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Container
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Title
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Audio 835A
Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:30
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Introduction of Michael Meeropol by Mayor Paul Soglin
: Compares Madison Police affinity files, recently publicized, to methods used by government to convict Rosenbergs.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
02:10
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Preliminary Remarks by Michael Meeropol
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
03:25
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False Impression in Press That Meeropols Have Access to All Government Files on Rosenbergs
: Most material still not released. Government asked exemption from Freedom of Information Act.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
05:50
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Government Has Tried to Release Only Material Supporting Its Case
: Only new evidence is confession of Jerome Tardico [?], FBI informer.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
06:15
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Justice Department Report (1956) on Jerome Tardico[?]
: Tardico labelled “of unknown reliability”. Not called as witness. Justice Department and right-wing columnists now bring up Tardico's confession to discredit effort to reopen case.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
10:25
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Compares Madison Police Affinity Files to FBI Files
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
10:50
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Meeropols, Lawsuit Based on Freedom of Information Act
: Judge's order that government provide inventories of records and justifications for not supplying records.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
12:10
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Current Issue over Compliance with Judge's Order
: FBI has tampered with original documents. Request for contempt judgments against FBI and CIA.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
14:20
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Question: “How Much Is This Costing You?”
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
14:25
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Answer: National Committee to Reopen Rosenberg Case Adopted Budget of $600,000
: Details of budget.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
15:40
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Question: Were Rosenbergs and Sobell Prosecuted “to Lend Credence to the Arms Race”?
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
16:10
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Answer: Rosenberg Case Provided “the National Security Justification for Anything”
: Dissent identified with disloyalty beginning with Truman loyalty program in 1947.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
17:55
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[Answer Continues.] Antiwar Activists of 1960s Did Not Understand Persistence of Cold War Mentality
: Lacked understanding of feeling that dissent means disloyalty. Reopening Rosenberg-Sobell case will teach origins of that “mindset”.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
19:25
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Question: What Will You Do if Government Files Confirm Fraud in Rosenberg-Sobell Case?
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
19:45
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Answer: Bring Civil Suit for Wrongful Death
: Suit will give subpoena power.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
21:10
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Question: How Will You Get Further Access to Government Files?
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
21:15
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Answer: Have Filed Suit for Access to All Files
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
21:40
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Question: You Want Legal Determination of Entitlement to All Files?
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
21:45
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Answer: Yes
: Much evidence of Rosenbergs' innocence even without government files.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
22:40
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Question: Why Do You Think the CIA and FBI Framed Your Parents?
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
22:45
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Answer: Don't Know if They Framed Them
: Government agents framed them, but “I don't know exactly how high the frame-up goes.”
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
23:15
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[Answer Continues.] In Conspiracy Case, Requirements of Evidence Are Lax
: Defects in Greenglasses' testimony.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
25:55
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[Answer Continues.] Collusion Between Atomic Energy Commission and Prosecutors to Assure Death Penalty
: Wanted death penalty to scare Rosenbergs into confessing. Before trial Judge agreed to impose death penalty.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
26:45
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Question: Has Anti-Semitism Affected Public Attitudes towards Case?
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
26:55
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Answer: In Political Trials Defendants Vulnerable if Members of Minority Groups
: Gives examples.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
28:40
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End of Tape 1, Side 1
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:30
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Comment from Press: No Jews in Rosenberg Jury. Tried by Jury of Neighbors, Not Peers
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:40
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Response: Jurors Influenced by Press and by Rosenbergs Invoking Fifth Amendment
: Jurors still feel they made right decision.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
01:15
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Question: How Much Interest in the Country in What You Are Doing?
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
01:20
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Answer: Tremendous Interest in the Files
: Many feel files should be released.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
02:45
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Question: When Government Gave You Information about Greenglasses' Testimony, Was It Intentional or Mistake?
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
02:55
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Answer: Mistake
: Information came from Criminal Division of Justice Department, not FBI.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
03:05
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Question: “Was That the Biggest Thing So Far?”
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
03:05
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Answer: Other Information in Same Report
: David Greenglass inconsistent about Ethel Rosenberg's role; Harry Gold about Julius Rosenberg's role. Prosecution knew about discrepancies and did not inform judge.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
06:00
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Question: When You Became Known as Rosenbergs' Son, Did You Feel Public Hostility?
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
06:15
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Answer: No
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
07:55
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Question: Have You Tried to See David Greenglass? What Would You Say to Him?
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
08:15
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Answer: Haven't Seen Him. “I Don't Know What I Would Say”
: Wants to see him in court.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
08:40
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Question: How Will You Combat News Reports that Government Files Support Government Case?
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
09:05
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Answer: With Press Releases and Willingness to Speak to Media
: A function of local committees.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
09:45
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Question: “How Do You Account for the Newspaper Articles Coming Out in the First Place?”
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
09:50
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Answer: “The Justice Department Is Doing a Good Snow Job.”
: New York Times has been “especially bad”.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
11:40
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Comment from Floor: ABC Network Worried that Press Conference Called to Promote Meeropols' Book
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
11:50
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Response: “Now?” Book Promotion Held Last May
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
12:10
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Question: “How Was the CIA Involved in this Case?”
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
12:10
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Answer: “We Don't Know.”
: British spy Klaus Fuchs supplied all necessary information, thus Rosenbergs not needed. CIA files supplied so far mainly about Fuchs.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
12:55
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Question: “How High” in U.S. Government Did Conspiracy Against Rosenbergs Go?
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
13:00
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Answer: “We Have No Way of Knowing.”
: J. Edgar Hoover, Atomic Energy Commission knew about it. Maybe an attorney general. Crimes of government prosecutors.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
14:35
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Closing Remarks by Michael Meeropol
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
15:25
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End of Press Conference
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
00:30
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[Speech Joined in Progress.] Rosenberg Case Reveals Origins of “Anti-Communist Mindset”
: Ignorance of 1960s. Frauds in case against Rosenbergs: idea of atom bomb “secrets”; connection between domestic radicalism and Soviet espionage.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
01:25
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Julius Rosenberg Never Contrived a “Cover”
: Spies try to be inconspicuous; Rosenberg a public radical.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
03:35
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Klaus Fuchs Only Definite Spy in Case
: Had adequate access to secrets alone.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
05:30
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Political Trial
: Rosenbergs good scapegoats. Others in case did not suit government's purpose. Attempt to intimidate Rosenbergs with death penalty.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
08:15
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Conspiracy Trial Requires Little Proof
: Espionage also requires little proof compared to treason. Evidence that Greenglasses and Gold lied. Reference to Senate Bill 1 under consideration.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
11:20
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Current Fight to Open Files
: Rulings in Meeropols' favor. Government not complying. Atomic Energy Commission files show Gold not Fuchs's courier. Asking contempt judgment against FBI and CIA.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
16:00
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Fight Just Beginning
: Local and national organizing to publicize Meeropols' case. Need public support.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
18:55
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Need for Critical Thinking About Government
: Rosenberg case shows precedents for recent scandals in government.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
20:50
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Call for Questions
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
21:15
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Question: “How Do You Feel This Relates to Your Parents Being Jewish?”
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
21:20
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Answer: In Political Trial Defendants Vulnerable if Members of Minority Group
: Trial a “field day,” for anti-Semites. Jewish judges went to extremes to appear impartial.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
22:15
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Question: What Is Senate Bill 1?
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
22:15
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Answer: Supposed Re-Drafting of Criminal Code
: Actually attempt to legalize practices Supreme Court has ruled illegal. Crimes in “national interest” allowed.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
24:35
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End of Presentation and Responses to Questions
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