IWCF 021- Squeeze Play

I was a Communist for the FBI, starring Dana Andrews and an exciting tale of danger and espionage. I was a Communist for the FBI. From the actual records and authentic experiences of Mat Sevetic, how many of the incidents in this unusual story. Here is our. Star, Dana Andrews as Mat Savetic two for nine fantastic years lived as a. Communist for the FBI. When two corrupt forces meet head on and one of them is Communism, the explosion is terrifying. Praise disaster in every direction. This is the story of such an explosion and the tragedy of the innocent bystanders. In a moment, listen to Dana Andrews as Matt Savetic undercover man. Now Here is Dana Andrews as Mat Sabdic undercover man. This story from the confidential file is marked squeeze play. In spite of the political cartoons you've seen, communists seldom look like long haired zombies with bombs in every pocket. Their sinister aspects are much more subtle. For example, well here consider this group seated around this table. They might be the local PTA board discussing school lunches or the social committing of your bowling league planning a dance. But unfortunately they're not. These ordinary looking people are red functionaries in the act of choosing a patsy, a fall guy, an unsuspecting lamb, to be sacrificed on the altar of public sympathy for the commis the purpose of this unholy ritual. Of course, comrades, you understand the real purpose of this public sympathy project is to prove the strength of our course. This smiled little man, Herbert Samish, our sole leader. Our job is to convince the American public that we Communists are all mistreated, misunderstood darlings who are being persecuted unjustly according. To their constitution. The cure for that is to eliminate their decadent constitution. Naturally, Comrade Vedic, but we don't say that. What is the procedure, Comrade samage Ah. The procedure, it's been outlined for us by the National Board of the Party. We are to choose a man who is awaiting trial in jail for some crime or other and help in every possible way to set him free. Once we've chosen our man, we'll use every propaganda device we know, publications, petitions, public demonstrations, that sort of thing to make the public believe he is being persecuted, not for the crime he may have committed, but for being sympathetic to the Communist Party. Political persecution for some reason is distasteful to Americas. Or comrade damage. I have the fire here on untried criminal k O. Very good. Good. All the people listed here are in jail now awaiting their trials. Hmmm, what about this le old Bremner. You've circled his name Bremnor. Oh, he's worth considering. One of our front organizations in Woodford City received a letter from his mother asking us for help Woodford City. Eh, that's good territory for us. Missus Bremner claims her son was picked up on a murder charge two months ago and he's been held without a hearing. Lawyers won't take the case and the police refuse to act on it. In Woodford City. That's quite possible. This man may be made to order for. Usmpathetic to What difference does it make? Our propaganda will make it seem that he is. Of course, and remember, comrades, we'll be helping this poor man. He's in no position to look a gift horse in the mouth, even a red gift horse. These big excavation jobs are fun to watch, aren't they? Yeah? Sure are yes, sir. I'm well a sidewalk superintendent from way back. Steam shuffles attract me like. Like red to a bull? Does this bulls? He red? Yeah, I'm on over here, we can see better. Well, what's the lightest mate? Well, he finally picked a patsy for that big propaganda campaign I told you about. Who is he? A guy named Leo Bremner. He's been held in communicado for two months over in Woodford City. H that figures why the FBI got something on Brener. No, but we know enough about Woodford City. That's Andy Bolan's town. You know, Bolan, the political boss. Yeah, one of those two big tyrants who makes the laws as he goes along. Bolan's political machine is as corrupt as they come. Uh, dirty politics. No wonder Samish was so interested in Woodford City. Sure, ready made propaganda for the commedist. Just be thankful around more towns run by characters like Bowlan. MM. I guess that's why lawyers won't touch Bremner's case. They must be afraid of butt Bolan's machine. Be careful of him Math. He can make things rough for you and rougher for the Bremner kid. Nice spot for Bremner, dirty politic on one side and the reds on the other half. Just see that you're not caught in the middle with him. The next day, Herbert Samush and I started to prepare the lamb for the sacrifice. We went to visit leo' bremner's mother in Woodford City. She was a tired, defeated little woman, dull by a life of hard work, dismal tenement surroundings, and tragedy. I wanted to warn her somehow of the true nature of our plans, but my hints were buried in her desperate, pathetic eagerness for help. Mister Samus, mister sethetic, I