1400
Office of the Commandant of the
United States Marine Corps,
Marine Barracks at Eighth & I Streets,
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Colonel James Roosevelt entered the room and removed his
cover, standing straight at attention “Reporting as ordered, Commandant!”
“Please, have a seat, Colonel” he was directed by Lieutenant General Alexander
Vandergrift to the uncomfortable-looking chair before his desk. “Do you have
any idea why you've been called directly to the Commandant's office, Colonel
Roosevelt?” asked Vandergrift “No, sir. I was not told why my presence was
requested, only that it was, Commandant.”
An uncomfortable look passed between them, and finally,
it came out: “You've been summoned here because you will be served a subpoena
very shortly, to appear before the United States Senate's Un-American
Activities Commitee. Son, you've been denounced by some of your subordinates
and brother officers as a subversive, sympathetic to the communist cause. I
want to hear it directly from you. I owe you that much, before I am forced to
feed you to that particular pack of jackals.” A stunned look appeared across
Roosevelt's face, and as quickly as the look appeared, it was replaced by the
infamous poker-face, no doubt a trait he picked up from his father.
“Commandant, in my own defense, I cannot effectively
defend myself against such spurious charges unless I know the nature of the
grievance. At this time, for the record, I would like to tell you, sir, that
even though, like my father, I support social reform, at no time have I ever
espoused or supported the position of Soviet-style communism, nor the means
that it uses to advance its cause.” Roosevelt takes a deep breath and continues
“In fact, sir, I categorically repudiate international communism, and those who
use it as a guise for their own cults of personality. Not withstanding, the
fact that I have been associated with, and in the presence of, people who have
admired this system, this should not be indicative of my own opinion, or frame
of mind, in regard to the subject.” “That's quite a powerful statement on the
subject, James. I want you to report directly to the Judge Advocate General's
office at Quantico, to prepare your statements for the hearing. I want your
testimony to be beyond reproach. We have two weeks until the hearing; can you
be ready, son?” Asked Vandergrift “Gung-ho, Commandant” Roosevelt replied with
a smile.
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