are not going to turn the United
States into a right wing,
278
00:16:03,767 --> 00:16:06,611
totalitarian country in order
to deal with a left wing
279
00:16:06,670 --> 00:16:08,547
totalitarian threat.
280
00:16:08,605 --> 00:16:10,084
[crowd applaud ]
281
00:16:12,843 --> 00:16:15,323
NARRATION: But leaders of the
American Communist Party
282
00:16:15,379 --> 00:16:18,792
were jailed and
the persecution spread.
283
00:16:21,485 --> 00:16:23,931
Left wing labor
organizations were banned,
284
00:16:23,987 --> 00:16:28,094
radical groups indicted,
demonstrations broken up.
285
00:16:30,327 --> 00:16:31,328
And if they put
the word commie
286
00:16:31,395 --> 00:16:33,534
oh someone that
meant that that person
287
00:16:33,597 --> 00:16:35,941
was an agent
to the Soviets.
288
00:16:35,999 --> 00:16:39,003
That meant that that
person was dangerous
289
00:16:39,069 --> 00:16:41,572
and had to be
done away with.
290
00:16:41,638 --> 00:16:43,743
NARRATION:
The FBI under Edgar Hoover
291
00:16:43,807 --> 00:16:47,084
uncovered several
Soviet spy rings.
292
00:16:48,712 --> 00:16:50,692
They used the national
interest to justify
293
00:16:50,747 --> 00:16:54,991
any method of
locating subversives.
294
00:16:55,052 --> 00:16:58,397
We were using
the same methods that Hoover
295
00:16:58,455 --> 00:17:01,129
accused the Communist Party
of using
296
00:17:01,191 --> 00:17:03,967
and that's
getting people
297
00:17:04,027 --> 00:17:06,906
to spy on their friends and
this was one of the criticisms
298
00:17:06,963 --> 00:17:09,773
that he had of
the Communist Party.
299
00:17:09,833 --> 00:17:11,574
I felt guiltless.
300
00:17:11,635 --> 00:17:13,205
What had I ever done wrong?
301
00:17:13,270 --> 00:17:16,774
I'd never even gotten a traffic ticket
and here I was
302
00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:23,849
called before in public a state senate
investigating committee
303
00:17:23,914 --> 00:17:26,190
about my beliefs.
304
00:17:26,249 --> 00:17:32,256
I felt very very wronged and
I felt that I had to not only
305
00:17:32,322 --> 00:17:35,201
uphold myself,
my reputation,
306
00:17:35,258 --> 00:17:37,169
but that of my
fellow teachers,
307
00:17:37,227 --> 00:17:40,834
my fellow union members,
my fellow citizens.
308
00:17:40,897 --> 00:17:42,570
We would talk to children,
309
00:17:44,801 --> 00:17:47,407
if they were in college
about their parents,
310
00:17:47,471 --> 00:17:49,974
and we talked to parents
about their children and
311
00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,953
we'd talk to the neighbors
about those people and
312
00:17:53,009 --> 00:17:59,824
if someone did seem halfway
sympathetic in the communist
313
00:17:59,883 --> 00:18:01,556
party we'd talk to them.
314
00:18:01,618 --> 00:18:04,189
It was totally damaging
315
00:18:04,254 --> 00:18:08,168
to what we deeply
believed America
316
00:18:08,225 --> 00:18:09,966
was supposed
to stand for.
317
00:18:11,228 --> 00:18:13,640
NARRATION:
in the 1952 Presidential election,
318
00:18:13,697 --> 00:18:15,643
General Eisenhower,
the Republican candidate,
319
00:18:15,699 --> 00:18:17,975
chose the red-baiting
Richard Nixon
320
00:18:18,034 --> 00:18:20,071
as his running mate.
321
00:18:20,137 --> 00:18:24,313
Eisenhower mocked the Democrats for
being soft on Communism.
322
00:18:24,374 --> 00:18:27,480
The future of this country belongs to
more courageous men.
323
00:18:27,544 --> 00:18:29,148
It belongs to men,
324
00:18:29,212 --> 00:18:30,054
[crowd applaud ]
325
00:18:32,916 --> 00:18:37,387
It belongs to men who know that
freedom's fight must be forever,
326
00:18:37,454 --> 00:18:38,797
relentless,
uncompromising and fair.
327
00:18:41,258 --> 00:18:44,137
It belongs to men
who today are ready
328
00:18:44,194 --> 00:18:47,175
to bear spiritual and
intellectual arms against
329
00:18:47,230 --> 00:18:51,042
an alien army of
communist ideas.
