 I was a communist for the FBI. Fighting pale of danger and espionage. I was a communist for the FBI. Authentic experiences of mathematics. Two for nine fantastic years. Lived as a communist for the FBI. I spent nine long years living a lie. A lie called communism. And it was a fighting experience. Many a time I wanted to rush up to you on the street, and grab a hold of your coat and shake you and yell, can't you see what's going on? Don't you realize what they're trying to do to our country and to you and your wife and kids? I didn't do it because I knew that, at that time, you wouldn't believe me. The lie had been told too well. You better believe me now, though, mister, or you may wake up some morning living or dying that same lie. The lie called communism. Listen to Dana Andrews, that's mathematics. Under cover man. You pay for being a communist. Even a communist for the FBI. You feel that you're being watched, fight upon, and that the Central Committee is getting a constant stream of reports on what you do, who you see, even what you eat. It's party discipline, self-enforced by fear. As an FBI agent, as I walk at a meeting place, I'm haunted by the sense of being followed. For no tangible reason, my heart beats faster than the sounds of my temple. I duck in and out of arcade, checking my back through. I see no one that I recognize. Still, I'm out of breath, and I round the last corner and find my FBI contact waiting for me in the car. After a last look over my shoulder, I find the car deciding. And we take off. Think someone was following you, Matt? I always think someone's following me. Nothing new, Anna? Nothing spectacular, anyway. We had another cell meeting, since my last report. Getting more frequent, aren't they? Yeah, but nothing's happening. Nothing of any great importance at any rate. At this last meeting, we took in three new members and were notified of another special assessment. There have been a lot of assessments lately, haven't there? Yeah, and they've all been ordered by the State Central Committee instead of by National Headquarters. State, huh? Any indication of what they're for? Not yet. If they're building up a ward chest, they may be going to back some candidate against Senator Stewart. Oh, he's too strong. They wouldn't waste the money. The fact is, they seem to have given up on Senator Stewart. What? Well, if the word come down to lay off a character assassination, then they have a new idea they think is better. It has to be. They never give up on any man in public office who's done as much damage as Stewart, eh? That's probably right. That's a special assessment, Matt. Maybe there is something spectacular cooking, but it's several blocks from home so that I can get some exercise walking. And as I walk, I think, but no matter how much I think, I can't connect the special assessment with Senator Stewart. Back in my room, I give up thinking and stretch out on the bed. I'm about to doze off when I knock at the door, send it to my feet. It's Comrade Hobart, my fellow leader, with a message that will eventually lead me to the reason for those special assessments. Sorry to disturb your red comments, Betty. Why? I wasn't asleep. There's a meeting at my house tonight. I hope it's more important than the last two or three, Comrade Hobart. You're not tiring of party activity, Comrade. No. I'm glad to hear that. I'm tiring of party inactivity. I should have known. There are plans in the making, Comrade Servetic, which should satisfy even your craving for action. What are they, Comrade? I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to devour them, even to you, until they're complete. However... Yes, I can almost promise that they will be complete before tonight's meeting. Be sure to be there. I'm at the meeting, all right. Long before anyone else arrives, except Comrade Hobart, and it's his house. I don't learn anything about plans, though. It's strictly a routine meeting, as far as I can see. A couple of comrades report on their activities in various front organizations. But I hear nothing that sounds like new activity. And I don't until the meeting is adjourned and the members are leaving. I'd like to have you wait until after the others have left, Comrade Servetic. This will be a couple of minutes before they're gone. Why don't you wait for me in the kitchen? Anything you say. Comrade Corbin, did you know that the others were leaving? Well, I hope they were. I was asked to wait, too, Comrade Servetic. Any ideas to what it's all about? No more than you. Maybe not as much. I couldn't even guess. And wouldn't if you could, huh? Others are gone, Comrades. We can be on our way now. On our way? Well, we're going, Comrade Hobart. We're driving to the state capitol for a conference at the Federal Committee. Right now? Immediately, Comrade Servetic. I received a phone call just before your ride this evening, advising me that the plans I mentioned to you are complete. Can you tell us what they are, Comrade? Sorry, Comrade Corbin, I don't know the details. I know only that they involve Senator Stewart. And that once they're set in motion, no one, not even Comrade Servetic, will have cause to complain about lack of activity. All I can think of as we get into Comrade Hobart's car and drive to the state capitol Johnson, my FBI contractor that afternoon, was right. I want to call him and congratulate him, but there's no chance. Not even when we get to the capitol. Nordstrom, the chairman of the State Central Committee, has waited up for us. He gives us the word and sends us back home that night. I still can't see why Nordstrom wouldn't let us stay overnight. There's less chance of us being spotted by the FBI at this time, Comrade Corbin. But if the plan is to... Comrade Servetic is right, Comrade. The essence of the committee's plan is timing. A premature exposure would ruin everything. Do you like the idea, Comrade Servetic? I think it can be very effective, Comrade Hobart. Very effective. However, as you just said, a premature exposure would defeat us completely. Completely, Comrade. That is why the committee took the precaution of having