can't tell you what this means to me. If you could only get them to listen, to give you a hearing, a trial. We'll do more than that. Missus Bremner world know of the injustice done to him. I don't care about the world. Leo is my world. Your son is a symbol, Missus Brenner, a symbol of the little people, the struggling masses crushed under the heel of decadent concepts of justice. Justice in this town, a person ain't got a chance, not people like us. This could never happen in a classless dictatorship of the proletariat. We got our dictator right here and Bolan him and his dirty politicians. Look doing the my Leo, would you mind reviewing the facts for us, Missus Bremner. Oh, there was a killing here about oh maybe six or eight months ago. The police thought have ignored, did I guess, till everybody kept staying it should be solved this killing. So Boland's police went out and found themselves a suspect to satisfy the public demand. Is that it I guess. So all I know for here is Leo wouldn't kill nobody. I know he wouldn't. Has he ever been in trouble before? He never had time for trouble, school every night and working in the city hall every day, reading books and studying. What for for what, Missus Bremner. We'll help your son. We'll do everything. We possibly can't help him. I can't pay nothing. Look how we live. We ain't got money to pay lawyer's orf. We're not interested in money, Missus Bremner. But no, Missus Bremner. We're much more interested in your son. And it wasn't long before everyone was interested in Missus Bremner's son. The Red propaganda machine buzzed into action, with Herbert Samish in the pilot's seat and I as his co pilot. Have the pamphlet's been distributed, SVETI has come and we covered the tenement district thoroughly. Three hundred signatures all demanding a trial for Bremner. Good work, comrade. The other petitions are circulating right now. Fine, fine, Now to get to the newspapers, any of the Woodford City newspapers using our stories. None, They're afraid to find Bolan and we'll have to rephrase the stories. Look at this headline, comrade, police hold red sympathizer for murder. Well it worked, It's marvelous. Everyone thinks Bremner is a red because we're supporting him. Now we can accuse Boland of political persecution. We'd better be careful, Comrade Bolan has bound the stagg back. I'm quite prepared for that. Oh, by the way, Svetic, this message came for you. Thanks. Well, anything wrong, that's what does this mean just what it says. You've been invited to visit Andy Boland. Sort of our command performance, I imagine, But the message is addressed to you. Bolan wants to see you, not me. Oh no. I phoned him and explained that you, not I were in charge of the Bremner campaign. But that's not so, of course, not just a matter of protection, that's all I don't understand. Well, Boland obviously wants a showdown. It's very possible that he can undo all the good we've done for our cause. Our party leaders would be terribly displeased with that, wouldn't they. I see here had rather they were displeased with me than with you. More or less, let's just consider it your sacrifice for the good of the party. And there I was right in the middle, sharing space with the original victim, Leo Bremner, whom I'd never seen. The only way I could avoid the showdown with Bolan was to admit I was an undercover man, and that was out of the question. There was nothing for me to do but meat bolling in his office. I found him to be fat, love and haughty, with a blotchy face that seemed to be all chinned. Oh right, so y, let's get down the cases. You and that stoogie. You are samish your kamis, aren't you? Is that what you called me here to te Never mind, relax. I know your Kamis and I know your angle in this Bremner campaign too, the old sympathy routine. Yeah, used it myself a few times. But it's not gonna work for you, my boy. You're sure of that. Look in our racket. Tools are necessary when you want to build a case for yourself, and Bremner is a tool. So I'm gonna eliminate Bremner. There nothing. The people wouldn't stand for that, not even from you. The people. The people. Yeah, the people stand for what I give them, son, and I'm gonna give them just. What you've got him yelling for. I mean, you'll put Bremner on trial. Yes, you look surprised. I don't believe it. You haven't got enough evidence to convict him? Are you sure of that? The boy, a man in my physician, can buy all the evidence he needs. You know your Patsy Bremner is my Patsy too. What do you mean by that? Leo Bremner did commit that murder? Whatmebe. You don't know it, but Bremner is just a two bit ward here. He worked for me buying votes, started getting up at these, so he sent a man to straighten him out. And there was a fight. Leo killed him, and all right, why haven't you put him on trial before he knows too much? But you and your Red playmates have given me a good excuse to get him out of the way for keeps. Yeah, I'll tag him as Red, load the evidence