330
00:18:51,101 --> 00:18:53,547
[crowd applaud ]
331
00:18:53,603 --> 00:18:54,707
NARRATION:
To get elected
332
00:18:54,771 --> 00:18:57,342
Ike needed the support
of Joe McCarthy
333
00:18:57,407 --> 00:18:59,444
and his right
wing followers.
334
00:18:59,509 --> 00:19:02,786
I spent about half ah hour
with the General last night.
335
00:19:02,846 --> 00:19:09,127
While I can't report that we agreed
entirely on everything,
336
00:19:09,186 --> 00:19:13,191
[ laughs 1
337
00:19:15,792 --> 00:19:19,934
I can, I can report that when
I left that meeting with the
338
00:19:19,996 --> 00:19:23,205
General I had the same feeling
as when I went in and that is,
339
00:19:23,266 --> 00:19:26,179
that he's a great American,
will make a great President,
340
00:19:26,236 --> 00:19:28,045
an outstanding President.
341
00:19:28,104 --> 00:19:28,946
[crowd applaud ]
342
00:19:32,676 --> 00:19:37,091
Right from the
beginning he detested,
343
00:19:37,147 --> 00:19:39,320
er, Joe McCarthy.
344
00:19:39,382 --> 00:19:43,330
McCarthy was the
first class demagogue
345
00:19:43,386 --> 00:19:48,096
and Eisenhower just couldn't
stand that type of person.
346
00:19:49,493 --> 00:19:51,905
NARRATION:
Eisenhower's old wartime commander,
347
00:19:51,962 --> 00:19:54,966
General Marshall, was accused by
McCarthy of treachery.
348
00:19:57,067 --> 00:19:58,171
Intimidated,
349
00:19:58,235 --> 00:20:01,182
Ike dropped words praising Marshall
from an election speech
350
00:20:01,238 --> 00:20:04,242
he made in
McCarthy's home state.
351
00:20:04,307 --> 00:20:10,588
He was roundly criticized
for that
352
00:20:10,647 --> 00:20:14,220
because it seemed to
indicate that he was
353
00:20:14,284 --> 00:20:16,525
influenced by McCarthy.
354
00:20:21,425 --> 00:20:25,464
NARRATION: In 1953 two Americans
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg,
355
00:20:25,530 --> 00:20:29,068
were convicted of spying
for the Soviet Union.
356
00:20:29,133 --> 00:20:31,477
They were sentenced
to death.
357
00:20:31,536 --> 00:20:32,776
They had young children
358
00:20:32,837 --> 00:20:33,713
and their fate roused
359
00:20:33,771 --> 00:20:37,218
protests in America
and across the world.
360
00:20:39,977 --> 00:20:41,217
For some young lawyers,
361
00:20:41,279 --> 00:20:43,987
the sentence breached
the Constitution.
362
00:20:44,048 --> 00:20:48,292
They sought judges to get
a stay of execution.
363
00:20:48,352 --> 00:20:50,229
Judge Frank looked at us
364
00:20:50,288 --> 00:20:54,430
and he said something that we
have never never forgotten.
365
00:20:54,492 --> 00:21:00,135
He said, 'If I were as
young as you are
366
00:21:00,198 --> 00:21:06,581
I would be sitting there saying
the same things you're saying,
367
00:21:06,637 --> 00:21:09,948
arguing the same points
you're arguing,
368
00:21:10,007 --> 00:21:17,118
making the same argument
that these planned executions
369
00:21:17,181 --> 00:21:23,757
are invalid but when
you are as old as I am,
370
00:21:23,821 --> 00:21:28,600
you will understand why
I cannot do it.'
371
00:21:30,161 --> 00:21:31,663
And he stands up,
372
00:21:31,729 --> 00:21:34,938
turns his back to us
and walks away
373
00:21:34,999 --> 00:21:37,775
and we were devastated.
374
00:21:37,835 --> 00:21:40,714
We began to sense something
which in later years
375
00:21:40,771 --> 00:21:43,081
we understood so clearly.
376
00:21:43,140 --> 00:21:45,450
And that was
that Jerome Frank,
377
00:21:45,509 --> 00:21:49,184
as the leading
liberal judge,
378
00:21:49,247 --> 00:21:52,626
was terrorized himself and
frightened by the atmosphere
379
00:21:52,683 --> 00:21:55,596
of fear in the country.
