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'''William Z. Foster''' (1881-1961) was a highly influential leader of the [[Communist Party of the United States of America]] (CPUSA).  

'''William Z. Foster''' (1881-1961) was a highly influential leader of the [[Communist Party of the United States of America]] (CPUSA).  

He was born in Massachusetts in 1881 to poor European immigrants and began to work full time from the age of 10. As he entered his twenties he began to subscribe to socialist views, joining the Socialist Party in 1901 but was expelled in a faction war, and later the Industrial Workers of the World in 1909, leaving the latter organisation when his plan to infiltrate the American Federation of Labor was turned down. He went on to join the [[AFL]] in the 1910s and soon gained much influence within its ranks.

He was born in Massachusetts in 1881 to poor European immigrants and began to work full time from the age of 10. As he entered his twenties he began to subscribe to socialist views, joining the Socialist Party in 1901 but was expelled in a faction war, and later the Industrial Workers of the World in 1909, leaving the latter organisation when his plan to infiltrate the American Federation of Labor was turned down. He went on to join the [[AFL]] in 1919 led the very large, but unsuccessful, Steel Strike.  

Foster joined the newly formed [[American Communist Party]] (CPUSA) in the 1919, and ran for presidency on its ticket in 1924, 1928 and 1932. After the third attempt he suffered a serious heart attack and was relieved of his post.  Foster became succeeded [[Earl Browder]] as CPUSA General Secretary on July 29, 1945.

Foster joined the newly formed [[American Communist Party]] (CPUSA) in the 1919, and ran for presidency on its ticket in 1924, 1928 and 1932. After the third attempt he suffered a serious heart attack and was relieved of his post.  Foster was always loyal to Stalin, and Stalin brought him back in 1945 to replace [[Earl Browder]].

He was indicted under the [[Smith Act]] in 1948 for [[subversion]], however was not trialled due to his health. He later lost his post in the Communist Party for refusing to condemn the [[Soviet]] suppression of the [[Hungarian Revolution]]. He died in 1961.

Foster was indicted under the [[Smith Act]] in 1948 for subversion, but did not go on trial because of his poor health. He later lost his post in the Communist Party for refusing to condemn the Soviet suppression of the [[Hungarian Revolution]]. He died in 1961.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_n37_v13/ai_19836506/pg_4 We told you so - revelations of espionage by the Communist Party USA - includes related article on the Verona intercepts project], by Stephen Goode and Tiffany Danitz, Insight on the News,  Oct 6, 1997.  

*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_n37_v13/ai_19836506/pg_4 We told you so - revelations of espionage by the Communist Party USA - includes related article on the Verona intercepts project], by Stephen Goode and Tiffany Danitz, Insight on the News,  Oct 6, 1997.  

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Earl Browder]]

*[[Earl Browder]]

*[[Eugene Dennis]]

*[[Eugene Dennis]]

==References==

==References==

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