against him for treason. It works, Yes, sir, I'm going to kill two birds. With one conviction. The trial will get rid of Bremner, and your comic big shots is going to get rid of you. You see, I can play the Red game too. Now back to Dana Andrews as Met Sevedic and I was a Communist for the FBI and the second act of our story. There are two insidious forces of corruption threatening our freedom today. One the chief politicians like Andy Bolen, who exploit our liberty in the name of Americanism. The other even worse, the rotten hearted subversives led by Herbert Samish and other dedicated Reds, who seek to undermine America in the name of communism. Both forces usually feed on each other, but in this case they were feeding on me. To ensure a conviction, Bolan had loaded Bremner's trial with all sorts of phony evidence. Every point against Bremner was a point against me and the COMMI records, and there was nothing I could do about it. As the trial went on, though, my busy Red comrades were doing everything possible to set a murderer free. In the court. Please, if these constant interruptions don't stop, I'll be forced to clear the court. Yes, sure, it's easier to convict the political prisoner and private. I wish to impress upon the jury the importance of overlooking these interruptions. Please remember that the defendant is on trial for murder and nothing else. He wouldn't be on trial at all, of you and reactionary. There'll be a recess until ten tomorrow morning. It didn't stop there, the Red State's public demonstrations all over Woodford City, claiming that the bewilderedly old Bremner was the victim of political persecution, all this in spite of the fact that Bremner was actually a murderer. At my next meeting with Herbert Samish, I tried to reason with him. My dear comrade Svetick, we can't stop our work now. It would be a moral victory for the enemy, but. We'll do the party more harm if we side with an out and out killer. Our leaders will be furious if that happens. I'm afraid you will be a martyr to our cause. I've arranged to that, you. Know, yes, I know. Oh? Is that what bothers you? My welfare is governed by the progress of the proletarian revolt. I have not. I'm sorry to interrupt. Missus Bremner. What brings you here? Oh? I just came to see how grateful I am for everything you've done. Oh, that's very nice of you. Nobody else would help me, only you and your friend. Without you, my Leo would never have got a trial. We appreciate your gratitude, Missus Bremner. Well, I I just wanted to say thank you. You're very welcome. Is there something else on your mind? Missus Brenner, Well, I I hear, that's all right? Pick up. Well, I came to ask you something. If you please, don't. Mind, not at all. We want to help you, know. I wonder would it be all right if your friends didn't keep interrupting Leo's trial like they do, I mean, the judge in the jury, they think Leo. Just a minute, please? Is this you're doing sthetic? Absolutely not. In fact, I resent her telling us how to run our affairs. But mister SIDEDI, Leo is my son, His life is my affair too. Well. I have a time and place for that sort of sentimental path. Exactly. You must remember, missus Bremner, that your son means nothing to us personally as an individual. He is nothing nothing. Then why why do you you have anything else on your mind? Missus Bremner, stop dawdling and say it. Yes, I keep hearing people say Leo and me are communist. The newspapers. They keep saying, we got communist friends. What's wrong with having communist friends? But it ain't so Leo me, We've been good Americans. We don't. Are you going to stand for this, comrade. Certainly not. You're a blind fool, Missus Bremner. The trouble with poor simpletons like you is that you haven't enough communist friends. You're all alike you and all the spineless, underfed people like you. You don't know what you want or how to get it your suckers. You don't belong in any society, and you have the nerve to tell us how to run things. I don't understand you were my friends. You never spoke to me. Troublesome, isn't she, Comrade Samish, more trouble than she's worth? Sometimes I doubt whether these little people, these downtrodden messes, are worth all the bother are superiors. On the Controlled Commission would be interested in that statement? Well, I mean it they What do you mean? I mean that you've talked too much for your own good or the good of the party. What setting your attitude towards missus Bremner is detrimental to our work, and your comment about the masses is downright disloyal. Which you don't intend to report me to you. It's my duty, as a sincere party worker put you. You can't, comrade, You know how hard I work you, you know how. Far as I'm concerned, you've bungled this entire Bremner assignment. Oh now, comrade, I have made a few mistakes, but really. And you've made me responsible for your mistakes. You seem to value your personal welfare far more than the party. No, No, comrade, now, really, I hold you