Index [Book II]

2/22/46 Uprisings grow in India and Egypt.
              Finnish trials result in 2-10 year sentences for Ryti, Tanner, et al.
2/27 Columbia Tenn incident resulting in anti-Negro riots.
2/28 Kuomintang and Red Army sign meger, Miss Quinn whitewashed.
         Ford signs $1.40 per hr agreement with Union. P.M.A. leaves A.F.L.
3/2 Vandenberg enunciates the "get tough" policy with Russia.
3/4 Eugene got his first chess lesson.
3/6 Churchill makes his speech calling for an Anti-Soviet crusade.
3/14 G.M. and G.E. strikes settled with 18 1/2¢ per hr. increase.
3/16 Fred Rose arrested on espionage charges.
3/18 LaFollette Progressive Party returns to the Republican Party.
3/20 Mother operated on for hemorrhoid. Shvernik replaces Kalinin.
3/25 First session of the Security Council at "Hunter".
3/26 Peron's election conceded in Argentina.
3/28 Gromyko takes a walk; Reuther defeats Thomas. Soviet Lieut Redin arrested on espionage charges; Black Book of Nazi terror dedicated.
4/1 Van Acker forms Belgian cabinet; Greek elections held despite boycott.
4/3 England gives TransJordan "independence".
4/11 Poland asks action against France at the "Council" meeting.
4/15 Japanese elections result in Conservative victory.
4/20 French Constitution adopted.
4/22 German Socialists and Communists have formed the United Socialist Party in the Soviet Zone.
4/24 Ed Head pitches no-hitter.
4/30 Roxas victory conceded in Philippines.
5/1 Feller hurls no-hitter; Comm. recommends entry of 100,000 Jews in Palestine.
5/6 French Constitution defeated.
5/8 14 yr old sitter Jack Turk acquitted in murder of 3 yr old Sybil Gurfein.
5/14 Eugene has first lovers' quarrel with Gloria Singer.
5/18 Truman seizes railroads.
5/21 Army transport crashes into skyscraper; Truman signs P.O. increase.
5/24 Browder in Moscow; Eugene asks if he could T-I-P (type).
5/26 Truman forces R.R. back to work and proposes strike breaking Bill.
5/28 C.P. leads in Czechoslovakia.
5/30 Coal strikers settle for 18 1/2¢ and improved conditions.
6/4 M.R.P. wins the French elections.
6/6 58 killed 200 injured in worst Chicago hotel fire.
       The monarchy was defeated in Italy 12 to 10 million. Chris. Dems led for Constit. Assem.
6/8 Eugene has chicken pox.
6/13 C.P. application to the British Labor Party beated 2 1/2 to 1/2 million.
         Bevin makes his anti-semitic remarks.
6/15 Seamen win their strike as Baruch presents his atomic plan.
6/19 Gromyko vetoes the weak Franco resolution.
6/20 Bedault is French Pres as Louis Ko's Conn in the 8th and Sylvia has chicken pox.
6/26 Staten Island fire causes several deaths and $2,000,000 damages.
6/30 Truman vetoes the weak OPA bill.
7/1 Bikini Atoll atom bomb test.
7/4 Philippines received independence; Truman signs Hobbs Bill.
7/5 Kielce pogrom in Poland.
7/10 Sylvia takes a dive.
7/15 Mikhailovitch sentenced to be shot; Aleman wins Mexican presidency.
7/19 Buyers strikes are sweeping the country.
7/22 Rep. May subpoenaed in loan scandal; Large scale civil war in China; Bolivian dictator Villarroel hung and govt overthrown.
7/23 British Army headquarters blown up with scores killed in Palestine.
7/24 Weak OPA bill passed. Heirens confesses dismemberment of 3 yr old Susan Degnan.
7/26 Partition of Palestine broached by England.
7/27 Horrible lynching of four Negroes in Georgia.
7/30 Bedault opens 21 power peace conference in Paris.
8/3 Tennessee vets use arms to beat a political machine.
8/5 Record paid crowd of 74,529 see Yankee Indian game.
8/10 British war against "Illegal Jewish Emigrants is being pressed.
8/11 Senator Bilbo admits he is a Klansman.
8/19 Internecine riots between Muslims and Hindus cause 15000 casualties.
[looked back at the diary at this one; there he says "1000 deaths and 4000 injured" so he probably meant to write "5000".]
8/20 Yugoslavia has shot down two US planes after repeated protests.
8/22 The "Pirates" have voted against the union.
8/30 Afghanistan Iceland and Sweden accepted into the UN.
9/1 Truckers strike settled.
9/2 Terroristic Greek plebiscite returns monarchy.
9/3 Nehru leads new interim gov't in India.
9/4 Bottvinik wins Chess Masters tournament.
9/7 G.G. Videla - Chilean leftist wins Presidency.
9/8 Jack Kramer wins Mens Singles beating Tom Brown.
9/9 Eugene starts 1-B.
9/10 Bulgaria votes Republic.
9/11 English squatters take over empty houses.
9/13 Wallace makes his famous "peace" speech.
9/15 Eugene plays on tennis court for first time.
9/20 Truman fires Wallace in double-cross.
9/25 Stalin calls long peace possible.
9/29 Surprise party for Mom and Pop's fortieth anniversary.