380
00:21:55,653 --> 00:22:00,329
That if he as a liberal
would do something to save
381
00:22:00,391 --> 00:22:03,270
Julius and
Ethel Rosenberg's life,
382
00:22:03,327 --> 00:22:06,797
he would be charged
as a commie.
383
00:22:07,932 --> 00:22:10,503
NARRATION:
The Rosenbergs were executed.
384
00:22:10,568 --> 00:22:12,013
He died quickly,
385
00:22:12,069 --> 00:22:14,140
there didn't seem to be too
much life left in him when
386
00:22:14,205 --> 00:22:16,583
he entered behind the Rabbi.
387
00:22:16,641 --> 00:22:20,612
He seemed to be walking in a
cadence of steps as if
388
00:22:20,678 --> 00:22:25,627
keeping in time with the muttering
of the 23rd Psalm.
389
00:22:27,852 --> 00:22:31,299
She died a lot harder.
390
00:22:31,355 --> 00:22:33,767
When it appeared that she had
received enough electricity
391
00:22:33,824 --> 00:22:37,931
to kill an ordinary person and had
received the exact amount
392
00:22:37,995 --> 00:22:40,703
that had killed her husband,
393
00:22:40,765 --> 00:22:44,440
the doctors went over and pulled
down the cheap prison dress,
394
00:22:44,502 --> 00:22:50,145
a little dark green printed job,
and placed the
395
00:22:50,207 --> 00:22:53,086
steto ...stetho
can't say it...
396
00:22:56,047 --> 00:22:59,722
placed the
stethoscopes to her and
397
00:22:59,784 --> 00:23:02,458
then looked around and
looked at each other rather
398
00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:07,060
dumb founded and seemed
surprised that she was not dead.
399
00:23:10,227 --> 00:23:12,070
And she was given
more electricity
400
00:23:12,129 --> 00:23:16,271
which started again and
401
00:23:16,334 --> 00:23:21,977
a kind of a ghastly plume of
smoke rose from her head and
402
00:23:22,039 --> 00:23:27,250
went up against the
skylight overhead.
403
00:23:31,515 --> 00:23:33,517
After two more
of those jolts
404
00:23:36,821 --> 00:23:41,531
Ethel Rosenberg had met
her maker she'll have a,
405
00:23:41,592 --> 00:23:43,469
lot of explaining
to do to.
406
00:23:43,527 --> 00:23:44,562
Thank you.
407
00:23:47,798 --> 00:23:50,005
NARRATION: McCarthy now
denounced leading Republicans
408
00:23:50,067 --> 00:23:52,741
and even senior Army officers
as communist sympathizers.
409
00:23:55,339 --> 00:23:57,341
But he had gone too far.
410
00:23:57,408 --> 00:23:59,547
Political opinion swung
away from him,
411
00:23:59,610 --> 00:24:02,022
and his enemies
gained courage.
412
00:24:02,079 --> 00:24:04,025
Would give you the
names of communists,
413
00:24:04,081 --> 00:24:05,458
you said in the Army.
414
00:24:05,516 --> 00:24:06,961
You've done enough.
415
00:24:07,018 --> 00:24:12,092
Have you no sense of
decency sir at long last?
416
00:24:12,156 --> 00:24:15,933
Have you left no
sense of decency?
417
00:24:15,993 --> 00:24:20,373
It all sort of
came to pieces
418
00:24:20,431 --> 00:24:22,809
and then there was this
move to censure him
419
00:24:22,867 --> 00:24:24,869
and he fought
that very badly.
420
00:24:28,706 --> 00:24:32,745
Now a number of us were advising
him on how to handle that
421
00:24:32,810 --> 00:24:34,790
and he agreed to
everything we said
422
00:24:34,845 --> 00:24:37,189
and then he did
just the opposite.
423
00:24:37,248 --> 00:24:38,693
You have been here
trying to smear
424
00:24:38,749 --> 00:24:40,888
the staff of
this committee,
425
00:24:40,951 --> 00:24:45,024
the young men who have been
working to uncover communists.
426
00:24:45,089 --> 00:24:47,535
Do you jump up and run away,
without answering
427
00:24:47,591 --> 00:24:49,969
NARRATION: McCarthy's power
collapsed as the politicians
428
00:24:50,027 --> 00:24:51,973
walked away from him.
429
00:24:52,029 --> 00:24:55,567
But the spirit of McCarthyism, the
smearing of dissent
430
00:24:55,633 --> 00:24:57,340
as communist treason,
431
00:24:57,401 --> 00:25:00,746
stained American democracy
for decades.