us drive to the capitol at night and gave the details of the plan only to us three. No one else will know. No one. But we're to use other party members. We will tell them what to do. Not why they do it. In that case, if the details of the plan should leak out, one of us must be guilty. Obviously, Comrade Servetic. Well, why the sigh, Comrade? Relief, I guess, Comrade, knowing that we needn't worry about the trail. It would be extremely unpleasant for anyone who betrayed this plan, Comrade. It is the perfect formula for giving Senator Stewart the kiss of death. If the Central Committee's plan works, it is the perfect scheme for eliminating Senator Stewart from public life. In fact, if it is not exposed prematurely, it can be used against any political enemy of the Communist Party. And only three of us, Comrade Hobart, Comrade Corvin and I, know the details. As soon as we get back to our city, I call the FBI and report. But Johnson can give me no help at the moment. This is big math. I know that. Too big for any suggestions? Before I have to go to Comrade Hobart. But he doesn't. And the tension begins to build again. Only three of us know the plan. Not many to share the suspicion that the plan is upset. I wonder if anyone's only going to that phone booth will come out. Well, they heard me talking to the FBI. By the time I get to the meeting that night, I'm jumping ahead. And the meeting is in progress. And now, comrades, we come to the real purpose of this meeting. Consideration of Senator John Stuart. The enemy of the world's democratic and peace-loving peoples. We have suffered a serious defeat. Spur to the captive, capitalistic press, the stupid bourgeoisie has closed the criticism of Senator Stuart. His reactionary opposition to Communion. It's impossible to defeat Senator Stuart in the usual way. In fact, my advice is don't cut the details of this plan. If each of us follows his orders unquestioningly, we cannot fail. I accept the review, comrades. It's to register as members of the Senate's political party. I need your registration tomorrow. Your next move is to join the ward club of the Senate's party in your award. And work hard for the renomination of Senator Stuart. This will defeat Stuart. We'll not only defeat Senator Stuart, but approve the weapon we can use successfully against any reactionary who opposes Communism. And then executed without file. But things get done. The dictatorship exerted over members of the Communist party, even here in America, no exception to that rule. Two days after they received their orders, every member of our cell had registered as a voter in Senator Stuart's party. And meeting with Carmen Corbyn and myself, the board reports that the State Central Committee is clean. The committee is satisfied with the manner in which we have executed the preliminary step of the plan, comrades. An hour of orders for the next step. The committee has finished Stuart's details, comrades. They gave us an overall plan, comrades, pathetic. The details have been left to the three of us. It's a matter of timing. The committee wants the exposure to be made on the day before the election. And that will allow every voter to hear that Senator Stuart has been actively supported by party members. And there won't be time for them to hear his denial. That's right. No one ever pays attention to denials anyway. People are much more interested in scandal. Some newspapers discovered that a long time ago. The next point is perhaps even more important than the matter of timing. The methods of exposure. I've been wondering how we were going to handle that. Without tipping the whole scheme. Brilliant in its simplicity. If we can work it out. The jury for the committee's come right over. Mine, Comrade Corvin. The committee permits no ifs. What's the plan? One of us is to establish contact with some important member of the group and Senator Stuart's own party. Opposed to his renomination. After gaining this person's confidence. We'll furnish him with documentary proof of Senator Stuart's communist support. And permit him to make the exposure. That's how we to establish this contact, Senator. That, Comrade Sevetik. Is the detail that the committee has left to us. The assignment of making this contact. Because this is the key to the whole plan. Of Comrade Corvin volunteers before I do. I try to draw him out on how he intends to make his contact. And with whom. But he's too cagey. And since there's nothing more to discuss. Everything breaks up. And on my way home, I phone the FBI. Calling from a phone booth, Johnson. The news is bad. The documentary proof of Stuart's red backing will be made public through a member of the Senator's own party. That's the plan. Comrade Corvin, the unfriendly witness, is going to make the contact. Once we know his contact. At this place early this morning when Corvin didn't show by no, the agent phoned his rooming house and checked out late last night. He must have been suspicious of my questioning. Something happened. Under the circumstances, Matt, I hate to ask this. Because you may be sticking your head right into the lion's mouth. But we have to know where Corvin is so that we can trail him through his contact. Yeah. I'll see what I can find out, Johnson. Good. Has the Bureau figured out its counter scheme yet? Not yet, Matt. It's a tough problem, but I understand they're going to decide one way or the other sometime today. I'll probably be able to give you the word when you report on Corvin. Report on Corvin. What he meant was, if you report on Corvin, then unconsciously I start thinking of ways to avoid seeing Comet Hobart. But when you're a communist for the FBI, there's no turning back. Though I go to Hobart's house, he doesn't act suspicious. So I leave the conversation around to Corvin. He's a valuable man, Comrade Semitic. No question about that. And full of surprises. He has an acquaintance in Senator Stewart's party opposition who just fits our plan. Has he said so? Not in so many words. However, he called me this morning to report that he had his contract and had moved. Where'd he move to? When I asked him, he