9/30 Cards and Dodgers end season in exact tie for first place.
10/2 11 big Nazis to die; Schacht, Von Papen and Fritsch to go free.
10/4 Cards win pennant in a play off with Dodgers.
10/5 23 of 25 Columbia Tenn. Negroes are freed in historic trial.
10/15 Truman ends meat controls.
10/16 Goering takes poison as ten other Nazis are hung; Cards win World Series in upset from Red-Sox.
10/20 Vets "sit down" in state legislature for housing, education, raises.
10/22 S.D. win election in all Berlin zones.
10/26 Ass't Att'y Gen'l Rogge has been discharged for divulging secret report of Americans connected with Nazis.
10/28 Eugene gets his first glasses.
10/29 Stalin calls Churchill leading warmonger, admits Russia lacks atom bomb.
11/6 Dewey re-elected as Republicans sweep country. Million dollar embezzler caught in Florida.
11/9 First bank strike.
11/11 French C.P. wins election.
11/14 Sylvia goes down alone for first time.
11/19 Jimmy Walker dies.
11/22 400,000 miners out on strike; Left wing wins in Romania.
11/23 Dimitrov is Bulgarian Premier.
11/24 Reshevsky wins American chess championship.
11/30 Lewis & miners in contempt of court as gov't fights to break strike.
12/3 We buy the Book of Knowledge.
12/4 Eugene in 2A
12/5 Mine Union fined $3,500,000. Molotov agrees control & inspection of arms not subject to veto.
12/8 Winecoff Hotel fire 122 killed - 100 injured.
12/10 UN votes to recall all ambassadors from Spain.
12/12 Azerbaijan falls to Iran troops.
12/13 Disaster as 2515 Amsterdam Ave. collapses; Leon Blum is first Premier of the 4th Republic; Eugene breaks his first lens. 
12/22 Eugene on skates for first time; Jap. earthquake 1300 killed.
12/24 The Dairen incident; Portal-to-portal pay suits instituted.
12/28 Kramer & Schroeder regain Davis Cup from Australia.
12/30 Progressive Citizens of America born.
1/2/47 Labor Gov't nationalizes mines; Illinois wins Rose Bowl game.
1/5 Americans for Democratic Action born.
1/8 Marshall leaves China and becomes Sec'y of State.
1/14 I go to Dr. Holzman with Eugene and find I have an anal fissure and Eugene virus infection of the chest.
1/16 H. Talmadge "elected" to succeed his father on basis of 675 write-in votes; Gov. Arnall refuses to recognize "coup"; Paraguay C.P. outlawed.
1/21 Gov't bloc wins big victory in Poland.
1/22 Dr. Holzman says Sylvia has thrush.
1/26 Grace Moore killed in plane crash.
1/27 Brazilian C.P. polls million votes.
2/5 Eugene in 2B. Eisler arrested as enemy alien.
2/8 Eugene gets a reader & speller.
2/10 Eugene elected V.P. of his class.
2/11 Sylvia wants to go to Lincoln's Birthday.
2/13 England in rail crisis; 5¢ fare in subway upheld.
2/16 "Columbian" leader gets jail sentence.
2/17 50 killed in worst airplane crash.
2/19 China in crisis, Romania starving.
2/23 Eugene dances with Elaine at Isabel's party.
2/25 Greatest teachers strike in Buffalo.
2/26 Eugene kept in 1/2 hour for lateness.
3/7 Supreme Court upholds information against miners on grounds that since gov't had taken over the mines LaGuardia act doesn't apply.
3/11 Big 4 ministers conference opens in Moscow, Sylvia goes to playground alone.
3/12 Truman inaugurates his reactionary "Truman Doctrine" via Greece & Turkey.
3/20 Yenan falls; Talmadge ousted. French C.P. refuses to support war in IndoChina.
3/23 Eugene beats me in chess; Truman orders purge of reds in Gov't. Lillian gets cold.
3/25 Hearings on outlawing the C.P. begin.
3/26 Called Dr. Marcus for Lillian, who said she had the grippe. 111 miners killed in Centralia blast.
3/31 Eugene gets first report card with A's and B+'s.
4/1 Wallace speaks to 30,000 at the "Garden"; Greek King George dies.
4/6 Eugene gets sick.
4/7 Dr. Holzman says Eugene has a strep throat; Sylvia goes to bed with fever also.
4/8 Eugene quite sick and delirious at night but plays games of chess with me anyhow. His temp down to normal in A.M. Telephone strike starts; Ford dies.
4/9 Dr. Holzman unable to diagnose Sylvia's illness definitely.
4/10 Eugene gets adenitis, a complication resulting from his "strep". Sinatra socks Hearst columnist; Durocher suspended for season. Lilienthal confirmed.
4/11 Jackie Robinson signed by Dodgers. Texas tornado kills 127.
4/15 Both children up and around; Ask for Wallace prosecution.
4/16 Small-pox vaccination for all New Yorkers asked.
4/17 I am in bed all day with bad cough and phlegm; Texas City explosions kill over 500; Dov Gruner and others executed by the British.
4/18 House passes Hartley "slave labor" bill 308-107.
4/19 We are all vaccinated; labor demonstrations begin against anti-labor drive. Benny Leonard dies.
4/23 Greek Turkish Aid Bill passes Senate 67-23.