432
00:25:04,652 --> 00:25:06,097
In the Soviet Union,
433
00:25:06,153 --> 00:25:08,394
all dissent was suppressed.
434
00:25:08,455 --> 00:25:11,766
The Cold War heightened
tensions and reinforced fears,
435
00:25:11,825 --> 00:25:16,433
not just of internal subversion but
of another world war.
436
00:25:23,604 --> 00:25:27,177
Obsessively Stalin spoke
of the danger to world peace,
437
00:25:27,241 --> 00:25:29,585
the need for vigilance
against internal enemies.
438
00:25:31,612 --> 00:25:34,024
Conformity was enforced
by police terror,
439
00:25:34,081 --> 00:25:38,530
and by a slavish cult
of Stalin's personality.
440
00:25:38,586 --> 00:25:42,124
He became God-like, his icon
worshipped everywhere.
441
00:25:48,195 --> 00:25:49,902
For those who
did not conform,
442
00:25:49,964 --> 00:25:53,537
there was silence and
death behind the barbed wire.
443
00:25:58,505 --> 00:25:59,609
The gulag -
444
00:25:59,673 --> 00:26:02,119
the secret empire of
concentration camps -
445
00:26:02,176 --> 00:26:04,622
stretched over
four thousand miles from
446
00:26:04,678 --> 00:26:07,124
the Baltic to the Pacific.
447
00:26:13,287 --> 00:26:15,858
In the Cold War years,
the camps continued to
448
00:26:15,923 --> 00:26:19,336
devour the
lives of millions.
449
00:26:42,983 --> 00:26:46,624
Stalin's control now extended
beyond the Soviet Union.
450
00:26:46,687 --> 00:26:48,963
This was a new empire,
451
00:26:49,023 --> 00:26:52,937
run by local communists
trained to obey Moscow.
452
00:26:54,662 --> 00:26:59,111
American propaganda targeted the fate
of these satellite nations.
453
00:27:01,535 --> 00:27:04,846
The battleground of peace
today is that strip of
454
00:27:04,905 --> 00:27:08,079
strategically located
countries stretching
455
00:27:08,142 --> 00:27:10,486
from the Baltic to
the Black Sea.
456
00:27:10,678 --> 00:27:13,249
They are not big
countries geographically
457
00:27:13,313 --> 00:27:16,886
but they contain seventy
million freedom loving people,
458
00:27:16,950 --> 00:27:19,453
our kind of people,
459
00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:23,332
who share our culture and who have
sent millions of their sons
460
00:27:23,390 --> 00:27:26,769
and daughters to become part
of these United States.
461
00:27:26,827 --> 00:27:30,297
Some call these countries
the satellite nations.
462
00:27:30,364 --> 00:27:36,610
More accurately they're the
captive nations of Europe.
463
00:27:36,670 --> 00:27:38,149
My name is Ronald Reagan.
464
00:27:38,205 --> 00:27:40,708
Last year the contributions of
sixteen million Americans
465
00:27:40,774 --> 00:27:42,481
to the Crusade For Freedom
466
00:27:42,543 --> 00:27:44,853
made possible the
World Freedom Bell-
467
00:27:44,912 --> 00:27:46,186
symbol of hope
and freedom
468
00:27:46,246 --> 00:27:48,692
to the Communist dominated
peoples of Eastern Europe.
469
00:27:48,749 --> 00:27:50,023
ARCHIVE NARRATION:
In western Berlin
470
00:27:50,084 --> 00:27:52,758
great crowds turned out to
see it raised to the tower
471
00:27:52,820 --> 00:27:56,290
of the
West Berlin city hall.
472
00:27:56,356 --> 00:28:00,065
NARRATION: The campaign was
secretly funded by the CIA.
473
00:28:00,127 --> 00:28:03,404
As well as fine words
Americans sent armed exiles
474
00:28:03,464 --> 00:28:05,774
back into the
Soviet empire.
475
00:28:05,833 --> 00:28:09,508
This was the effort of
the CIA and the young
476
00:28:11,739 --> 00:28:13,082
refugees were recruited.
477
00:28:15,175 --> 00:28:17,951
They were trained
in haste
478
00:28:18,011 --> 00:28:21,151
in all kinds of subversion, sabotage,
479
00:28:21,215 --> 00:28:25,425
intelligence, they were given cameras,
the short radio
480
00:28:25,486 --> 00:28:27,830
stations codes and
were simply sent there.
481
00:28:29,890 --> 00:28:32,393
But the regime
did penetrate it.
