From Open Culture's 7-2-16 post "How to Spot a Communist Using Literary Criticism: A 1955 Manual from the U.S. Military":
In 1955, the United States was entering the final stages of McCarthyism
or the Second Red Scare. During this low point in American history, the
US government looked high and low for Communist spies [...]. In 1955, the U.S. First Army Headquarters prepared a manual called How to Spot a Communist.
Later published in popular American magazines, the propaganda piece
warned readers, “there is no fool-proof system in spotting a Communist.”
“U.S. Communists come from all walks of life, profess all faiths, and
exercise all trades and professions. In addition, the Communist Party,
USA, has made concerted efforts to go underground for the purpose of
infiltration.” And yet the pamphlet adds, letting readers breathe a sigh
of relief, “there are, fortunately, indications that may give him away.
These indications are often subtle but always present, for the
Communist, by reason of his 'faith' must act and talk along certain
lines.” In short, you’ll know a Communist not by how he walks, but how
he talks. Asking citizens to become literary critics for the sake of
national security, the publication told readers to watch out for the
following....
To read the entire post, click HERE.
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