4/20-4/23/47

4/20 Sunday Chess, word games. Trouble with Sylvia at every meal. A bad day so we had to stay in all day.

4/21 Eugene back to school just in time for his reading contract. He was out all last week. I return to work today. Wallace spoke in Norway. The "Big 4" Foreign Ministers in Moscow agreed on Austrian blame for the war. They failed to agree on other points of the Austrian treaty or on Yugoslav claims for Corinthia. A minor Portuguese revolt has been put down. U.S. Steel has agreed to a 15¢ per hour raise. Simon Patino, Bolivian tin plate king is dead in Argentina at 87. King Christian of Denmark is dead. Forty Jewish youths seized the British Consulate here and held a memorial service for the executed Palestinians.

4/22 Eugene has wet himself two days in a row in class apparently because he is afraid to ask Mrs. Dwyer to leave the room. It seems she refuses some children. Sylvia counting beautifully. Egypt has asked the UN to free Palestine. The British occupied zone in Germany gave the S.D. first place. The C.P. got about 10% of the vote. 100,000 Iowans put on an AFL-CIO stoppage against the Hartley Bill. Pres Truman speaking at an A.P. luncheon at the Waldorf again asked for price cuts to avert a slump. The AFL has asked the C.I.O. to meet with it on united action and a merger.

4/23 Playing with Gloria and Sylvia at Casino and tiddledy-winks, Eugene showed himself something of a poor sport when Lillian said he was wrong and Gloria right in a bet they had made. Sylvia made some drawings and asked for pennies as a reward. 75,000 unionists rallied her in Madison Square Park against the anti-labor drive. Among the speakers were Quill, Hollander, Kingdon and Lehman, Krause, telephone strike director. The Greek Turkish Bill passed the Senate 67-23. Reactionaries and liberals were split on both sides. The S.P.-C.P. bloc won in Sicily elections. A British troop team was blown up in Palestine. Dennis & Josephson were cited by the "House" Marcantonio dissenting.

This is the last entry in Book II. except for the Index and Deaths. Those will be the next posts.

4/13-4/19/47

4/13 Sunday Eugene's temp normal again, Sylvia's hovering under 100°. We spent the day playing tiddledy [sic] winks, anagrams, Authors, chess, cutting out paper toys. Read "Hamlet".

