The
FBI Files of Werhner Von Braun--Part 5
By Tom Carney
Reprinted with permission of Old
Huntsville Magazine
June
14, 1951
Internal
Security, FBI
...
The interview with the subject should be conducted by an experienced agent in a
discreet and tactful manner. ... In reporting the information received during
this interview, the interviewing agent should include his comments and
evaluation concerning the attitude, cooperation, and sincerity of subject ... as
to his intention of obtaining United States Citizenship.
July,
19, 1951
Director,
FBI
...
von Braun and his wife have applied for their first citizenship papers and he
stated they were looking forward to becoming American citizens. As previously
stated, he has purchased a home in Huntsville, and mentioned that his plans at
the present time are to reside in Huntsville, Alabama.
The
United States was entering the Cold War period. Any allegation of Communist
sympathies, regardless of how absurd, was investigated. When it was reported
that von Braun had been receiving the “Daily Worker,” a Communist newspaper,
the FBI, the Army Intelligence and Redstone Security launched an investigation.
Nov.
20, 1952
Internal
Security, FBI
...
von Braun also stated he had never received the “Daily Worker” Communist
newspaper, never read a copy of the newspaper, and had never received any
literature which he felt was Communistic in any way.
Colliers
Magazine, in
1952, had made von Braun a household name when they ran several articles about
his quest for outer space flight. During the resulting publicity, someone leaked
to Drew Pearson, a well known New York columnist, information about von
Braun’s membership in the Nazi party.
When
Pearson published the allegations it caused a minor uproar, with many people
demanding an investigation. After a brief period of silence, the Army issued a
statement that it, as well as the FBI, had investigated von Braun’s past and
had found nothing to justify the accusations.
Von
Braun was questioned by several reporters about the allegations, but referred
them to the Army. Already, he was caught in a catch 22. He could not deny the
stories without lying but if he had confirmed them, he would be disputing the
very government that he worked for.
As
Huntsville grew used to a smiling von Braun enjoying the benefits of living in a
free country, there was another side they never saw. His every movement was
monitored by different security agencies, he was forbidden to travel outside the
country and even his friends were closely scrutinized.
Part
6--More Files
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