482
00:28:32,459 --> 00:28:36,339
All these training camps
and the reception committee
483
00:28:36,396 --> 00:28:39,809
was waiting for these people
and arresting them.
484
00:28:57,184 --> 00:28:58,424
NARRATION:
For the Polish authorities,
485
00:28:58,485 --> 00:29:02,399
these intrusions justified
even harsher repression.
486
00:29:04,825 --> 00:29:06,532
The Party called for
vigilance against
487
00:29:06,593 --> 00:29:07,594
spies and saboteurs.
488
00:29:22,509 --> 00:29:24,511
In 1948,
489
00:29:24,578 --> 00:29:30,551
Stalin began to tighten the Soviet
grip on eastern Europe.
490
00:29:33,453 --> 00:29:36,832
In Yugoslavia, Marshall Tito
had defied Stalin
491
00:29:36,890 --> 00:29:40,497
and broken away from
the Soviet bloc.
492
00:29:40,561 --> 00:29:42,837
Moscow abused him
as a traitor,
493
00:29:42,896 --> 00:29:47,003
a deserter to the camp of American
imperialism.
494
00:29:47,067 --> 00:29:48,808
Stalin moved fast to prevent
495
00:29:48,869 --> 00:29:51,782
Tito's mutiny spreading
to other satellite states,
496
00:29:51,839 --> 00:29:54,149
like Czechoslovakia.
497
00:29:59,146 --> 00:30:00,090
At first,
498
00:30:00,147 --> 00:30:01,626
the satellites were
allowed to find their
499
00:30:01,682 --> 00:30:03,662
own paths to communism.
500
00:30:03,717 --> 00:30:07,096
Now Stalin forced the Soviet
model on them all.
501
00:30:07,154 --> 00:30:11,864
Everyone must march,
shout, obey.
502
00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,282
[ Applause ]
503
00:30:35,349 --> 00:30:38,489
NARRATION: To subdue protest,
Moscow ordered show trials of
504
00:30:38,552 --> 00:30:41,192
leading East European communists.
505
00:30:42,289 --> 00:30:43,632
In Czechoslovakia,
506
00:30:43,690 --> 00:30:45,966
Rudolf Slansky,
Party Secretary,
507
00:30:46,026 --> 00:30:49,235
was among those chosen for sacrifice.
508
00:30:49,296 --> 00:30:54,507
Stalin needed to
discipline his new camp,
509
00:30:54,568 --> 00:30:56,241
his new empire,
510
00:30:56,303 --> 00:31:01,343
and he disciplined it to such
an extent that people living in
511
00:31:01,408 --> 00:31:07,256
those countries should not
develop any idea of being
512
00:31:07,314 --> 00:31:12,821
able to do anything except
what he orders them to do.
513
00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:18,396
And one of the methods
of disciplining was terror.
514
00:31:21,361 --> 00:31:23,466
NARRATION:
Slansky was charged with Titoism,
515
00:31:23,530 --> 00:31:26,511
spying and sabotage.
516
00:31:26,566 --> 00:31:30,878
His confession was fiction,
drafted by Soviet advisers.
517
00:31:46,653 --> 00:31:48,860
[speaking Russian ]
518
00:31:51,758 --> 00:31:52,930
The initial investigation
519
00:31:52,993 --> 00:31:54,995
results were prepared
and checked.
520
00:31:56,964 --> 00:31:59,240
If the evidence in these
cases didn't meet the aims
521
00:31:59,299 --> 00:32:01,973
of the Security Services,
then it was altered.
522
00:32:05,372 --> 00:32:07,750
Really it was a fabrication,
523
00:32:07,808 --> 00:32:11,813
to prove what otherwise
couldn't be proved.
524
00:32:31,064 --> 00:32:35,206
The key was the confession
of the indicted person.
525
00:32:36,870 --> 00:32:40,875
And then there was no
need of any proofs.
526
00:32:40,941 --> 00:32:45,788
As soon as the confession was
obtained that was enough
527
00:32:45,846 --> 00:32:47,848
for the trial
and the sentence.
528
00:32:50,851 --> 00:32:56,358
So we were put at the
disposal of the Secret Police,
529
00:32:56,423 --> 00:33:00,303
with almost unlimited
powers over us,
530
00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:02,169
to bring us into
a state where
531
00:33:02,229 --> 00:33:05,574
we prepared to make
that confession.
532
00:33:05,632 --> 00:33:06,838
[Speaking Czech ]
533
00:33:06,900 --> 00:33:08,243
It was torture.
