[Intolerant in NJ]

Its origins, as an investigative arm of the House of Representatives, goes back to the 1930's, when it investigated the activities of the Ku Klux Klan...from Weinstein/Vassiliev's The Haunted Wood:
Samuel Dickstein was a Democrat representative to the US House from NY..."...Dickstein's congressional focus throughout his career concerned immigaration issues, since he represented a largely foreign-born constituency. During the mid-1930's, however, Dickstein's major interest turned to investigating the network of pro-Nazi and facist groups in the United States...In 1934 Dickstein drafted and gained House support for a resolution supporting a special committee to probe Nazi and other subversive activities in the United States. He was appointed its vice chairman...The liberal Dickstein introduced several subsequent resolutions to create a continuing committee to investigate so-called un-American activities...If any man deserves the title of Father of the Committee, it is Representative Dickstein..."
It's ironic that the HUAC, so hated by the leftwing in this country, was initiated by a liberal looking to out Nazis, a cause the left would surely applaud. It's also ironic that at about the same time he was working on his committee, Dickstein was being recruited by the NKVD and eventually became a Soviet agent, codenamed "Crook"......

[WOSG]

It's ironic that the HUAC, so hated by the leftwing in this country, was initiated by a liberal looking to out Nazis, a cause the left would surely applaud. It's also ironic that at about the same time he was working on his committee, Dickstein was being recruited by the NKVD and eventually became a Soviet agent, codenamed "Crook"......

(Paul harvey voice mode on) ... And now you know the rest of the story .... (mode off)

That's amazing. And compelling that so few know this piece of our history.