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[[File:Brazilla Carroll Reece RNC 1946.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Rep. Reece in 1946.]]

[[File:Brazilla Carroll Reece RNC 1946.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Rep. Reece in 1946.]]

The congressional '''Select Committee to Investigate Tax-Exempt Foundations and Comparable Organizations''', known during the 83rd Congress as the '''Reece Committee''', was an investigative group in the [[United States House of Representatives]] enacted to probe the activities of tax-exempt organizations for potential subversion. It was created at the advocacy of [[conservative]] [[Tennessee]] Republican [[B. Carroll Reece]] in response to the insufficient investigations, findings, and conclusions of the previous [[Cox Committee]].<ref name=fascinatingpolitics>FascinatingPolitics (December 22, 2019). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/12/22/the-reece-committee-on-foundations-conspiratorial-nonsense-or-an-expose-of-a-threat-to-the-nation/comment-page-1/ The Reece Committee on Foundations: Conspiratorial Nonsense or an Expose of a Threat to the Nation?]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 7, 2021.</ref>

The congressional '''[[Select Committee to Investigate Tax-Exempt Foundations and Comparable Organizations]]''', known during the 83rd Congress as the '''Reece Committee''', was an investigative group in the [[United States House of Representatives]] enacted to probe the activities of tax-exempt organizations for potential subversion. It was created at the advocacy of [[conservative]] [[Tennessee]] Republican [[B. Carroll Reece]] in response to the insufficient investigations, findings, and conclusions of the previous '''[[Cox Committee]]'''.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics>FascinatingPolitics (December 22, 2019). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/12/22/the-reece-committee-on-foundations-conspiratorial-nonsense-or-an-expose-of-a-threat-to-the-nation/comment-page-1/ The Reece Committee on Foundations: Conspiratorial Nonsense or an Expose of a Threat to the Nation?]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 7, 2021.</ref>

Reece presented the following criticisms of the Cox Committee in urging for the re-enactment of the select committee during the 83rd Congress:<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

Reece presented the following criticisms of the Cox Committee in urging for the re-enactment of the select committee during the 83rd Congress:<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

The U.S. House voted in late July 1953 to approve of creating the special committee.<ref name=rollcallvote>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/83-1953/h61 H RES 217. RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO CON- DUCT A FULL AND COMPLETE INVESTIGATION AND STUDY OF EDUCA- TIONAL AND PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS AND OTHER COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE EXEMPT FROM FED. INCOME TAXATION.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 8, 2021.</ref> The majority of Republicans supported it, while less than half of Democrats did. The forty-nine GOP congressmen who voted against it, largely [[Moderate Republican]]s, included future U.S. president [[Gerald Ford]] (R–MI), future moderate/liberal U.S. senators [[Hugh D. Scott]] (R–PA) and [[Jacob Javits]] (R–NY), as well as [[Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr.]] (R–NJ), a member of the [[Council on Foreign Relations]].<ref>[https://politicalgraveyard.com/families/10001-0047.html Saltonstall-Davis-Frelinghuysen-Appleton family of Massachusetts]. ''The Political Graveyard''. Retrieved August 8, 2021.</ref>

The U.S. House voted in late July 1953 to approve of creating the special committee.<ref name=rollcallvote>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/83-1953/h61 H RES 217. RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO CON- DUCT A FULL AND COMPLETE INVESTIGATION AND STUDY OF EDUCA- TIONAL AND PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS AND OTHER COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE EXEMPT FROM FED. INCOME TAXATION.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 8, 2021.</ref> The majority of Republicans supported it, while less than half of Democrats did. The forty-nine GOP congressmen who voted against it, largely [[Moderate Republican]]s, included future U.S. president [[Gerald Ford]] (R–MI), future moderate/liberal U.S. senators [[Hugh D. Scott]] (R–PA) and [[Jacob Javits]] (R–NY), as well as [[Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr.]] (R–NJ), a member of the [[Council on Foreign Relations]].<ref>[https://politicalgraveyard.com/families/10001-0047.html Saltonstall-Davis-Frelinghuysen-Appleton family of Massachusetts]. ''The Political Graveyard''. Retrieved August 8, 2021.</ref>

Crucial in the committee's research was Norman Paul Dodd (1899–1987),<ref>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39597746/norman-paul-dodd Norman Paul Dodd]. ''Find a Grave''. Retrieved August 12, 2021.</ref> the chief investigator, in addition to attorney Katherine Casey, who sought information from the Carnegie Library.<ref name=northwestconnection>Crino, Art (August 29, 2017). [https://nw-connection.com/foundations-and-the-reece-committee/ Foundations and the Reece Committee]. ''The Northwest Connection''. Retrieved August 7, 2021.</ref> Dodd was interviewed years later, where he went into full details on the committee's investigation and events that occurred.<ref name=interview>Gallagher, Kevin (June 12, 2008). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYCBfmIcHM Norman Dodd On Tax Exempt Foundations]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved August 12, 2021.</ref> During his early career, Dodd was at one point hired by [[J. P. Morgan]], from whom he resigned after learning of Morgan's background.<ref name=northwestconnection/>