4/14 The kids both normal today. Sylvia has been putting things in her mouth again while in bed. Eugene has been in our bed all along and Lillian slept sleeping in the cot near him. Sylvia has been in her bed and I sleep in the folding bed near her. Lindbergh has come out for the Truman Doctrine. Senators have begun to attack Wallace's speeches in England. C.I.O. head Murray attacked the Hartley & Taft Anti-labor bills as first real step toward fascism here. Lillian got Eugene a summer jacket in Alexander's - a good buy at $4. but Eugene was more interested in the piano and lamp Lillian got for Sylvia's doll house. She also got me a silk tie - 93¢. Ernie over tonight talking for three hours, aggravating my slight indisposition. I am on vacation for a week.

4/15 Hallelujah! Both kids are up and dressed today and it's a pleasure to hear them squabbling again. Drew for Eugene "Sorcerer's Apprentice" by R. Rostron "Pecos Bill" by J.C. Bowman "Jamaica Johnny" by B&E Hader "The Great Quillow" by James Thurber. The "UnAmerican Comm." called for Wallace's prosecution under the 1799 Logan Act forbidding an American from advising other gov'ts to oppose our gov't. Stalin told the Republican Stassen who is in Moscow that censorship was revived there due to lying correspondents. Eisler was indicted for perjury. The G.M. Electrical division gave the U.E. 15¢ per hour raise - no strike. Lost a chess game to Eugene. The kids got extra portions of chocolate at supper and Sylvia vomited a little - due to a lot of phlegm, Lillian thought.

4/16 The kids O.K. but playing in the house all day due to the bad weather. It is admitted N.A.M. lawyers helped write the Hartley slave labor bill. A few businessmen informed Truman they had reduced prices in accordance with his general request. Marshall saw Stalin but it seems no agreement can be achieved on the German treaty. Eisler has been released on $20,000 bail. Several cases of smallpox have prompted doctors to request every New Yorker to be vaccinated. A temporary injunction barring the arrest of phone strikers under the New Jersey law has been obtained. Opening game of the 1947 season showing sensational rookie Hartung playing his first regular season Major League ballgame and Jackie Robinson first Negro to play Major League ball playing his first game. Nazis de Brinon and Haess have been executed and Father Tiso condemned. Att'y Gen'l Clark called Wallace a liar for saying the U.S.' course is imperialistic. Ball pen manuf'er Milt Reynolds has set a round the world record in his plane of 78 hours 55 1/2 min. Played chess with Eugene. At home after seeing "Counterattack" with Paul Muni I had 101.5° and got plenty of tea and lemon and empirin and vicks. [...]

See scanned in page for the box scores of the two openers. For Hartung, it was the start of a mediocre (at best) career; not so for Robinson, of course.

4/17 In bed all day today for first time since my marriage. 100.2 in the morning, decreasing gradually to 99.2 at night. Lillian tended me beautifully all day. My trouble is a cough which gives me pain and a lot of phlegm. The kids still in the house due to the weather. A ship carrying either nitrate or ammunition blew up destroying a good part of Texas City and killing up to 1200 persons. [Insert] Revised death toll approx. 560. The Monsanto Chemical plant was rased [sic]. Scenes of horror abounded. The execution of Dov Gruner and three other Jews in Palestine brought death threats against British officials.

He says it's the first time in eleven years. He inserted the corrected death toll between the written lines. 

4/18 Out of bed today feeling better. We finally got out of the house all together when it looked nice outside during supper. We hurriedly finished and stayed out an hour. Sylvia looked glamorous in the new sweater Lillian made her and her new slacks. Whenever we play chess, as we did tonight Sylvia plays with the captured pieces and we find them under tables or in the sofa. The kids call each other mighty mean names now when they quarrel. Fires and explosions continued in Texas City. General DeGaulle has reentered politics with a new political movement. The House passed the Hartley bill 308-107 even Democrats favoring it 93-84! A new gov't took power in China containing for the first time other Elements but the kuomintang. These are the Young China party and the Social Democratic party and some independent political leaders. The Kuomintang still dominates. Italian demonstraters for food beat Count Sforza.

4/19 This morning for a long walk on the "Concourse" to 182nd st, the kids enjoying the window shopping and light treats. In the afternoon walked to the Kingsbridge Terrace Police Station at 232nd st where we were all vaccinated against smallpox. Then to the nearby playground where Sylvia showed more courage than Eugene on the adult swings. In chess Eugene drove me in one game until he overlooked several pieces. We all finished off with tiddledy winks. Eugene got two argyrol packs. Labor demonstrations are growing against the congressional anti-labor drive. Wallace spoke in Stockholm. The Security Council rejected supervision of the American plan for Greece & Turkey by the UN. U.E. win 15¢ at Westinghouse. Robeson has been barred at Peoria as a radical. Benny Leonard at 51 collapsed and died of a brain hemorrhage while refereeing a boxing match.

