The House Cites the Hollywood Ten for Contempt
The United States House of Representatives voted to cite the Hollywood Ten for contempt of Congress on November 25, 1947, after their refusal to answer committee questions.
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The Event
The United States House of Representatives voted to cite the Hollywood Ten for contempt of Congress on November 25, 1947, after their refusal to answer committee questions.
The Wider Story
The dispute grew from investigations into alleged communist influence in the film industry. Criminal proceedings and an industry blacklist imposed consequences beyond the hearing room.
Putting the Event in Perspective
A contempt citation is not the same as a conviction for espionage.
Reading the Historical Record
The story requires distinctions between political belief, committee demands, criminal charges and private employment sanctions.
About the Historical Recreation
The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: a 1947 congressional hearing room with empty witness chairs and closed files. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.
Sources
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