10 Americans You Won't Believe Were Accused Of Being Communists

3. Orson Welles

Orson Welles was an American actor and director who starred in films such as Citizen Kane, The Lady from Shanghai and Touch of Evil, but he also classed his own political orientation as "progressive", being a passionate supporter of the New Deal and a critic of racism and segregation in the USA. A file was opened on Welles by the FBI in April 1941, just after the release of Citizen Kane, and he was investigated by the Bureau until 1956 - who believed he was an agent of FDR, after claims were made that he had made a "secret trip" to South American for President Roosevelt. The FBI's report on Welles read: "This office has never been able to establish that Welles is an actual member of the former Communist Party or the present Communist Political association, (although) he has consistently followed the Communist Party line and has been active in numerous front organisations." No evidence was ever found to link Welles with the Communist Party, yet the FBI still insisted on having him listed on the Security Index between 1945 and 1949. This meant that, should the US have a national emergency, Welles would be arrested and his phone would constantly be tapped. He was also added to the Hollywood blacklist. Paranoia or what?