I have vivid memories of the vaccination, and I remember that it was in the direction of Kingsbridge Terrace; I didn't remember that it was so far.

4/6-4/12/47

4/6 Sunday Eugene woke up not feeling well and had 102 1/2 temp. After an enema and other ministrations it went down to 100°. He acted normally. His trouble seemed to be a sore throat or his stomach. Took Sylvia down and she paraded with her doll carriage and her pin wheel. Mom and Pop over later and Eugene started to cry over a stalemate argument in a chess game with Pop. Eugene's temp teetered and he had a bad night.

4/7 Called Dr. Holzman this morning and found Eugene had a strep throat. He had 104° while the doctor was there. Eugene got sulfa powders and Lillian was to sponge him, cold applications to the neck, daily enema, liquid diet, gargle which Eugene failed to do after much fuss privine drops and throat swab with argyrol. Telephone workers of many unions, none CIO or AFL but many affiliated with N.F.T.W. are due to strike at 6 AM today for raises and working conditions after a week of fruitless negotiations. Miners intend to stay out until mines are made safer. A phony expose of Communism has been authorized for printing in 500000 copies by Congress but a book on the Fascist danger has been stalled so far. MacArthur and reactionary Premier Yoshida have declared war on Japanese Communists who are called fascists. Joe Stack has been removed as N.M.U. V.P. by another membership meeting approx. 900-700. Mom came over to help but I stayed home from work. Eugene's temp stayed up all evening. We took Sylvia's temp. at night and she had 103°. Called Dr. Holzman and he advised the same regimen for her except the sulfa (aspirin instead). We had lots of trouble with her on the medication. She finally vomited all over herself and her bed after he throat was swabbed. Jimmy Demaret won the $70,000 Masters Tournament with 281.

4/8 Eugene was quite sick all night Lillian catching him in a slight delirium twice. His temp. however was normal in the morning. Sylvia was just under 100°. Lillian got the kids some toys and Mrs. K. sent in some books following the chocolate Easter bunnies she had sent. Yesterday with his high temp. he insisted on playing a game of chess with me. The kids enjoyed our marching in with their lunch and supper trays singing as we did so. 325,000 telephone workers are on strike. Gromyko at Lake Success asked for economic aid for Greece by the UN instead of our bypassing the UN. Mayor O'Dwyer promised to keep nurseries open during hearings on his record breaking billion dollar budget. Bessie Beatty dead at 61. Chinese Communists attacked American Marines, casualties on both sides included dead and wounded. Henry Ford is dead at 83. Stayed home from work again.

I believe I remember the "delirium" incident; at least I do remember awakening in the middle of the night to see my mother standing at the foot of the bed, and telling me that I had been a bit delirious, apparently talking about things that were not there. Of course, I don't really know if that was this same incident. 

4/9 Sylvia temp was 102° this morning so we called Dr. Holzman who came at 9 P.M. He suspected a pyelitis to be verified by her urinalysis. Sylvia had complained during her urinating that it "hotted" her. Played Eugene some chess. Lillian came over with some cut-outs for Sylvia and a book - "King Arthur" for Eugene. Langley Collyer has been found under the debris in his home. Comp. time today.

Aunt Lillian was always good with presents. 

4/10 Brought Sylvia's urine report to Dr. Holzman. It was negative. While I was there Lillian called that Eugene's temp - 99.8 at 9AM had risen to 102°. The doctor said he would be over. He came at 6 P.M. He found that Eugene had adenitis an inflammation of the neck glands arising from the throat infection. He had to have the sulfa again and ice bag on his neck - left side. Lillian had to resume most of the other treatments also. He examined Sylvia again and could find nothing yet. He thought something was brewing or perhaps a virus infection. Sylvia has been very active and talkative all day. Her temp. ranged from 100.4 to 100.8 without aspirin. We still march in with the meals, singing, which they enjoy. Eugene insisted on a chess game. Lillian read to the kids. I cut out and pasted pictures together with Sylvia. N.J. passed an anti-strike bill bringing back some phone strikers. Dennis was cited for contempt on two charges. Frankie Sinatra was arrested for "socking" a Hearst writer who has been heckling him in print and called him a "dago" according to Sinatra. Manager Leo Durocher of the Dodgers has been suspended for the entire season for "unbecoming conduct" by Comm. Chandler. The A.F.L. Hotel Union Conference saw gangsterism and murder before and redbaiting and purge of opponents of the administration during the sessions. The Senate confirmed Lilienthal as head of the Atomic Energy Comm. 50-31. Got certificate from Holzman and stayed home again.

