The Pittsburgh Press (February 6, 1946)
Editorial: Rankin turns tender
The House Committee on Un-American Activities was conducting a hearing, The witness was in place. In place also was Rep. John Rankin of Mississippi.
And, for once, Mr. Rankin was courteous to a witness. Yes, the committee would allow the witness 15 minutes to present a “petition of grievances.” So the witness let fly a series of “challenges.” He demanded, among other matters, that the committee investigate certain organizations and certain Hollywood luminaries whom he called un-American.
Mr. Rankin listened with a degree of mildness that might have been sympathetic. Such questions as he asked were not thundered, nor did his comments sear the witness. Indeed, the whole show seemed staged for the benefit of the witness, rather than of the committee.
The witness was Gerald L. K. Smith of the America First Party, publisher of the “Cross and the Flag” and once a chum of Huey Long.
Mr. Smith requested 15 minutes and took two hours to submit his “petition.” He worked himself into such a conglomeration of wordage and emotion that he threatened to out-horn Sen. Claghorn.
But he wasn’t nearly so funny.
If anyone was funny, it was Congressman Rankin – being tender.