said he'd tell me after he completed his mission. Right now he's developing his contact and avoiding all party members. Who is his contact? Obviously someone of importance, but just who is Comrade Corvin's secret? He didn't tell me, and frankly, I don't want to know. Why not? Well, I wouldn't care to share the responsibility, Comrade Semitic. You and I will keep our necks. Let Comrade Corvin keep his secrets. Comrade Corvin keep his secrets. That's the one thing I can't do. Later that night, I meet Johnson, my FBI contact, and while we're driving around the outskirts of town, report my lack of progress concerning Corvin. Have you anything else to report? The money from all those special assessments made by the State Central Committee has come back to the cell with interest. It's being contributed to Stuart's campaign fund. I don't miss a bet, do they? They're no amateurs, that's a cinch. Has the Bureau worked out that counter scheme yet? Yeah. I don't like it, and neither were you. What is it? Well, it looks as though you're stuck, man. Come on. It's a matter of political values. If this scheme isn't exposed before the Reds it's set the nation will lose a valuable man from public life. And I'm an extendable. Well, I guess the military would call it that. Naturally, we'll give you only protection possible, man. When are you going to break this story? Late Sunday for Monday morning's papers. That way, we'll beat the Commies by about eight hours on every leave. Sunday, this is Thursday night. It gives me Friday and Saturday. Oh, what are you figuring out? Corvin. If I can find out who his contact is the guy he's going to break the story to I can break the story myself. Oh, my phone. I'll call the man and tell him that I'm Corvin and give him the expose with all the details. Yeah. There's only one thing wrong with the idea, Matt. What's that? You don't even know where Corvin is much less the name of his contact. I don't know where Corvin is and I don't dare ask Hobart again. The tough part of it is I can understand the FBI's position particularly after talking with Comrade Hobart the next morning. Everything is complete now, Comrade Sevedic. Our workers are publicly identified with Senator Stewart. We have receipts for more than $2,000 contributed to his campaign fund and Comrade Corvin reports that his contact in the opposition camp is beginning to take the bait. Well, I hope Corvin plays his hand right. If he puts out too much bait, his fish may bite before we are ready. I had that in mind when I told you that I wanted to know nothing about Comrade Corvin's operation. If anything goes wrong, he'll take the discipline. If anything goes wrong, Corvin will take the discipline, but only if it goes on before Sunday. On Sunday, it'll be mine yet. I'll leave Comrade Hobart to make my check when our party members working for Senator Stewart. If I check, I can fully understand why the FBI has to break the story immediately. The workers themselves, however, don't realize how big a job they've done. I still don't see how this can hurt Stewart, Comrade Sevedic. Now, how can this do him anything but good? You'll be told at the proper time, Comrade. Sure, that's what Comrade Corvin tells me. Every day I ask him, what goes? Every day, like you, he tells me nothing. You see Comrade Corvin every day? That's what he does for me. Make him into the party, I guess, like he did me. Sure. Uh, you live on Oak Street, don't you? Oak Street? Cedar, 400 block south. As quickly as I can, without a rousing suspicion, I get away from the talkative comrade and go to the 400 block south on Cedar. For five hours, I wait and see nothing. Then, in the middle of the afternoon, I finally spot Comrade Corvin far down the block, though, and I have to get closer to see the street number. I keep my eye on the house as I walk. So, I don't notice anything around me until a heavy hand falls on my shoulder and a voice says, What's your name? What are you doing here? Whenever you have to say, you can tell to the discharge. But what am I supposed to have done? The neighbors complain about suspicious characters lurking around the neighborhood. The other one seems to have got away, but I'm taking you down to the station. I try to break away and make a dash from the street number of the house called an interest, but the policeman is too fast for me. Thinking of the way, I've had my only chance to save myself from the red smashed out of my grasp. I blow my top and I try to fight my way free. But it's no use. The cop's a big man, and he knows what to do with his beef. The next thing I really know is that I'm locked in a cell sore and bruised. Finally, hours later, the cop comes back. Yeah. I'm sorry I blew up. Can I use a phone? Well, come on, your lawyer, eh? No, just a friend. Okay. Stand back while I open the door. Walk ahead of me. As quickly as I could, man. I kind of got roughed up. I had it coming to me, but I forgot in the house I was looking for. I haven't, man. Huh? That's another talk, last man. Oh, that cop said there was someone else hanging around who got away. Me? I saw him coming. Anyway, man, I got the address in the name of Corvin's contact. I had a talk with a bureau chief, Matt, and he wants you to make the call and prematurely spill the story of the reds in Senator Stewart. That's great, Johnson, except for one little detail. Oh, what's that? First, you'll have to get me out of jail. The party gave Comet Corvin full credit for the fight against Senator Stewart. I don't know, for certain, what happened to him. I only know that he disappeared and that if I hadn't been lucky it would have been Matt Soverex who disappeared. A communist for the FBI is a man on a tightrope. And on a tightrope, you walk alone. You would be conquerors since the dawn of history. It's the old technique of divide and rule. Don't let it happen here. Although to protect innocent persons, names, dates, and places in this story are fictitious. But danger they warn you against is very real. Next week we'll bring you another strange adventure based on the fantastic experiences of Matt Soverex. Join us then, won't you?