4/11 Sylvia's temp. between 99.6 and 100.6 today. Very playful again. Mom and Molly over. She told Molly, Eugene was her man rather than her brother. Eugene's temp 101.6 all day. After midnight he felt normal. The Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson the first Negro to join a major league club. Poland's new western boundaries are again under fire. 5 million Germans have been transferred from the territory in question and Poles resettled there. A tornado in Texas and Oklahoma killed 127 and injured more than 1000 persons. Brought another specimen of Sylvia's urine to Dr. Holzman - negative again. Returned to work today.

4/12 Eugene's temp went down to normal today. Sylvia's ranged up to 101° with nothing visible yet. They were both fairly cheerful. Sylvia's nose was stuffed again. Jersey phone strikers prepared for a show-down with the state's anti-strike law. Union leaders surrendered to the police and were released on bail. The A.F.L. Hotel Union convention put through an anti-communist clause. Anti-communist gangsters in Cuban leaders [?] are shooting up left wing offices in a drive to oust left wing leaders. The British charge that Albania laid mines in the Corfu Straits doing damage to British ships has been sent to the Court of Intern'l Justice by a vote of the Security Council.

I think he meant "in Cuba", and the word "leaders" got put in as he thought of the end of the sentence.

3/30-4/5/47

3/30 Sunday To Susan's birthday party she looking very cute. She spins round and round and says "[??]", Played Eugene and pop a chess game and Eugene as usual lost interest before the finish. Taubie and Mike over with Mrs. Thaw later. We taxiied there and subwayed home. Lillian had 101 temp when we got home. She took an enema argyrol pack empirin comp. and tea and whiskey. Sadie [?] over at night and Irving R. to tell us of the ride upstate in their new Chevvy to look for a summer place.

I can't tell what Susan says - maybe someone else can; it's scanned in below. He wrote "Sadie", but if it's Irving R(osenberg), then he meant "Sarah". 

3/31 Played out a chess game with Eugene out of a paper during lunch hour. Sylvia regaled Molly who came over with stories and poems. Lewis decreed an 8 day shutdown of the mines in memory of the dead miners. A.D.A. supports the Truman Doctrine - to fight Communism abroad. P.C.A. opposes it. Sylvia has a slight cold. Lillian felt much better this evening. Eugene brought home his first report card. A in reading and composition B+ in arithmetic and spelling A in conduct Satisfactory in all other items. His and Joan's were the two best. New elections were held in his class old officers being ineligible.

Don't know who Joan was. 

4/1 Eugene guessed the lunch time story I would read from the Book of K. would be "Little one-eye, etc." I have already read "The Straw-ox", "Ali Baba".  Wallace denounced the Truman Doctrine at a P.C.A. meeting before 30,000 at the "Garden". He called for a return to the UN and democratic rights at home. King George of Greece has died suddenly.

 4/2 Lillian put Sylvia in her bed with her shoes off when her temp. was found to be 100°. Eugene seems to have resumed with Gloria. Chinese Nationalists have slaughtered thousands of Formosans. The House Banking Comm. voted for a 10% rent rise. The 5-man N.M.U. trial board cleared Joe Stack. A membership meeting ended in confusion with Curran claiming a vote there had gone against Stack. Curran has intensified his red-baiting and is supporting the Truman Doctrine "against Russian expansion". Lillian read O'Brien's "Best Short Stories 1940".

4/3 Sylvia out of bed today. Eugene a leader of group 3 in class. They need a good leader he says. Left wing Laborites are opposing Bevin's anti-Soviet policy. Lillian read "Sister Carrie".

