Changes

Hillman was never a [[Communist Party]] member. He understood the Communist Party and its methods and would not permit his union to be controlled by the Party. The membership of his union was overwhelmingly [[Socialist]] who lived within the capitalist system.  

Hillman was never a [[Communist Party]] member. He understood the Communist Party and its methods and would not permit his union to be controlled by the Party. The membership of his union was overwhelmingly [[Socialist]] who lived within the capitalist system.  

When the [[Congress of Industrial Organizations]] (CIO) was formed in the mid-1930s all the leaders were aware that certain Communist activists were moving in, especially at the invitation of CIO leader [[John L. Lewis]]. Hillman knew Michael Quill, Joseph Curran, [[Harry Bridges]], Ben Gold, Abram Flasner and numerous others who had moved into the CIO were Communists. And Hillman understood Communists in labor unions are not interested in the welfare of the members but in the use of the union apparatus for pro-Soviet activities.  

The [[Congress of Industrial Organizations]] (CIO) depended on Communist organizers for its rapid growth. Hillman knew Michael Quill, Joseph Curran, Harry Bridges, Richard Frankensteen, [[Walter Reuther]], Ben Gold, Abram Flasner and numerous other leaders who had moved into the CIO were Communists or fellow travelers (that is a person who supported Communist policies but did not join the Party). Hillman understood Communists in labor unions are not interested in the welfare of the members but in the use of the union apparatus for pro-Soviet activities; he supported Roosevelt's use of Army troops to break up a strike at North American aviation in June 1941.

Hillman was one of many labor leaders to use the goon as part of his enforcement machinery.  

Hillman was one of many labor leaders to use the goon as part of his enforcement machinery.  

=="Clear Everything with Sidney"==

=="Clear It with Sidney"==

Hillman organized in 1943 the CIO Political Action Committee to mobilize voters in the 1944 elections.<ref> See

Hillman in 1943 set up 1943 the CIO Political Action Committee ('''PAC''') to mobilize voters in the 1944 elections. At the 1944 Democratic National Convention, Hillman and the CIO supported leftist [[Henry A. Wallace]] for renomination as Vice President; Senator [[Harry Truman]] was their second choice.  Roosevelt, however, had given up on Wallace, who had failed in his wartime roles, and told the Democratic Chairman Bob Hannegan, "Go on down there and nominate Truman before there's any more trouble. And clear it everything with Sidney." <ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,791619,00.html "Clear everything with Sidney"], ''Time'', Sep. 25, 1944.</ref>  Republicans used the slogan "Clear it with Sidney" to hammer away at the allegation that the president was a pawn in union control.

 

At the 1944 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Roosevelt told the Democratic Chairman Bob Hannegan, "Go on down there and nominate Truman before there's any more trouble. And clear everything with Sidney." <ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,791619,00.html "Clear everything with Sidney"], ''Time'', Sep. 25, 1944.</ref>   

The Democrats could win the [[Presidential election of 1944]] if they could carry the Southern states and in addition New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey. These states were strongholds of the CIO, which had 5 million members.  Hillman's  Political Action Committee (PAC) put the manpower on the sidewalks of industrial America and turned out the voters, as Roosevelt narrowly won a fourth term<ref> See [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,791539,00.html "The New Force"], ''Time'', Jul. 24, 1944.</ref>

The Democratic party could win the [[Presidential election of 1944]] if it could carry the Southern states and in addition New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey. These states were strongholds of the CIO, which had 5 million memebers.  Hillman's  Political Action Committee (PAC) put the manpower on the sidewalks of industrial America and turned out the voters, as Roosevelt narrowly won a fourth term<ref> See [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,791539,00.html "The New Force"], ''Time'', Jul. 24, 1944.</ref>