Lillian Hellman (Letter Date 19 May 1952)

SOURCE: Hellman, Lillian. "Letter to the House Committee on Un-American Activities." In Letters of the Century: America 1900-1999, edited by Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler, pp. 376-77. New York: Dial Press, 1999.

In the following letter, written in 1952, Hellman states her position on testifying against friends and acquaintances before the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

May 19, 1952

Honorable John S. Wood, Chairman House Committee on Un-American Activities Room 226 Old House Office Building, Washington 25, D.C.

Dear Mr. Wood:

As you know, I am under subpoena to appear before your Committee on May 21, 1952.

I am most willing to answer all questions about myself. I have nothing to hide from your Committee and there is nothing in my life of which I am ashamed. I have been advised by counsel that under the Fifth Amendment I have a constitutional privilege to decline to answer...