4/4 Took the kids to the park this Good Friday morning picking up Bobby R. on the way. The kids skated and romped about. Eugene says he knows the "murmel" (moral) of Cinderella "Don't be too greedy or else it will end up bad for you". Eugene takes the attendance in class and records the temperature. The Greek-Turkish intervention received an O.K. from the Senate Comm. Sec'y of Interior Krug shut 518 unsafe mines (see 4/5),

4/5 250,000 Ruhr miners are striking against hunger rations. State Mine Director Medill has resigned under fire in Illinois. It is disclosed mine owners had contributed to the G.O.P. to hush mine violations. Progressives again swept the 65000 man Ford Union local. Wallace reviled here by many liberals for his progressive views has been invited to France as the leading American liberal by all parties and is in great demand all over Europe. The Italian C.P. is supporting the principle of recognition of Catholicism as a state religion in order to retain a broad working class unity. Current joke is of Langley Collyer who with his recently deceased brother Homer formed a pair of wealthy eccentric hermits on 5th Ave. Langley is being sought in their home where 150 tons of junk have already been removed. Went with Eugene to Arnold P.'s house to give him a chess lesson but he had gone to the movies. Spent a half hour there, Eugene having milk & cookies and reading a "Buddy" book there which he borrowed. Played Eugene some chess. (Lillian and the kids went to Mollie's yesterday for a seder. I had to work. Mike Ev & Isabel there. Also Milton and his new girl friend.)

Not sure why the parentheses at the end; I guess because it was "yesterday". This entry is followed by 1 1/2 pages of obliterated stuff, this time in what looks like blue crayon. I will try and read it, but this is going to be much harder.

3/18/47

This post will be different. On 3/18 I wrote: "The remainder/bottom third of this page is physically cut out of the diary, and the writing on the reverse side is crossed out in what looks like green crayon as well as ink. What I can read of it appears more "diary-like" than journal; it seems to be some political/philosophical comments, which, I guess, he later decided to eliminate. The next page continues with the next day."

So I didn't think I could read the whole thing, and I didn't think I would publish it, because he crossed it out. But when I looked at it carefully (it's scanned in below; the line after the crossed out stuff is actually from the previous page; it's hard to see the cut), I realized that I actually could read almost the entire entry. Here it is, as best as I can tell:

“[starts at bottom of previous page, which is physically cut out] ... I believe to be universally applicable within the sphere of liberalism can be safely maintained. I would like to digress a little in order to bring out my first point.

We are now entering a point of monstrous political perversion. Our country is being panicked into belief in the proposition that the fascist danger is negligible by implication, that Communism is the enemy that it is worse than fascism and that it must be stemmed abroad and outlawed at home. The incredible progress [not sure, may be “pogrom”, which seems to fit] within [can’t really read the word, but it might be “Russia”, which would fit] a few years back, and comparable to the Hitler program in Nazi Germany, is being fed to the American people and swallowed by many. It has been sponsored by certain ...”

 

and that’s it, the rest of the page is essentially cut off (half a word at the end of each line remains). And the page following this has been completely cut out. 

 

It actually looks like preparation for a speech; e.g., “I would like to digress ...” And, the next day (3/19/47) he writes “At night to the "Fed" Installation at the Hotel Diplomat.”? Maybe the whole speech was on the completely cut out page? Was it his speech? Someone else's? We (Silvia and I) are not quite sure what the last full sentence means; perhaps the part of the page cut out would have clarified it, or maybe someone else can decipher the words in question. The cut out part on the page before surely would have clarified at the beginning what could " be safely maintained"

 

 I originally thought it had been cut out/crossed out because he didn't want anyone to see it, but now I think it more likely that it just wasn't really part of the diary/journal. So we decided it was OK to publish it.

3/23-3/29/47

3/23 Sunday Hy & Millie Navorich [?] over with Sandy. The kids romped quite noisily. Hy played Eugene a chess game then I pulled out a tough one with him. This morning I overlooked several pieces with Eugene and I finally resigned for Eugene's first victory over me. Truman has ordered a purge of "reds" in the government. Lillian discovered she had a cold this evening which affected her ear.

Not sure of the name, none of the names familiar. 

3/24 Lillian didn't feel well today, sleeping most of the day. After school Eugene and Sylvia went up to play with Gloria S. Later played a chess game with Eugene and after passing up a chance to mate him he mated me. However he still makes some careless moves which I allow him to take back. Sylvia amused herself pretty much alone till Eugene came home. The United Christian Council for Democracy composed of six affiliated groups condemned the spreading witch hunt and attempt to outlaw the C.P. Allis-Chalmers workers called off their year old strike with determination to continue the fight in the plant. The general rubber strike was abandoned and 11 1/2 per hour was accepted.

