I Was a Communist for the FBI
Encyclopedia
I Was a Communist for the FBI is the name of a series of stories written by Matt Cvetic
that appeared in the Saturday Evening Post. The stories were later turned into a best-selling book, an American
espionage
thriller radio series and motion picture in the early 1950s.
The story follows Cvetic, who infiltrated a local Communist Party cell
for nine years and reported back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
on their activities.
The film and radio show are, in part, artifacts of the McCarthy
era, as well as a time capsule of American society during the Second Red Scare. The purpose of both are partly to warn people about the threat of Communist subversion
of American society. The tone of the show is ultra-patriotic
, with Communists portrayed as racist, vindictive, and tools of a totalitarian foreign power, the Soviet Union.
to more than 600 stations, including KNX
in Los Angeles, California
, with original episodes running from March 30, 1952
to September 20, 1953
. The program was made without the cooperation of the FBI
. Real-life undercover agent Matt Cvetic was portrayed by Dana Andrews
. The show had a budget of $12,000 a week, a very high cost to produce a radio show at the time.
The program frequently dealt with the great stress that Cvetic was under, as he covertly infiltrated a local Communist Party cell. There were many personal and family problems caused by his being a Communist, as well as a certain amount of mental torment. He saw the party as being hypocritical and a great danger to society.
In 1953, Ziv created a separate television follow-up, I Led Three Lives
, based on the life of Herbert Philbrick
, a Boston advertising executive who also infiltrated the U.S. Communist Party on behalf of the FBI in the 1940s. This time, the FBI approved all of the show's scripts.
Tagline: "I am a Communist for the FBI, I walk alone."
Matt Cvetic
Matthew Cvetic was a Pittsburgh native who was asked by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to join the Communist Party of the United States as an informant in the 1940s...
that appeared in the Saturday Evening Post. The stories were later turned into a best-selling book, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
thriller radio series and motion picture in the early 1950s.
The story follows Cvetic, who infiltrated a local Communist Party cell
Clandestine cell system
A clandestine cell structure is a method for organizing a group of people in such a way that it can more effectively resist penetration by an opposing organization. Depending on the group's philosophy, its operational area, the communications technologies available, and the nature of the mission,...
for nine years and reported back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
on their activities.
The film and radio show are, in part, artifacts of the McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
era, as well as a time capsule of American society during the Second Red Scare. The purpose of both are partly to warn people about the threat of Communist subversion
Subversion (politics)
Subversion refers to an attempt to transform the established social order, its structures of power, authority, and hierarchy; examples of such structures include the State. In this context, a "subversive" is sometimes called a "traitor" with respect to the government in-power. A subversive is...
of American society. The tone of the show is ultra-patriotic
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
, with Communists portrayed as racist, vindictive, and tools of a totalitarian foreign power, the Soviet Union.
Film
The radio version of I Was a Communist for the FBI consisted of 78 episodes syndicated by the Frederick W. Ziv CompanyFrederick Ziv
Frederick William Ziv was an American broadcasting producer and syndicator who is considered the father of television syndication and once operated the nation's largest independent television production company....
to more than 600 stations, including KNX
KNX (AM)
KNX is an all-news radio station in Los Angeles, California, USA. The station operates on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio. KNX broadcasts from facilities shared with sister stations KFWB, KCBS-FM, KTWV, and KAMP on Los Angeles' Miracle Mile...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, with original episodes running from March 30, 1952
1952 in radio
The year 1952 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*4 March: The Courier, the first seagoing radio station, is dedicated by president Harry Truman....
to September 20, 1953
1953 in radio
The year 1953 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.-Events:*January 15: Harry Truman becomes the first US president to broadcast his farewell address on radio and television....
. The program was made without the cooperation of the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
. Real-life undercover agent Matt Cvetic was portrayed by Dana Andrews
Dana Andrews
Dana Andrews was an American film actor. He was one of Hollywood's major stars of the 1940s, and continued acting, though generally in less prestigious roles, into the 1980s.-Early life:...
. The show had a budget of $12,000 a week, a very high cost to produce a radio show at the time.
The program frequently dealt with the great stress that Cvetic was under, as he covertly infiltrated a local Communist Party cell. There were many personal and family problems caused by his being a Communist, as well as a certain amount of mental torment. He saw the party as being hypocritical and a great danger to society.
In 1953, Ziv created a separate television follow-up, I Led Three Lives
I Led Three Lives
I Led Three Lives is an American drama series which was syndicated by Ziv Television Programs from October 1, 1953 to January 1, 1956. The series stars Richard Carlson...
, based on the life of Herbert Philbrick
Herbert Philbrick
Herbert Arthur Philbrick was a Boston area advertising executive who was paid by the FBI to infiltrate the Communist Party USA between 1940 and 1949. His involvement began when he joined a Communist front group in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Cambridge Youth Council...
, a Boston advertising executive who also infiltrated the U.S. Communist Party on behalf of the FBI in the 1940s. This time, the FBI approved all of the show's scripts.
Tagline: "I am a Communist for the FBI, I walk alone."