When the facilities of the government of the United States are drawn on an individual it can be terrifying. The blacklist is just the opening gambit - being deprived of work. Your passport is confiscated. That`s minor. But not being able to move without being tailed is something else. After a certain point it grows to implied as well as articulated threats, and people succumb. My wife did, and she was institutionalized. In 1953 the HUCA did a deal with me. I was pretty much worn down. I had no money. I couldn`t borrow. I had the expenses of taking care of the children. Why am I subjecting my loved ones to this? If it`s worth dying for, and I am just as idealistic as the next fellow. But I decided it wasn`t worth dying for, and if this gesture was the way of getting out of the penitentiary I`d do it. I had to be employable again." - interview with Victor Navasky for the book "Naming Names
- Lee J. CobbThe catch phrase positively rejoices in being a formula, an accepted gambit, a ready-made reaction.
- John Gross