Communist Allegations, Part I
In summer 1952, Reid's passport was seized by the United States Department of State. The following correspondences between Reid and various members of the Department of State show how Reid was informed of accusations against him of being invovled with the Communist Party, and the steps he took to try to clear his name and retrieve his passport. Following Title 22, Chapter I, Part 51, Subpart B of the Supplement to Passport Regulations, Reid sent in a notarized affirmation of not supporting the Communist Party, and a notarized affirmation of his uninvolvement with the Communist Party.
Notes handwritten by Reid in blue ink include the name "R.B. Shipley," an employee of the Department of State with whom he establishes a correspondence in order to get his passport back. This receipt was dated nearly two months after Reid relinquished his passport.
After not having a response for a few weeks, Reid writes another letter to the same contact asking about the status of his passport.
A month after his first follow-up letter was sent, and still hearing no reply from the Department of State, Reid sends a letter to the Director of Security and Consular Affairs to see if contacting someone "higher up" in the department will result in a correspondence.
Reid also sends a letter to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Administration on the same day, for the same effect.
A week or so later, Reid receives a reply from R. B. Shipley, his original contact at the Department of State. She explains to him that he has been accused of being a communist. She also informs him that to get his passport back, he must send in an affidavit and encloses a "Supplement to Passport Regulations" that explains how he must go about constructing the affidavit.
Mr. Reid also receives a response from the Acting Director of the Secretary of State, who says that a response has been forwarded to him.
A few days later, Reid sends a letter to Ms. Shipley in which he encloses two notarized documents: an Affirmation of Not Supporting the Communist Party, and an Affirmation of Uninvolvement with the Communist Party. Reid seems to be taking all instructions very seriously, but not without some humor, as he addresses the letter to "my dear Mrs. Shipley."
Notarized Affirmation of Not Supporting Communist Party
Notarized Affirmation of Uninvolvement With Communist Party
Reid submits this letter as a follow-up, realizing he forgot to put some information in his affidavit.