534
00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:15,584
They were shouting
and swearing at me.
535
00:33:17,644 --> 00:33:19,988
I had to look
into their eyes.
536
00:33:25,619 --> 00:33:28,099
At the beginning I
avoided this but
537
00:33:28,155 --> 00:33:30,499
then I had to repeat
their Obscenities.
538
00:33:37,998 --> 00:33:43,004
Then I started to make
up fairy tales for my son.
539
00:33:43,070 --> 00:33:45,550
I got into the imaginary
world of castles
540
00:33:45,605 --> 00:33:49,781
and princes and animals
so when they shouted at me
541
00:33:49,843 --> 00:33:51,845
I didn't have
to answer them.
542
00:33:54,614 --> 00:33:56,025
I only looked into
their eyes while
543
00:33:56,083 --> 00:34:00,532
I was making up
these fairy tales.
544
00:34:10,764 --> 00:34:12,971
It's not easy.
545
00:34:16,369 --> 00:34:20,112
I don't feel
sorry for myself.
546
00:34:24,010 --> 00:34:25,921
Everything was rehearsed.
547
00:34:25,979 --> 00:34:30,587
The final text prepared
for the trial,
548
00:34:30,684 --> 00:34:32,994
consisting of questions
which were put
549
00:34:33,053 --> 00:34:35,397
to one by the
General Attorney and
550
00:34:38,291 --> 00:34:40,737
the president of
the court and so on,
551
00:34:40,794 --> 00:34:43,138
were listed and
your answers were listed.
552
00:35:31,144 --> 00:35:35,752
NARRATION: Slansky and ten others
were hanged in December 1952,
553
00:35:35,815 --> 00:35:39,490
their ashes scattered over the ice
on an unknown country road.
554
00:35:41,521 --> 00:35:43,626
Stalin had
shown his power.
555
00:35:43,690 --> 00:35:47,160
While he survived,
it meant death to disobey him.
556
00:36:07,697 --> 00:36:09,904
In the Soviet Union itself,
557
00:36:09,966 --> 00:36:12,139
culture and science
were kept insulated from the
558
00:36:12,201 --> 00:36:13,874
infection of
all Western influence.
559
00:36:16,038 --> 00:36:19,417
The arts -
painting, literature, music -
560
00:36:19,475 --> 00:36:22,786
were regimented by the
doctrine of Socialist Realism.
561
00:36:24,747 --> 00:36:27,591
[ Applause ]
562
00:36:32,922 --> 00:36:37,462
[speaking Russian ]
563
00:36:41,631 --> 00:36:45,670
Stalin's interference with the
work of the Bolshoi Theater
564
00:36:45,735 --> 00:36:51,344
was done with
love and good taste.
565
00:36:55,011 --> 00:36:58,823
But the fear that it created
and the fact that people
566
00:36:58,881 --> 00:37:00,224
were under his spell,
567
00:37:02,618 --> 00:37:06,589
this produced a
lot of negative effects.
568
00:37:06,656 --> 00:37:09,398
It not only made
people nervous but
569
00:37:09,458 --> 00:37:13,998
destroyed the
principles of art.
570
00:37:17,566 --> 00:37:19,842
NARRATION:
Fear of Stalin's disapproval paralyzed
571
00:37:19,902 --> 00:37:22,075
the creative arts.
572
00:37:22,138 --> 00:37:24,277
Dmitri Shostakovich
was reprimanded by
573
00:37:24,340 --> 00:37:26,513
the party for
departing from the
574
00:37:26,575 --> 00:37:29,112
principles of
Socialist Realism.
575
00:37:36,152 --> 00:37:38,792
Official art showed
the Soviet Union as a
576
00:37:38,854 --> 00:37:41,801
promised land of plenty
and of opportunity,
577
00:37:41,857 --> 00:37:43,859
guided by wise and
selfless leaders.
578
00:37:47,830 --> 00:37:50,174
But those who discussed
real change,
579
00:37:50,232 --> 00:37:51,540
even in private,
580
00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:54,581
like Susanna Pechuro
and her student friends,
581
00:37:54,637 --> 00:37:55,809
risked punishment.
582
00:37:57,840 --> 00:38:00,446
[speaking Russian ]
583
00:38:00,509 --> 00:38:04,389
We discussed a lot and
we came to the conclusion
584
00:38:04,447 --> 00:38:06,791
that what was happening
then was completely different
585
00:38:06,849 --> 00:38:10,888
from what we were
taught to believe.