Crucial in the committee's research was [[Norman Dodd]] (1899–1987),<ref>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39597746/norman-paul-dodd Norman Paul Dodd]. ''Find a Grave''. Retrieved August 12, 2021.</ref> the chief investigator, in addition to attorney Katherine Casey, who sought information from the Carnegie Library.<ref name=northwestconnection>Crino, Art (August 29, 2017). [https://nw-connection.com/foundations-and-the-reece-committee/ Foundations and the Reece Committee]. ''The Northwest Connection''. Retrieved August 7, 2021.</ref> Dodd was interviewed years later, where he went into full details on the committee's investigation and events that occurred.<ref name=interview>Gallagher, Kevin (June 12, 2008). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYCBfmIcHM Norman Dodd On Tax Exempt Foundations]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved August 12, 2021.</ref> During his early career, Dodd was at one point hired by [[J. P. Morgan]], from whom he resigned after learning of Morgan's background.<ref name=northwestconnection/>

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|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">[[Jesse Wolcott]]<hr>[[File:Cjjfdjfty.png|46px|center]]</div>

|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">[[Jesse Wolcott]]<hr>[[File:Cjjfdjfty.png|46px|center]]</div>

|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">[[Angier Goodwin]]<hr>[[File:Cjjfdjfty.png|46px|center]]</div>

|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">[[Angier Goodwin]]<hr>[[File:Cjjfdjfty.png|46px|center]]</div>

|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">'''[[Brazilla Reece]]'''<hr>[[File:Cjjfdjfty.png|46px|center]]</div>

|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">'''[[Carroll Reece]]'''<hr>[[File:Cjjfdjfty.png|46px|center]]</div>

|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">'''[[Wayne Hays]]'''<hr>[[File:Democraticpartyusalogo.png|32px|center]]</div>

|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">'''[[Wayne Hays]]'''<hr>[[File:Democraticpartyusalogo.png|32px|center]]</div>

|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">[[Gracie Pfost]]<hr>[[File:Democraticpartyusalogo.png|32px|center]]</div>

|<div style="text-align:center; border:1px solid #000000">[[Gracie Pfost]]<hr>[[File:Democraticpartyusalogo.png|32px|center]]</div>

==Investigation==

==Investigation==

When the investigation began, the committee faced the necessity to define the term "[[un-American]]." According to chief investigator Dodd:<ref name=interview/>

{{cquote|...in that report, I specifically, number one, defined, to us, what was meant by the phrase un-American. And we defined that in our way as being a determination to affect changes in the country by unconstitutional means. We have plenty of constitutional procedures assuming that we wish to affect a change in the form of government or that sort of thing. And therefore any effort in that direction which did not reveal itself of the procedures which were authorized by the Constitution could be justifiably called un-American.}}

When the investigation began, the committee faced the necessity to define the term "[[un-American]]." According to the chief investigator:<ref name=interview/>

{{cquote|...in that report, I specifically, number one, defined, to us, what was meant by the phrase un-American. And we defined that in our way as being a determination to affect changes in the country by unconstitutional means. We have plenty of constitutional procedures assuming that we wish to affect a change in the form of government or that sort of thing. And therefore any effort in that direction which did not reveal itself of the procedures which were authorized by the Constitution could be justifiably called un-American.|||Norman Dodd}}

The Carnegie Foundation and Ford Foundation were the main targets of the committee's investigation.

The Carnegie Foundation and Ford Foundation were the main targets of the committee's investigation.

===[[Ford Foundation]]===

===[[Ford Foundation]]===

According to Dodd, he was called to meet Ford Foundation administrator Horace Rowan Gaither, Jr., known as Rowan Gaither.<ref name=interview/> Gaither stated:<ref name=northwestconnection/>

According to Dodd, he was called to meet Ford Foundation administrator Horace Rowan Gaither, Jr., known as Rowan Gaither.<ref name=interview/> The latter stated:<ref name=northwestconnection/>

{{cquote|Mr. Dodd, all of us that have a hand in the making of policies here have experiences either with the OSS during the war or the European Economic Administration after the war. We’ve had experience under the directives and these directives emanate and did emanate from the White House. We still operate under such directives.

{{cquote|Mr. Dodd, all of us that have a hand in the making of policies here have experiences either with the OSS during the war or the European Economic Administration after the war. We’ve had experience under the directives and these directives emanate and did emanate from the White House. We still operate under such directives.

