History repeats itself? 

Every once in a while this cartoon from the Chicago Tribune April 21,1934 edition surfaces.  Our readers  have seen it as I have posted it before. It is relevant today as the Socialist/Commie in the White House charts a similar course towards economic ruin.  The old adage comes to mind about those who do not know history are bound to repeat it.  Perhaps our country has been at these cross roads before.

There is a lot going on in the cartoon.  It is entitled Planned Economy Or Planned Destruction . It reads:

“Planned Economy or Planned Destruction.  Tugwell Head.  Brain Twister Truster.  Power.  Whoopee!  Ickes.  Wallace.  Richberg.  Young Pinkies from Columbia and Harvard.  Depleting the resources of the soundest government in the world.   ‘It worked in Russia.’  Plan of action for the U.S.  Spend!  Spend!  Spend under the guise of recovery – bust the government – blame the capitalists for the failure – Junk the constitution and decree a dictatorship.  How red the sunrise is getting – Stalin.  Copyright by The Chicago Tribune.  Orr.”

So who are these guys? Why are they important?  Well, we have old Joe Stalin in one corner.  Lenin in another corner scribbling away.  Certainly these old commies need no introduction.  But who is in the wagon? Why are they being associated with the likeness of Stalin and Lenin? Let's look into their background and see what they may have in common.

Harold Ickes is in the middle of the photo. He moved to Chicago at 16 years of age and later served as Secretary of the Interior under FDR starting in 1933. He ran the Public Works Administration (PWA) which channeled money to make work projects favored by FDR.  His son, Harold Ickes, Jr. served Bill and Hillary Clinton earning the nickname "The Garbage Man" for his handling of their scandals'.

Rexford Tugwell (the guy riding the horse) was a key adviser running various government give away programs.  The Resettlement Administration (RA) set about constructing entire communities that were to designed to entice people to move to.  This continued until it was found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Franklin Township v Tugwell.  Tugwell had previously been denounced as "Rex the Red", and the RA's suburban resettlement program earned him further condemnation as Communist and Un-American. 

Donald Richberg was a Chicago lawyer. In September 1932, Richberg, Ickes, Fred C. Howe, Felix Frankfurter, and Henry A. Wallace organized the National Progressive League to support New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt for President of the United States. He was eventually named to be the second head of the National Recovery Administration. (NRA).  Use GOOGLE to learn about its pograms. (No, that is not a typo)

Henry Wallace, the guy with the shovel, was Secretary of Agriculture, and later vice-president during FDR's third term. An enigma wrapped in a question mark is the easiest way to describe him.  He clearly had some sympathies for the views of Communists, but appeared reluctant to buy in totally.  However, it is of note that he utilized and refused to fire Alger Hiss as his counsel when the opportunity arose. Alger Hiss....remember him?

Continuing, Henry Wallace....let's follow that name for a bit.  He was the Presidential nominee for the Progressive Party in 1948.  When he passed through Chicago on the campaign he was interviewed by a local lad named Vernon Jarrett.  Mr. Jarrett was a journalist who had been working for the Chicago Defender.  In 1948 he left this job to start a black oriented radio show "Negro Newsfront".

Jarrett worked hard promoting socialist causes including the communist controlled Progressive Party. On April 12, 1948, Vernon Jarrett was listed as a member of the Communist Party USA which dominated the local group Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers which was based in Chicago, Illinois.

Communist in Chicago?

In early 1948 Frank Marshall Davis served on the publicity committee of the Citizens' Committee to Aid Packing-House Workers with Mr. Jarrett. So Mr.Jarrett and Mr. Davis moved in some close circles in their little community.

Vernon Jarrett was also a fan of Barack Obama. He watched his career from its early stages and became an influential supporter. 

In 1992 Obama worked for the ACORN offshoot, Project Vote to register black voters in aid of the Senate Campaign of Carol Moseley Braun-who had strong Communist Party USA ties. 

Obama helped Carol Moseley Braun win her Senate seat, then took it over himself in 2004-backed by the same communist/socialist alliance that had elected then Chicago Mayor Washington and Moseley Braun. 

Clearly, Mr. Jarrett was a mover and shaker in the black community and the local Communist Party. He was friends with a lot of people including Frank Marshall Davis.  

Who is that, Rumbear?

Well, we know Frank Marshall Davis was another Communist sympathizer in Chicago who ultimately moved to Hawaii in 1948 on the recommendation of his friend, Paul Robeson.  There he became involved in what some might describe as "nefarious" activities on behalf of the local Communist Party.  

Wikipedia enlightens us with this entry:

A 1950 FBI memo reports that members of the subversive element in Honolulu were                   

“

concentrating their efforts on infiltration of the Democratic party through control of Precinct Clubs and organizations. He said they were spending considerable time urging support for their candidates in these Precinct Club elections. In this regard, he noted on April 6, 1950, that subject [Davis] had been elected Assistant Secretary and Delegate to the Territorial Democratic                                                                                                                               Convention...attendance of Davis at the Territorial Democratic Convention was verified by [informant]. This convention took place on April 30 at Kalakana Intermediate School.

”

Robert M. Kempa, a Communist party informant who agreed to cooperate with government investigators, reported,

“

Late in the fall of 1950, I started contacting Frank Marshall Davis in connection with Communist Party matters, and relaying to him information received from my superior contact in the Communist Party, either James Freeman or [redacted]. During a portion of 1950, 1951 and part of 1952, I continued contacting Frank Marshall Davis and also transmitted dues for the Communist Party received from him to my contact above. During the period of my contacts with Frank Marshall Davis, he advised me that his wife, Helen was a member of Group #10. ...During a portion of 1951 [redacted]                                                                                                                           took over contacts with the Davis group but I resumed contacting Davis in 1952 and continued meeting him on Communist Party matters until I left the Party in June of that year."

Okay Rumbear, you are quoting Wikipedia....?  Why do we care?  Well, in a little book entitled "Dreams From My Father" a fellow named Barry Soetero frequently refers to his mentor, "Frank" a friend of his grandfathers. "Frank" was Frank Marshall Davis. 

So from FDR forward we have an interesting collection of facts showing a history of communism, activism, Chicago politics, and Hawaiian subversive actions. Most curious, indeed.

Want some more fun?....Paul Robeson. GOOGLE is your friend.

Oh and the inimitable Mr. Jarrett...he had a daughter named Valerie. You know her, right?

Stay frosty....