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The Hungarian József Pogány, nicknamed John Pepper, was sent to the United States as the representative of the Comintern during the 1920s, with full authority to control the Party. He quickly assimilated American political culture and played a central role before being called back to Moscow. Criticized by Stalin for his ideas about the future of the labor movement in the United States, Pogány was expelled from the Comintern in 1929 and disappeared in the [[Gulag]].  

The Hungarian József Pogány, nicknamed John Pepper, was sent to the United States as the representative of the Comintern during the 1920s, with full authority to control the Party. He quickly assimilated American political culture and played a central role before being called back to Moscow. Criticized by Stalin for his ideas about the future of the labor movement in the United States, Pogány was expelled from the Comintern in 1929 and disappeared in the [[Gulag]].  

From 1919 to the early 1930s Party head [[William Z. Foster]] was one of the most influential leftist labor and political leaders in the United States. After coordinating strikes for the [[Industrial Workers of the World]], he ran for president as the candidate of the Communist Party in 1924, 1928, and 1932. Foster's recurrent physical and mental health problems curtailed his leadership, especially during the 1930s. He was loyal to Stalin who returned Foster to power in 1945. He retired in 1957 and Moscow replaced him with [[Gus Hall]].

From 1919 to the early 1930s Party head [[William Z. Foster]] was one of the most influential leftist labor and political leaders in the United States. After coordinating the great industrywide steel strike of 1919, he joined the Party and was its candidate for president in 1924, 1928, and 1932. Foster's recurrent physical and mental health problems curtailed his leadership, especially during the 1930s. He was loyal to Stalin who returned Foster to power in 1945. He retired in 1957 and Moscow replaced him with [[Gus Hall]].

[[Earl Browder]] assumed party leadership after 1929 and actually dissolved the party in 1944, replacing it with the Communist Political Association. For this he was in turn expelled and [[William Z. Foster]] became head of the party. Foster published a 'new history' of America, which was highly praised in Moscow, translated into many languages and made a handbook of anti-American propaganda all over the world. Of it Browder wrote, "This extraordinary book interpreted the history of America from its discovery to the present, as an orgy of 'bloody banditry' and imperialism, enriching itself by 'drinking the rich red blood' of other peoples." Foster joined in the Thorez declaration of French Communist [[Maurice Thorez]] that said if the Soviet armies found it necessary to occupy all Western Europe, the working people would greet them as liberators; the only thing missing was a direct welcome to Soviet armies in America itself."  Foster was to lead the party until he retired in 1958 and was succeeded by Gus Hall.

[[Earl Browder]] assumed party leadership after 1929 and actually dissolved the party in 1944, replacing it with the Communist Political Association. For this independent move he was in turn expelled and Stalin brought back Foster as head of the party. Foster published a 'new history' of America, which was highly praised in Moscow, translated into many languages and made a handbook of anti-American propaganda all over the world. Of it Browder wrote, "This extraordinary book interpreted the history of America from its discovery to the present, as an orgy of 'bloody banditry' and imperialism, enriching itself by 'drinking the rich red blood' of other peoples." Foster led was retired in 1958 and replaced by Gus Hall.

Gus Hall (1910-2000) was secretary general of the Party. Hall was born to a family of Finnish immigrant workers in the mining settlement of Airon, Minnesota. His parents were active participants in Finland's workers' socialist movement. In 1927, Hall joined the Communist Party. By the early 1930s, he was involved in trade union activity, especially as an organizer in steel. In 1959 he became party leader and ran for presidernt four times, 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984, the last two times with [[Angela Davis]].

Gus Hall (1910-2000) was secretary general of the Party. Hall was born to a family of Finnish immigrant workers in the mining camps of northern Minnesota. His parents were active participants in Finland's workers' socialist movement. In 1927, Hall joined the Communist Party. By the early 1930s, he was involved in trade union activity, especially as an organizer in steel. In 1959 he became party leader and ran for presidernt four times, 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984, the last two times with [[Angela Davis]].

[[Louis Budenz]] started as a Communist and ended a leading an anti-Communist, beginning with his involvement in the Toledo, Ohio, Electric Auto-Lite strike of 1934. Although the intensity of Budenz's later opposition to communism during the McCarthy era made his former involvement in the CPUSA difficult to understand, his entry into the Party was the logical result of his involvement in the Auto-Lite strike. Intrigued by the idea of an "Americanized" socialism, Budenz's desire to assimilate leftism and nationalism spurred him to join the American Workers' Party (AWP) and, later, the Communist Party. Fervently patriotic, Budenz's interest in the CPUSA was based on the group's adoption of an approach that focused on the American experience. When the CPUSA realigned itself with Russia in 1945, Budenz left the organization. Following his departure, Budenz acted as an informant in the Red Scare, assisting the government in the condemnation of many of his former Communist sympathizers.<Ref> Roger Chapman, "Louis Francis Budenz's Journey from the Electric Auto-Lite Strike to the Communist Party and Beyond," ''Northwest Ohio Quarterly'' 2001 73(3-4): 118-141. 0029-3407 </ref>

[[Louis Budenz]] started as a Communist and ended a leading an anti-Communist, beginning with his involvement in the Toledo, Ohio, Electric Auto-Lite strike of 1934. Although the intensity of Budenz's later opposition to communism during the McCarthy era made his former involvement in the CPUSA difficult to understand, his entry into the Party was the logical result of his involvement in the Auto-Lite strike. Intrigued by the idea of an "Americanized" socialism, Budenz's desire to assimilate leftism and nationalism spurred him to join the American Workers' Party (AWP) and, later, the Communist Party. Fervently patriotic, Budenz's interest in the CPUSA was based on the group's adoption of an approach that focused on the American experience. When the CPUSA realigned itself with Russia in 1945, Budenz left the organization. Following his departure, Budenz acted as an informant in the Red Scare, assisting the government in the condemnation of many of his former Communist sympathizers.<Ref> Roger Chapman, "Louis Francis Budenz's Journey from the Electric Auto-Lite Strike to the Communist Party and Beyond," ''Northwest Ohio Quarterly'' 2001 73(3-4): 118-141. 0029-3407 </ref>