Mr. Dodd, we are here operating in response to similar directives the substance of which, that, we shall use our grant-making power, so to alter life in the United States, that it can be comfortably merged with the [[Soviet Union]].}}

Mr. Dodd, we are here operating in response to similar directives the substance of which, that, we shall use our grant-making power, so to alter life in the United States, that it can be comfortably merged with the [[Soviet Union]].|||Rowan Gaither}}

Dodd questioned why Gaither and the foundation withheld such information from the American public, to which they were indebted due to their tax-exempt status. Gaither responded:<ref name=interview/>

Dodd questioned why Gaither and the foundation withheld such information from the American public, to which they were indebted due to their tax-exempt status. Gaither responded:<ref name=interview/>

{{cquote|We would not think of doing any such thing.}}

{{cquote|We would not think of doing any such thing.|||Rowan Gaither}}

Although not as widely known, the Ford Foundation, like the Rockefellers, also financed Kinsey.<ref name=rockefellerandfordfoundationsfundedkinsey/> The Kinsey Institute received a grant from the foundation for the purpose of funding "a media relations firm in planning a pro-active strategy to counter the on-going campaign to shut down the Kinsey Institute and discredit its character."<ref name=judithreismaninterview/>

Although not as widely known, the Ford Foundation, like the Rockefellers, also financed Kinsey.<ref name=rockefellerandfordfoundationsfundedkinsey/> The Kinsey Institute received a grant from the foundation for the purpose of funding "a media relations firm in planning a pro-active strategy to counter the on-going campaign to shut down the Kinsey Institute and discredit its character."<ref name=judithreismaninterview/>

When Aaron Sargent of [[San Francisco]] testified as a witness before the committee in alleging the staunchly [[liberal]] [[Illinois]] senator [[Paul Douglas]] to have had ties with socialist groups, Hays walked out along with Pfost, the committee's other Democrat.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

When Aaron Sargent of [[San Francisco]] testified as a witness before the committee in alleging the staunchly [[liberal]] [[Illinois]] senator [[Paul Douglas]] to have had ties with socialist groups, Hays walked out along with Pfost, the committee's other Democrat.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

To prevent further sabotage from the Ohio congressman, committee chair Reece made the ultimate decision to halt further hearings.<ref name=interview/>

 

To prevent further sabotage from the Ohio congressman, Reece made the ultimate decision to halt further hearings.<ref name=interview/> As subsequently discovered by Dodd, Reece could not fully cease the internal sabotage by Hays throughout the ordeal due to potential retaliation via public exposure and reporting of his arrest in the early 1920s for homosexuality in a public bathroom, a matter long kept secret within Capitol Hill.<ref name=thenewamerican/>

==Findings==

==Findings==

==Release==

==Release==

The committee's report was agreed to based on party lines in a 3–2 vote, with Democrats Hays and Pfost refusing to sign,<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/> and released in December 1954.<ref>December 21, 1954. [https://www.nytimes.com/1954/12/21/archives/reece-committee-report.html REECE COMMITTEE REPORT]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 7, 2021.</ref> However, only Reece and Wolcott appeared to concur with the report's substance, as Goodwin (who voted against re-establishing the select committee in the first place), despite signing it, made a distinct statement expressing disagreements with the conclusions and instead concurring with the previous Cox Committee's findings.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

The committee's report was agreed to based on party lines in a 3–2 vote, with Democrats Hays and Pfost refusing to sign,<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/> and released in December 1954.<ref>December 21, 1954. [https://www.nytimes.com/1954/12/21/archives/reece-committee-report.html REECE COMMITTEE REPORT]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 7, 2021.</ref> However, only Reece and Wolcott appeared to concur with the report's substance, as Goodwin (who voted against re-establishing the select committee in the first place), despite signing it, made a distinct statement expressing disagreements with the conclusions and instead concurring with the previous Cox Committee's findings.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

Due to the timing of the release coinciding with the highly covered Senate censure of McCarthy, it received comparably less attention.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

Due to the timing of the release coinciding with the highly covered Senate censure of McCarthy, it received comparably less attention.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

==External links==

==External links==

*[https://archive.org/details/norman-dodd-the-dodd-report Dodd Report text] via ''Internet Archive

*[https://archive.org/details/norman-dodd-the-dodd-report Dodd Report text] via ''Internet Archive'' (.pdf version also available [http://americandeception.com/ad/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Dodd_Report_to_the_Reese_Committee_on_Foundations-1954-16pgs-some_pages_missing-POL.sml_.pdf here])

*[https://www.nytimes.com/1955/02/24/archives/reece-in-reply-to-dr-hutchins-says-foundations-aid-socialism.html Reece, in Reply to Dr. Hutchins, Says Foundations Aid Socialism; Charges Action of Some Are 'Subversive' --Asserts an 'Intellectual Cartel' Is Influencing Public Opinion] via ''The New York Times'', published February 24, 1955

*[https://www.nytimes.com/1955/02/24/archives/reece-in-reply-to-dr-hutchins-says-foundations-aid-socialism.html Reece, in Reply to Dr. Hutchins, Says Foundations Aid Socialism; Charges Action of Some Are 'Subversive' --Asserts an 'Intellectual Cartel' Is Influencing Public Opinion] via ''The New York Times'', published February 24, 1955

*[https://www.nytimes.com/1955/07/22/archives/ford-fund-accused-of-aid-to-leftists.html FORD FUND ACCUSED OF AID TO LEFTISTS] via ''The New York Times'', published July 22, 1955

*[https://www.nytimes.com/1955/07/22/archives/ford-fund-accused-of-aid-to-leftists.html FORD FUND ACCUSED OF AID TO LEFTISTS] via ''The New York Times'', published July 22, 1955