3/25 Sylvia romped all over the swings, see saws and sliding ponds in the playground. Eugene has finished his second reading contract in school, again the only one as yet. Lillian feels better today. The hearings to outlaw the C.P. started with Legionaire [sic] witnesses calling for a clean sweep of "reds" all over the country. Bullitt testified that Russia would bomb us if it had the atom bomb; also asked for our intervention in France. Acheson testified at the Senate Foreign Relations Comm., Korea will be saved from Communism next. Also that Russia is the only potential aggressor against Turkey. 100 Allis-Chalmers active strikers have been barred. Leon Josephson has been cited for contempt by the "Rankin Comm." William L. Shirer is the latest liberal commentator casualty on the radio.

3/26 Lillian felt worse today and I called Dr. Marcus of the I.W.O. and stayed home from work. She had 102° in the morning, a headache and her nose bad as usual. When the doctor came she was normal. He said she had a light grippe, was to stay in bed 24 hours and in the house several days. He advised empirin compound #100 a better kind of aspirin also lots of juices. Lillian had 100° at night but felt all right. Mollie was over and helped a little. Eugene is on the committee to study ponds in class. Today he sought information on frogs and toads from the B of Kn. Joyce G. came up to play some chess at which she is a beginner. Later they played casino Sylvia joining when I found her crying because they hadn't asked her. At bed-time I started to read Bunny Cottontail to her and Eugene finished it. William Green strongly opposed the outlawing of the C.P. at the hearings but added his own denunciation of Communism to the others. The Congress of American Women is in Washington protesting the Greco-Turkish venture. 100 were trapped in an Illinois mine blast. Russia vetoed a censure of Albania on the question of the mining of the Corfu channel where British warships were hit. This was at a Security Council meeting at Lake Success. The House voted to oust Conciliation Service Director E. L. Warren for joining two "communist front" organizations 343-39. Utah defeated Kentucky 49-45 in an upset in the National Invitation Tournament finals.

Don't knwo what "I.W.O." was, or why we didn't call our usual Dr. Holzman. 

3/27 Lillian better. Sister Lillian over with some chicken from Mom. Had to go all the way to school at lunch time to get Eugene as he was standing there with some friends watching for something. We always get Eugene across the street. Susan looks up to "Sissiya" (Sylvia). C.P. Sec'y Gene Dennis at the hearings refused to answer several questions and was ousted without being heard at all. He refused to accept a subpoena. F.B.I. Chief Hoover and US CofC representative Schmidt testified against outlawing the C.P. but offered reactionary programs of their own. Ralph Ingersoll and Wallace have attacked the red hunt. Holy Cross won the NCAA title over Oklahoma.

3/28 Lillian better but very weak. Eugene was reading to his class when the teacher was out. One boy rang the teacher's bell which Eugene reported to the teacher. Sylvia is very stubborn when she thinks she is right. V.F.W. Commander Louis Starr, anti-labor crusader attacked the C.P. at the hearings. He approved measures to outlaw the C.P. after some prodding by committee members. Miners at the Centralia Ill. mine where the disaster occurred had pleaded previously for enforcement of state laws to make the mine safe. The "House" passed the amended Knutson tax bill 273-73 giving the rich much relief. Dewey signed the Condon-Wadlin anti-strike bill. Johnny Evers is dead at 65.

3/29 In the morning took the kids to a show in school. Magician performing dogs and movie cartoons. Later to the library where Eugene drew "Don Coyote" by Leigh Peck "The Children Who Followed The Piper" by Padraic Colum, "Wooden Shoes in America" by Maloy and Dalgleish [sic] and "The Fairy Circus" by D. P. Lathrop. Then bought a Bordens Wagon pull toy for Susan, high chair for Sylvia's high chair and tie for Eugene. Played chess with Eugene. Lillian better after several argyrol packs. Commissioner Davis of the Board of Trans. made known his plan to prevent strikes, giving no sole right to any union but greater consideration to the largest. A comprehensive study of the press by a group of experts including Macleish, Schlessinger [sic] and Chaffee [sic] found much wanting as far as a free press is concerned. Ironically it was a Luce enterprise. Cacchione refused to dignify the Rankin Comm. with his appearance but sent a denunciatory message with Norman Schrank. Gov. Sigler endorsed outlawing of the C.P. at the hearings. Ex Gov. Earle predicted Russia would destroy us with atom bombs within five years. 111 miners are definitely dead in Centralia. The A.C.A. again defeated the A.F.L. at Western Union by almost 4-1.

He probably bought a high chair for Sylvia, or possibly something else for Sylvia's high chair.