586
00:38:10,953 --> 00:38:13,593
It wasn't socialism.
587
00:38:16,559 --> 00:38:19,165
NARRATION:
Susanna joined the secret discussion group.
588
00:38:19,228 --> 00:38:22,300
Aged seventeen she was arrested,
charged with treason
589
00:38:22,365 --> 00:38:24,436
and terrorism.
590
00:38:24,500 --> 00:38:28,312
Three of her friends
were executed.
591
00:38:28,371 --> 00:38:30,612
[speaking Russian ]
592
00:38:30,673 --> 00:38:32,653
They said, 'Get ready.
593
00:38:32,708 --> 00:38:35,552
You come with us'.
594
00:38:35,611 --> 00:38:38,683
I went to get dressed behind
the screen in the room
595
00:38:38,748 --> 00:38:40,523
and I clearly
realized then
596
00:38:40,583 --> 00:38:44,497
that I would not be
coming back.
597
00:38:44,553 --> 00:38:49,969
At that moment I could see myself in the
prison cell.
598
00:38:50,025 --> 00:38:53,404
Later, when I really was
in the prison cell
599
00:38:53,462 --> 00:38:56,602
I kept thinking back
to that moment.
600
00:39:07,109 --> 00:39:10,750
NARRATION: Over the years,
millions shared Susanna's fate.
601
00:39:10,813 --> 00:39:13,589
They vanished,
often without trace.
602
00:39:13,649 --> 00:39:18,064
Even to ask about them
was to risk arrest.
603
00:39:23,793 --> 00:39:25,466
[speaking Russian ]
604
00:39:25,528 --> 00:39:27,633
There are some things
that are so awful
605
00:39:27,696 --> 00:39:30,540
I don't let
myself remember them,
606
00:39:30,599 --> 00:39:33,603
because if I do I
can't sleep for weeks.
607
00:39:35,871 --> 00:39:37,316
They pulled children
out of the arms
608
00:39:37,373 --> 00:39:39,410
of their screaming mothers,
609
00:39:39,475 --> 00:39:41,148
and then beat the mothers.
610
00:39:43,612 --> 00:39:46,252
The children
just disappeared,
611
00:39:46,315 --> 00:39:48,989
they never knew what
happened to them afterwards.
612
00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:54,433
There was nothing
more awful than that,
613
00:39:54,490 --> 00:39:57,061
even though I
saw them killing people,
614
00:39:57,126 --> 00:40:00,869
and anything else
they felt like doing.
615
00:40:05,908 --> 00:40:09,617
NARRATION: In 1952, Stalin
presided over the 19th Congress
616
00:40:09,678 --> 00:40:12,284
of the
Soviet Communist party.
617
00:40:12,348 --> 00:40:14,692
The hall was packed with
foreign delegations
618
00:40:14,750 --> 00:40:17,959
gathered to honor him.
619
00:40:18,020 --> 00:40:20,398
Stalin was old now,
620
00:40:20,456 --> 00:40:26,099
but still the unchallenged leader of world
communism.
621
00:40:26,161 --> 00:40:29,233
Cold War - military
competition with America -
622
00:40:29,298 --> 00:40:33,747
was already putting a
heavy load on Soviet society.
623
00:40:33,802 --> 00:40:36,305
In public, Stalin's
analysis of the world class
624
00:40:36,372 --> 00:40:38,318
struggle was hopeful.
625
00:41:06,668 --> 00:41:10,411
NARRATION:
But Stalin still feared the enemy within.
626
00:41:10,472 --> 00:41:13,419
He saw treachery everywhere.
627
00:41:15,477 --> 00:41:17,479
Above all, he suspected so-called
cosmopolitans,
628
00:41:19,615 --> 00:41:22,289
mostly Jewish intellectuals
and professionals,
629
00:41:22,351 --> 00:41:27,357
who had already been persecuted for
their Western contacts.
630
00:41:27,423 --> 00:41:28,424
[speaking Russian ]
631
00:41:32,027 --> 00:41:34,029
Stalin needed
an internal enemy,
632
00:41:36,398 --> 00:41:37,672
a fifth column
that could be
633
00:41:37,733 --> 00:41:40,407
blamed for the difficult situation in the
country.
634
00:41:43,739 --> 00:41:46,413
And the Jews fitted
that role very well.
635
00:41:49,678 --> 00:41:52,284
Because many Jewish families
in the post war years had
636
00:41:52,347 --> 00:41:57,421
someone in the United States -
relatives or acquaintances.
