Talk:American Youth Congress

Joe Lash

So why would the Joe Lash material be inappropriate here? Rob Smith

well Lash was never actualy a leader of the AYC. He headed the ASU (which did play a big role in the AYC). RJJensen 20:43, 2 July 2009 (EDT)

I have several sources that he was a chairmen of the group; he was identified in his testimony before the Dies Committee I beleive. Rob Smith 13:19, 3 July 2009 (EDT)

it's possible. what sources are you using? RJJensen 14:17, 3 July 2009 (EDT)

I looked at old issues of the NY Times for 1940-41. Lash was in the 4-person cabinet of the AYC but was not chairman. He led the minority anti-communist position, which called for Lend Lease aid to britain (which the Communists strongly opposed as long as Hitler and Stalin were allied). for example: headline: "AID BILL ATTACKED BY YOUTH CONGRESS; Brief for Senate Read at First Session, Says It 'Drags' Nation Into War and Dictatorship ALL SPEAKERS ASSAIL IT J.P. Lash Protests Procedure at Capital and Defends Legislation as Saving Democracy" New York Times Feb 8, 1941. p. 6 RJJensen 15:42, 3 July 2009 (EDT)

Here's one: Eleanor Roosevelt Historic Site, National Park Service. "ER's sympathies naturally lay with the brash young students who composed the AYC's leadership, such as Joseph Lash..." [1] And of course Wikipedia's entry [2] (incidentally, while I did edit this page several years ago, listing Joe Lash as chairmen of the AYC was not my work). Rob Smith 15:55, 3 July 2009 (EDT)

as a member of the 4-person ruling group he was a leader, but he was never chairman of the AYC. RJJensen 16:03, 3 July 2009 (EDT)

The Wikipedia entry, while lacking a source, may be credible. Wikipedia User:Redspruce made only one edit to the page, this one that states Joe Lash was a chairman of AYC. [3] WP User:Redspruce is a knowledgeable editor on Cold War & Soviet issues, he still keeps alive the fiction in Wikipedia Alger Hiss may be innocent. [4] He may even be Wikipedia's most active and ardent Stalinist who denies Stalin is responsible for 40 million deaths. Rob Smith 16:25, 3 July 2009 (EDT)

here's another case where Wikipedia got it wrong and we get it tight! :) RJJensen 16:27, 3 July 2009 (EDT)

I'll look for another source, but User:Redspruce will equivocate and argue every minute detail to hide communist sins until that position become untenable. So if Redspruce conceeds Joe Lash chaired the AYC, he's researched it and it may be undeniable. Ask our friend & editer User:FOIA, (author of CP's Alger Hiss entry) he's dealt with him likewise. Rob Smith 16:34, 3 July 2009 (EDT)

I have access to the full Reports of the Subversive Activities Control Board, GPO, 1966, but not until next week. That should have a full accounting of the AYC & Joe Lash. Rob Smith 18:05, 3 July 2009 (EDT)

Lash was forced out of the ASU in Dec 1939 but remained on the 4-person executive committe of the AYC for another year or so, always arguing the anti-Communist position and always getting outvoted. RJJensen 21:11, 5 July 2009 (EDT)

on the G-2 business, Lash covers it in detail in one of his books, a unit of Army Intelligence (G-2) was spying on Eleanor and taped a hotel meeting in Illinois between ER and Lash--and then told FDR about it. he was livid that the Army was spying on his wife (and perhaps on FDR too). FDR ordered the G2 unit disbanded and Lash sent to the Pacific (or Alaska).