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An element of the party, however, remained permanently underground. It was through this underground party, often commanded by a Soviet official operating in the United States, that Soviet intelligence was able to co-opt CPUSA members. <ref>"The COMINTERN (Communist International) was a Soviet-controlled organization that conducted liaison with the national Communist parties of various countries, including the United States. Moscow issued guidance, support, and orders to the parties through the COMINTERN.</ref>  The Comintern supplied the American Communist movement with the equivalent of several million dollars in valuables, an enormous sum in the 1920s. <ref>[http://www.fas.org/sgp/library/moynihan/appa4.html Moynihan Commission on Government Secrecy Report, Appendix A, 4. ''The Encounter with Communism''] (1997).</ref>   

An element of the party, however, remained permanently underground. It was through this underground party, often commanded by a Soviet official operating in the United States, that Soviet intelligence was able to co-opt CPUSA members. <ref>"The COMINTERN (Communist International) was a Soviet-controlled organization that conducted liaison with the national Communist parties of various countries, including the United States. Moscow issued guidance, support, and orders to the parties through the COMINTERN.</ref>  The Comintern supplied the American Communist movement with the equivalent of several million dollars in valuables, an enormous sum in the 1920s. <ref>[http://www.fas.org/sgp/library/moynihan/appa4.html Moynihan Commission on Government Secrecy Report, Appendix A, 4. ''The Encounter with Communism''] (1997).</ref>   

 

By 1930 the party had adopted the title Communist Party of the USA. In the 1930s the CPUSA recruited several hundred persons among millions of new employees hired by the federal government under the impact of the [[New Deal]]'s rapid expansion of governmental programs. Open membership in the Communist Party brought discharge. The CPUSA evaded the law by organizing caucuses of government employees that met in secret. [[Joseph Peters]], a senior member of the Central Committee of the CPUSA, headed the party’s underground apparatus from 1932 to 1938 and pioneered its role as an auxiliary to Soviet intelligence activities.  CPUSA operatives did not move in heavily until Roosevelt's second term and not en masse until the third term, although the entering wedge was made during his first term.

By 1930 the party had adopted the title Communist Party of the USA. In the 1930s the CPUSA recruited several hundred persons among millions of new employees hired by the federal government under the impact of the [[New Deal]]'s rapid expansion of governmental programs. Open membership in the Communist Party brought discharge. The CPUSA evaded the law by organizing caucuses of government employees that met in secret. [[Joseph Peters]], a senior member of the Central Committee of the CPUSA, headed the party’s underground apparatus from 1932 to 1938 and pioneered its role as an auxiliary to Soviet intelligence activities.  CPUSA operatives did not move in heavily until Roosevelt's second term and not en masse until the third term, although the entering wedge was made during his first term.

Communist unionism during the war was best exemplified by the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU). Its leadership was one of the most consistent proponents of Communist Party labor policies in the CIO and the rank-and-file consisted of a large number of Communists, Communist sympathizers  and fellow travelers. While neither a puppet of Soviet foreign policy nor a carbon copy of CIO unionism, Communism in the ILWU was different from other forms of American unionism, even when similar policies were pursued, and Communist union activities were motivated by political considerations, even when these activities appeared to be regular union practices.<ref> Michael Torigian, "National Unity on the Waterfront: Communist Politics and the ILWU during the Second World War." ''Labor History'' 1989 30(3): 409-432. 0023-656x </ref>  

Communist unionism during the war was best exemplified by the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU). Its leadership was one of the most consistent proponents of Communist Party labor policies in the CIO and the rank-and-file consisted of a large number of Communists, Communist sympathizers  and fellow travelers. While neither a puppet of Soviet foreign policy nor a carbon copy of CIO unionism, Communism in the ILWU was different from other forms of American unionism, even when similar policies were pursued, and Communist union activities were motivated by political considerations, even when these activities appeared to be regular union practices.<ref> Michael Torigian, "National Unity on the Waterfront: Communist Politics and the ILWU during the Second World War." ''Labor History'' 1989 30(3): 409-432. 0023-656x </ref>  

===American Labor Party===

===American Labor Party===

 

Stalin publicly disbanded the Comintern in 1943. A Moscow NKVD message to all stations on 12 September 1943 detailed instructions for handling intelligence sources within the CPUSA after the disestablishment of the Comintern.  Earl Browder had been both Chairman of the CPUSA and recruiter for the [[NKVD]] (in the [[Venona project]] he is known as Agent "HELMSMAN"). He was expelled from the leadership when Soviet policy shifted. His crime had been to follow Moscow’s orders in 1941 and “disband” the party in a show of unity with the US Government. But the NKGB thought his services worth keeping, and they succeeded in covertly financing him, by setting him up as a representative of Soviet publishers. Even then, that didn't work, as Browder was dropped after violating the Party Line again in favor of [[Titoism]]. Lovestone said of Browder, "There, but for an accident of geography, walks a dead man".

Stalin publicly disbanded the Comintern in 1943. A Moscow NKVD message to all stations on 12 September 1943 detailed instructions for handling intelligence sources within the CPUSA after the disestablishment of the Comintern.  Earl Browder had been both Chairman of the CPUSA and recruiter for the [[NKVD]] (in the [[Venona project]] he is known as Agent "HELMSMAN"). He was expelled from the leadership when Soviet policy shifted. His crime had been to follow Moscow’s orders in 1941 and “disband” the party in a show of unity with the US Government. But the NKGB thought his services worth keeping, and they succeeded in covertly financing him, by setting him up as a representative of Soviet publishers. Even then, that didn't work, as Browder was dropped after violating the Party Line again in favor of [[Titoism]]. Lovestone said of Browder, "There, but for an accident of geography, walks a dead man".