637
00:42:02,091 --> 00:42:04,537
So to present Jews
as the fifth column,
638
00:42:04,593 --> 00:42:09,406
agents of American imperialism,
was very convenient.
639
00:42:12,267 --> 00:42:14,304
NARRATION:
In January 1953,
640
00:42:14,369 --> 00:42:16,246
nine Kremlin doctors
were accused
641
00:42:16,305 --> 00:42:18,216
of plotting
with Western intelligence
642
00:42:18,273 --> 00:42:21,345
to kill Soviet leaders.
643
00:42:21,410 --> 00:42:24,721
[speaking Russian ]
644
00:42:28,450 --> 00:42:31,124
The doctor's plot was instigated with
Stalin's approval.
645
00:42:34,990 --> 00:42:36,469
Stalin had been
suspicious of doctors
646
00:42:36,525 --> 00:42:39,335
for a long time
before that.
647
00:42:43,899 --> 00:42:47,244
This was all due to
his illness made worse
648
00:42:47,302 --> 00:42:51,182
by his old age and
by his life-long ideology
649
00:42:51,240 --> 00:42:54,050
that the enemies who always
surround you should be
650
00:42:54,109 --> 00:42:57,352
constantly eliminated.
651
00:43:01,583 --> 00:43:03,722
NARRATION:
One of the doctors Yakov Etinger,
652
00:43:03,785 --> 00:43:05,822
died under torture.
653
00:43:05,888 --> 00:43:09,199
His son was arrested
and interrogated.
654
00:43:09,258 --> 00:43:11,932
[speaking Russian ]
655
00:43:11,994 --> 00:43:14,270
They wanted me to
make a confession,
656
00:43:14,329 --> 00:43:17,674
to make a statement
that I was in the know,
657
00:43:20,636 --> 00:43:23,276
that I was familiar with
certain facts which showed
658
00:43:23,338 --> 00:43:25,477
that my father and
other doctors
659
00:43:25,541 --> 00:43:29,148
were wrongly treating
certain patients.
660
00:43:33,048 --> 00:43:36,359
They wanted me to make
this kind of statement but
661
00:43:36,418 --> 00:43:39,160
they didn't get
it from me,
662
00:43:39,221 --> 00:43:44,227
even though twice I was
sent to the punishment cell.
663
00:43:46,428 --> 00:43:50,308
NARRATION:
Five of the nine doctors were Jewish.
664
00:43:50,365 --> 00:43:53,403
The affair inflamed
Russian anti-semitism.
665
00:43:54,469 --> 00:43:56,847
Jews were denounced
and purged throughout
666
00:43:56,905 --> 00:43:59,977
the medical profession
and beyond.
667
00:44:05,781 --> 00:44:07,283
Suddenly,
one winter night
668
00:44:07,349 --> 00:44:10,887
Stalin collapsed with
a brain hemorrhage.
669
00:44:13,589 --> 00:44:15,262
No-one dared to treat
him as he lay,
670
00:44:15,324 --> 00:44:18,430
half-conscious,
on the floor.
671
00:44:18,493 --> 00:44:21,906
Eventually,
on the 5th of March 1953,
672
00:44:21,964 --> 00:44:25,377
he died.
673
00:44:25,434 --> 00:44:27,710
VLADIMIR YEROFEYEV:
[speaking Russian ]
674
00:44:27,769 --> 00:44:33,014
Like the majority of people
we saw it as a tragic event.
675
00:44:40,616 --> 00:44:42,618
It caused a lot of anxiety:
676
00:44:45,254 --> 00:44:47,598
how were we
going to live now
677
00:44:53,061 --> 00:44:56,804
when the foundations
of our lives were shattered?
678
00:45:01,370 --> 00:45:04,374
The image of Stalin
created by propaganda
679
00:45:04,439 --> 00:45:08,751
was of someone who
was irreplaceable.
680
00:45:24,960 --> 00:45:27,270
NARRATION:
Stalin had towered over the Soviet Union,
681
00:45:27,329 --> 00:45:28,865
in peace and war,
682
00:45:28,930 --> 00:45:31,911
for more than
twenty years.
683
00:45:31,967 --> 00:45:34,447
Even those who hated
him could not imagine
684
00:45:34,503 --> 00:45:36,983
a future without him.
685
00:45:48,188 --> 00:45:52,277
Subtitles ripped and converted by
Juan Claudio Epsteyn
686
00:45:53,318 --> 00:45:56,623
E-mail:
epsteyn@hotmail.com