responsible only for your advice, your suggestions. My mistakes are my old. And take my advice and ensure the success of the Bremner assignment once and for all. Injure it. Huh, sit down, I'll explain whom missus. Bremner didn't know it, but you'd helped me needle Samish into a trap. Now that I had him there, I had to use my advantage. Before I was thought they're with him. I wasn't sure which would close first, the trial of Leo Bremner or the trap, and I couldn't wait to place any bets. Baker speaking bigger, this is Red. Hi. You all right so far, but it's been a battle who he's winning scores even now. But I need your help. That's what we're here for. Check up on Leo Bremner. If there's no evidence that he's a RED, I shouldn't be publish the report in all the papers. If we get the coming element out of this case, the whole Red plan will fall apart. Yeah, and I'll give Bremner a chance to be tried for the crime he's accused of. Okay, what's your next step? Sammish and I are going to bribe the judge. When I suggested bribery to Samish, he was surprised and please. He wished he had thought of it himself, so I told him to take full credit for it in his report to the Controlled Commission. That made him even more enthusiastic. As far as Judge Sarana was concerned, I had checked his record in public office and felt pretty sure that his reaction would be characteristic. Why, of course, I'm interested in the money. What normal human being isn't. But is it enough money, Judge Saranha, enough to free Leo Bremner. Hm, This, this offer puts me in a peculiar position. I suppose you know, Samich that the Bolder administration wants Bremner convicted. They've made me a similar offer. I assume they have, but I wasn't sure. Now with this offer of yours, oh, I don't know. I'd better think this over a bit. We'll have your answer tomorrow. Tomorrow was a long time in coming. But when the wide double doors to the courtroom opened, Samuch and I were there to see ourselves among the spectators. From our seats near the back of the room, we could catch fleeting glimpses of Leo Bremner's face, an old face for a young man, frightened, bitter, tired. Andy Bolan was there too, shaking hands and waving to anyone who happened to brush by him. Maybe it was my own state of mind, but the scene of the trial seemed to bristle with unusual tension and excitement. Judge Serrano took his place at the bench and the formalities were dispensed with quickly. Then the court room grew silent as the judge announced that he had a statement to make. Now, this trial has been extremely hard on every one concerned. The constant interruptions from the spectators attended to confuse the jury with irrelevant testimony. And now I must confess that I had been tempted with bribery. Last night, a man named Samish, Herbert Samish, tried to bribe me to favor the defense, and earlier the Andrew Bollen administration offered me money to favor the prosecution. Order. In this atmosphere of corruption, it's impossible to weigh evidence objectively, and it's most difficult to bring justice to the people when the people are represented by corrupt officials. The proceedings in this court had been a travesty of justice. It behooves me to declare them a mistrial. A mistrial the only honest way to treat this vile, dishonest situation. Jud Serrano, an honest man, had stayed in character, just as I'd hoped he would. In all the confusion, I didn't see Comrade Samish leave the courtroom. In fact, I never saw him again, for he was held fully responsible for the downfall of this COMI project. As for Andy Bolan, he stopped me in the corridor outside the chaotic courtroom. Well, well, congratulations, very nice work. I congratulate me. Bullen. Yeah, don't kid me. You are behind that job. You got the right kind of mind, Kidder. I'll give you a job with me in a minute. But looks like I'm through that Judge fixed me for keeps. Yes, I guess he did. But I'll be around Hell. Look, I operate pretty much like the commies. Maybe you and me can get together and something else real soon. Maybe, Boland, but I doubt it. Red treachery, dirty politics, and an honest man and one. As for Leo Bremner, well, the FBI cleared him of the taint of communism. But his second trial, an honest one, convicted him of second degree murder. The sentence was lenient, but just quietly, fervently, secretly, I thanked the Lord for putting more Judge Serrano's in America than Andy Boland's or Herbert Samish's. And I vowed that until I could walk once more among honest men, I'd prefer to walk alone. Denah Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews, with a reminder that freedom is like a faithful clock. It must be wound and rewound regularly, or it just stops ticking. In the story you just heard, names, dates and places are fictitious to protect innocent persons. Many of these stories are based on incidents in the life of Matt Sevedic, who worked under cover for the FBI. Next week, another fantastic adventure Join Us then launches